Lead Data Architect — Secure Cloud & Real-Time Data

Sanderson Government & Defence; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanderson Government & Defence is seeking a Lead Data Architect to shape data strategy and deliver secure, cloud-native data platforms for high-profile programmes. You will lead design, governance and real-time processing initiatives across AWS environments, guiding cross-functional teams and advising clients on data security and compliance.

The role requires hands-on architecture leadership, deep AWS knowledge, and experience with data modelling, ETL pipelines, and modern data warehousing in

Qualifications

• 6+ years' experience in Data Architecture, delivering complex, large-scale, and secure data solutions.
• Strong expertise designing and implementing cloud-based data architectures, particularly within AWS environments.
• Deep technical knowledge of AWS services, including EC2, S3, RDS, Lambda, Redshift, and related data services.
• Proven experience designing secure architectures within sensitive or highly regulated environments.
• Hands-on experience with Apache Flink and real-time data processing architectures.
• Strong understanding of data modelling methodologies, architectural patterns, and industry standards.
• Expertise across ETL processes, data integration, data warehousing, distributed systems, and metadata management.
• Experience leading technical teams and mentoring architects, engineers, and other data professionals.
• Ability to engage, influence, and build credibility with senior business and technical stakeholders.
• Experience working closely with cyber security teams to ensure secure-by-design solutions.
• Strong understanding of cloud operating models and DevOps-led delivery approaches.

Responsibilities

• Lead engagement with internal and external stakeholders to understand business objectives and translate requirements into effective data strategies and architectural solutions.
• Design, develop, and implement secure, scalable, and high-performing data architectures that align with business, security, and operational requirements.
• Architect and deliver cloud-native data solutions across AWS and other leading cloud platforms, enabling both batch and real-time data processing capabilities.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to data engineers, architects, and delivery teams, promoting best practices across architecture, security, and cloud engineering.
• Define and implement robust data models, ETL pipelines, metadata frameworks, and modern data warehousing solutions.
• Design and optimise large-scale streaming data platforms using technologies such as Apache Flink and other real-time processing frameworks.
• Ensure all solutions comply with industry best practices, governance frameworks, and regulatory requirements, maintaining the highest standards of security and data integrity.
• Oversee architectural governance, ensuring technical delivery remains aligned with approved designs and proactively managing any design deviations.
• Support business development, pre-sales activities, and client proposals by providing architectural expertise and technical leadership.
• Identify and address breaches in data standards, providing recommendations and remediation strategies to improve compliance and quality.
• Stay at the forefront of emerging technologies, trends, and best practices within cloud, data, and security domains, bringing innovative thinking into client engagements.

Skills

Data architecture

AWS cloud

AWS services

Apache Flink

Data modeling

ETL/Data warehousing

Secure-by-design

DevOps delivery

Stakeholder engagement

Security collaboration

Cloud governance

Cloud security

Tools

Azure

GCP

Scala

Apache Spark

Pre-sales

Job description

Sanderson Government & Defence is seeking a Lead Data Architect to shape data strategy and deliver secure, cloud-native data platforms for high-profile programmes. You will lead design, governance and real-time processing initiatives across AWS environments, guiding cross-functional teams and advising clients on data security and compliance.

The role requires hands-on architecture leadership, deep AWS knowledge, and experience with data modelling, ETL pipelines, and modern data warehousing in