Principal Data Architect

symphony.is; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Symphony, a global design and development software company, is seeking a Principal Data Architect in London to lead data strategy, governance, and architecture across the organization.

You will collaborate with stakeholders to translate business needs into scalable data platforms, drive advanced analytics including AI/ML, and promote data literacy while ensuring regulatory compliance.

The role offers an opportunity to shape data-driven decision making in international teams and across remote hubs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience in CS/IT or related field.
• 10+ years in Data Engineering/Data Architecture or similar.
• Proven ability to develop actionable data strategies and governance frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of data quality, compliance standards, and data security.
• Ability to translate complex data findings to business stakeholders.
• Experience with modern data platforms and analytics tools.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement data strategies aligned with business goals.
• Collaborate with clients and stakeholders to translate needs into data initiatives.
• Define and enforce data governance, security, and regulatory compliance.
• Recommend and oversee adoption of data technologies for scalable architectures and advanced analytics (AI/ML).
• Partner with teams to interpret data, identify trends, and enable data-driven decisions.
• Promote data literacy and provide training to drive adoption of new data practices.

Skills

Data architecture

Data governance

Advanced analytics

Stakeholder collaboration

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT or related field

Tools

Big data platforms (Spark/Hadoop)

Cloud platforms (AWS/GCP/AZ)

Snowflake

SQL/NoSQL

Job description

Symphony is a global design and development software company headquartered in San Francisco with 850+ technologists located across engineering offices in Southeast Europe and Latin America, along with business development offices in the US and Western Europe, and a Remote hub engaging employees from Latin America to Africa and Asia.

In the last 19 years, we have launched over 300 products for the world’s leading startups, enterprises, Private Equity companies, and Fortune 500 companies.

Our team has a proven track record in helping clients increase revenue, reduce time-to-market, improve end-user experiences, and achieve scalability. We have domain expertise spanning financial services, banking, retail, technology, healthcare, as well as the VC and PE ecosystem, among others.

We are on the lookout for a Principal Data Architect!

As a Principal Data Architect at Symphony, you will spearhead the development and implementation of data strategies, ensuring alignment with business objectives while driving data governance, advanced analytics, and technology adoption. You will work closely with stakeholders to deliver actionable insights, enhance data literacy, and promote a culture of data-driven decision-making across the organization.

What would be your responsibilities if you join us?

• Design and implement data strategies aligned with business goals, assessing current infrastructure and identifying optimization opportunities.
• Collaborate with clients and stakeholders to translate business needs into actionable data initiatives and insights.
• Define and enforce data governance frameworks, ensuring quality, security, and regulatory compliance.
• Recommend and oversee adoption of data technologies and platforms, supporting scalable architectures and advanced analytics (AI, ML, predictive models).
• Partner with teams to interpret data, uncover trends, and foster data-driven decision-making.
• Promote data literacy, provide training, and support change management for adoption of new data practices and technologies.

There are some requirements that will make you stand out

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum 10-12 years of professional experience in Data Engineering.
• Expertise in developing comprehensive and actionable data strategies and frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of data governance, compliance standards, and data quality management.
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and present complex data in a business-friendly manner.
• Proficiency with modern data platforms, tools, and big data ecosystems.
• Skilled in managing data-focused projects and leading cross-functional teams.
• Understanding of advanced analytics techniques, including AI, machine learning, and predictive modelling.

You will easily fit into Symphony culture if you

• Are proactive and enthusiastic about your own continuous learning and improvement
• Have the ability to analyze and understand the business context and logic behind your job responsibilities
• Enjoy working in a pleasant and cooperative atmosphere
• Excited about working in international teams and using well-written and spoken English daily

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.