Data Platform Architect - SC Cleared

Forward Role Recruitment; Hounslow; Hybrid; GBP 27,491,000 - 35,055,000; Full time

Job summary

Forward Role Recruitment is seeking a Lead Snowflake Architect for a live data platform project in the South West. You will own the Snowflake architecture, shaping design and driving governance across the estate.

You’ll join an in-flight programme, collaborating with the Data Architect and Cloud & Infrastructure team to deliver end-to-end platform design at scale while sharing knowledge and ensuring security with active SC clearance.

Qualifications

• Lead Architect with strong Snowflake expertise and ideally Snowflake certification.
• Demonstrable experience designing and implementing Snowflake platforms end to end.
• Strong platform engineering and governance background.
• Experience configuring and architecting platforms at scale.
• Active SC clearance (essential — non‑negotiable)

Responsibilities

• Designing and building the overall Snowflake architecture
• Leading on platform design and implementation across the estate
• Owning platform engineering and governance standards
• Working at scale, configuring and architecting the platform to support a business-critical programme
• Knowledge-sharing with the existing team to upskill them and enable full use of the platform

Skills

Snowflake architecture

Platform engineering

SC clearance

Job description

Location: South West (Hybrid)

Contract Length: 6 months initial, with a strong likelihood of extension given the complexity of the programme

IR35 Status: Outside IR35 Rate:£650 per day

Security Clearance: Active SC clearance essential

The Role

This is a business-critical data platform programme, and the organisation is looking for a Snowflake Architect who can take genuine ownership of the Snowflake architecture, not simply work within an existing platform, but shape and drive its design.

You'll be joining an already-live project, working alongside a Data Architect and the wider Cloud & Infrastructure (C&I) team.

What You'll Be Doing

• Designing and building the overall Snowflake architecture
• Leading on platform design and implementation across the estate
• Owning platform engineering and governance standards
• Working at scale, configuring and architecting the platform to support a business-critical programme
• Knowledge-sharing with the existing team to upskill them and enable full use of the platform (this is not a people‑leadership role, this contractor will lead on architecture, not headcount)

What We're Looking For

• A Lead Architect with strong, proven Snowflake expertise, ideally Snowflake certified
• Demonstrable experience designing and implementing Snowflake platforms end to end
• Strong platform engineering and governance background
• Experience configuring and architecting platforms at scale
• Active SC clearance (essential — non‑negotiable)
• Comfortable joining a live, in‑flight programme and getting up to speed quickly

Location & Working Pattern

Hybrid, based in the South West. The client has a preference for candidates who can be onsite more regularly, but will consider more remote where necessary.