Lead Data Architect

LA International; Greater London; On-site; GBP 92,000 - 107,000; Full time

Job summary

LA International seeks a Lead Data Architect for a 12‑month contract, with remote work and up to four days per week onsite in London. You will provide overall technology leadership for the data transformation program, accountable for data architecture, Data Mesh implementation, and end-to-end delivery of data products.

You will collaborate with client leadership, domain teams, analysts, engineers, and platform teams to translate business priorities into scalable data products and reusable

Qualifications

• Strong experience leading enterprise data architecture and large-scale data transformation programs.
• Deep understanding of Data Mesh, data products, domain-driven design, federated governance, data product lifecycle management.
• Experience defining enterprise, domain, conceptual, logical, and physical data architectures.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end data lifecycle management.

Responsibilities

• Define and govern the overall data architecture and Data Mesh implementation for the program.
• Act as the overall program technology lead, aligning business priorities with data architecture and platform capabilities.
• Collaborate with client management to support strategy, delivery planning, and architecture decisions.
• Identify data products with domain consultants and stakeholders and prioritize them.
• Establish architecture standards and frameworks for data product boundaries and governance.
• Lead the design of reusable data platform capabilities and delivery accelerators.
• Lead proofs of concept and architecture reviews, presenting findings to stakeholders.

Skills

Data Mesh

Data architecture

Leadership

Data products

Governance

Stakeholder management

Communication

Databricks

Tools

Databricks

Job description

Lead Data Architect

12 Month contract initially + Extensions

Based: Remote with a max 4 days p/w onsite in London

Rate -£500 - £580 p/d via Umbrella

We have a great opportunity with a world leading organisation where you will be provided with all of the support and development to succeed. A progressive organisation where you can really make a difference. We have a great opportunity for a Lead Data Architect on a long term program of work.

Provide overall technology leadership for the data transformation program, with accountability for data architecture, Data Mesh implementation, and the end-to-end delivery of data products. Work with client leadership, domain teams, architects, analysts, modelers, platform teams, and engineers to translate business priorities into scalable data products and reusable enterprise capabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and govern the overall data architecture, Data Mesh implementation approach, and data product delivery principles for the program.
• Act as the overall program technology lead, ensuring alignment across business priorities, domain architecture, data modelling, platform capabilities, engineering, governance, and consumption requirements.
• Work with different levels of client management to support strategy definition, delivery planning, implementation oversight, architectural decision-making, and frictionless delivery of data products.
• Collaborate with domain consultants and business stakeholders to identify, define, decompose, and prioritize data products.
• Establish architecture standards and decision frameworks for data product boundaries, domain ownership, interoperability, sharing, discoverability, quality, security, and lifecycle management.
• Lead the design of reusable frameworks, foundational capabilities, templates, and components that accelerate the end-to-end data product lifecycle.
• Lead proofs of concept, proofs of technology, architecture assessments, and evaluation exercises, and present findings and recommendations to client stakeholders.
• Work with engineering teams to ensure optimal data product design, including ingestion, transformation, storage, orchestration, quality, security, observability, and consumption patterns.
• Review solution designs, resolve cross-domain architecture concerns, manage technical dependencies, and govern architecture exceptions.
• Ensure alignment between data product delivery and enterprise data governance, metadata, lineage, access control, data quality, and certification requirements.
• Provide technical direction to architects, data modelers, analysts, and engineers, and facilitate architecture and design reviews across delivery teams.
• Identify architectural risks and delivery constraints, define mitigation actions, and communicate technology decisions and implications to program leadership.
• Drive consistency and reuse across domains while allowing appropriate autonomy for domain-specific implementation decisions.

Key Skills & Experience:

• Strong experience leading enterprise data architecture and large-scale data transformation programs.
• Deep understanding of Data Mesh, data products, domain-driven design, federated governance, data product lifecycle management, and data-as-a-product principles.
• Experience defining enterprise, domain, conceptual, logical, and physical data architectures.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end data lifecycle management.
• Experience designing reusable data platform capabilities, engineering frameworks, architecture patterns, and delivery accelerators.
• Ability to translate business strategy and domain requirements into pragmatic architecture and executable delivery plans.
• Experience leading proofs of concept, technology evaluations, architecture reviews, and executive-level presentations.
• Strong understanding of modern data platforms like databricks
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams involving domain experts, business analysts, data modelers, platform architects, governance specialists, and data engineers.
• Strong stakeholder management, facilitation, technical leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.

This is an excellent opportunity on a great project of work.

LA International is an award-winning partner of choice for many of the world's most influential companies and government organisations. Holding Enhanced Government Security Accreditation, we are recognised as the European market leader in the delivery of Security Cleared talent to organisations that demand the very highest levels of security, compliance and assurance.

A multiple award-winning organisation, having secured the prestigious Queens Award for Enterprise: International Trade over consecutive years. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable and accessible workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of background or identity, and we encourage candidates who may not meet every listed requirement to still apply. If you require any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure a fair and accessible experience.

Please Note: If a high volume of applications is received, only candidates shortlisted will be contacted.