Data Solution Architect

Caraffi; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Caraffi is seeking an experienced Solution Architect - Data & Databricks to join its Technology Architecture function. This permanent role supports large-scale transformation across data, technology and digital platforms.

The role shapes and delivers a modern Databricks Lakehouse data architecture, ensuring scalable, secure and cost-effective solutions aligned to the tech strategy.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in technology, with architecture experience.
• Proven Databricks Lakehouse design across environments.
• Strong governance, security and cost-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Design enterprise-scale data solutions for multiple domains.
• Evolve Databricks Lakehouse architectures with Unity Catalog.
• Embed CI/CD, automation and IaC with engineering teams.
• Define data models, contracts and governance strategies.
• Communicate decisions clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance throughout delivery.

Skills

Databricks Lakehouse

Medallion architecture

TOGAF

CI/CD

Unity Catalog

Data governance

Cloud cost optimisation

Security & compliance

Stakeholder engagement

Tools

Unity Catalog

Databricks

Job description

Location: Reading or Dublin - hybrid (2 days a week)

Travel: Occasional travel between sites

Salary & Package: Competitive

A global retail organisation is seeking an experienced Solution Architect - Data & Databricks to join its Technology Architecture function. This is a permanent role within a growing architecture practice, supporting large-scale transformation across data, technology and digital platforms.

This position will play a key role in shaping and delivering a modern Databricks Lakehouse data architecture, ensuring solutions are scalable, secure, governed, cost-effective and aligned to the organisation's wider technology strategy.

What You'll Do

• Design and deliver enterprise-scale data solutions across platforms, products and business domains
• Define and evolve Databricks Lakehouse architectures, including environments, workspaces, governance and Unity Catalog
• Apply medallion architecture and modern end-to-end data engineering patterns across ingestion, quality, enrichment and consumption
• Define appropriate data models for different business and technical use cases
• Shape approaches to data products, data contracts, governance and data discoverability
• Develop and maintain solution architectures, architectural principles, standards and technical documentation
• Work closely with engineering teams to embed CI/CD, automation and infrastructure-as-code
• Ensure solutions meet requirements for security, compliance, resilience, performance and operational support
• Identify opportunities for Databricks and cloud cost optimisation, including DBU consumption
• Contribute to architectural governance, design decisions and technology standards
• Analyse complex requirements and translate them into pragmatic, scalable technical solutions
• Communicate architectural decisions, technical concepts and trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Provide technical leadership and guidance throughout the solution development lifecycle
• Support engineering and delivery teams through implementation and ensure architectural integrity is maintained

What You'll Bring

• Deep understanding of solution architecture principles, frameworks and best practices, including TOGAF or equivalent
• Proven experience designing Databricks Lakehouse architectures, including workspaces, environments and Unity Catalog governance
• Strong understanding of medallion architecture and end-to-end data engineering patterns
• Solid data modelling expertise, with the ability to select appropriate approaches for different use cases
• Experience with data products, data contracts, governance and data discoverability
• Strong engineering mindset with practical experience of CI/CD, automation and infrastructure-as-code
• Good understanding of performance tuning, operational resilience and cost optimisation
• Strong knowledge of data security, compliance and technology risk
• Demonstrable experience optimising cloud and Databricks DBU costs
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to a broad stakeholder audience

Successful Candidates Will Have

• 8+ years' experience working in technology
• 5+ years' experience designing and delivering enterprise-scale technology solutions across platforms, products or domains
• Experience working across the systems development lifecycle, with a strong understanding of delivery best practices
• Experience working within architectural governance frameworks and contributing to standards and technology decision-making
• Knowledge of other enterprise data platforms, such as Snowflake and AWS Data Lakehouse
• Previous experience in retail, ideally within a leading and innovative retailer
• Familiarity with retail or fashion technology landscapes and industry trends
• Experience providing technical leadership, mentoring and guidance to junior colleagues and peers
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across technology and business teams
• A proactive, pragmatic and curious mindset, with a passion for modern data architecture and continuous improvement
• The ability to balance strategic architecture with practical engineering considerations in complex enterprise environments