Senior Data Architect

DWP Digital; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Civil service pension

Professional development

Flexible working hours

Leave package

Job summary

DWP Digital is seeking a Senior Data Architect to shape data architecture across multiple products and programmes, ensuring secure, scalable data solutions. You will develop data models, metadata frameworks, and governance artefacts while guiding cross-functional teams to align with strategic objectives.

You will influence technology decisions, engage with architects and engineers, and drive consistency with architectural standards and best practices to deliver high-impact digital services.

Qualifications

• Expertise in data architecture design, modelling, patterns and standards.
• Strong knowledge of data modelling, MDM, metadata management and data governance.
• Experience with event-driven architectures and data streaming patterns.

Responsibilities

• Shape data architecture across products and programmes to ensure secure, scalable solutions.
• Lead design and governance of data models, metadata frameworks and dictionaries.
• Provide architectural assurance and guidance to delivery teams.

Skills

Data architecture

Data modelling

MDM

Data governance

Event-driven architecture

CI/CD

Cloud platforms

Stakeholder engagement

Tools

AWS/Azure/GCP

Job description

Pay of up to £79,501, plus 28.97% employer pension contributions, hybrid working, flexible hours, and great work life balance.

Do you want to help shape the future of data architecture within one of the UK's largest and most complex digital organisations?

If so, we'd love to hear from you.

We are seeking experienced Senior Data Architects to join DWP Digital, working within a large-scale, complex digital environment to deliver data-driven products and services that support critical business outcomes.

You will play a key role in major strategic initiatives ensuring data architecture solutions are innovative, secure and scalable.

Working closely with architects, engineers, delivery teams and business stakeholders, you will contribute to the design and delivery of enterprise-wide solutions.

You'll develop architecture options, provide expert recommendations and influence technology decisions ensuring solutions align with business priorities, architectural standards and long-term organisational objectives.

This is an opportunity to make a significant impact across some of DWP Digital's most important programmes, providing architectural leadership and helping to establish the strategic data capabilities that underpin future digital services.

DWP. Digital with Purpose.

What skills, knowledge and experience will you need?

• Expertise in data architecture design, modelling, patterns, tools and standards.
• Strong knowledge of data modelling, Master Data Management (MDM), metadata management and data governance.
• Knowledge of event-driven architectures, including pub-sub and data streaming patterns.
• Proven track record of presenting and influencing architecture decisions through technical governance and assurance forums.
• Knowledge of cloud hosting, containerisation and networking, including AWS, Azure and GCP.
• Application of Agile, DevOps, Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD) practices.
• Proven track record of supporting technology projects, programmes and portfolios, shaping architectural direction and technology choices.

You and your role

As a Senior Data Architect you will shape data architecture across multiple products, services and programmes helping to solve complex data challenges and define solutions that are secure, scalable and aligned with organisational goals.

You'll lead the design and development of data models, metadata frameworks and other key data architecture artefacts ensuring data is structured, managed and governed effectively.

Your work will support informed decision making and enable the consistent use and reuse of data across the organisation.

You'll provide technical leadership and guidance to Data Architects and multidisciplinary teams helping to translate business requirements into effective data architecture solutions.

You'll review designs, provide architectural assurance and promote adherence to agreed standards, principles and best practices.

A key part of your role will be overseeing the development and maintenance of data dictionaries, metadata repositories and other governance assets helping to improve data quality, consistency, accessibility and understanding across the organisation.

Working closely with Technical Architects, Engineers and other stakeholders, you'll ensure systems and services are designed in line with our data architecture standards. You'll champion good practice, drive consistency across teams and support the successful delivery of business and technology outcomes.

Location:

You'll join us in one of our brilliant digital hubs in your choice of Birmingham, Blackpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield.

Hybrid Working:

We work a hybrid model - you'll spend some time working at home and some time collaborating face to face in a hub.

Pay:

We offer competitive pay of up to £68,205. You'll get a salary of £57,946 plus a Government Digital and Data Allowance of up to £11,296, subject to our assessment of capability at interview.

Pension

You’ll get a brilliant civil service pension with employer contributions worth 28.97%, worth up to £16,786 per year.

Holidays:

A generous leave package starting at 25 days rising to 30 days over time.

You can also take up to 3 extra days off a month on flexi-time. You'll also get all the usual public holidays.

We have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Flexible working including flexible hours and flex-friendly policies
• Time off volunteering and charitable giving
• Bring your authentic self to work with 'I Can Be Me in DWP'
• Discounts and savings on shopping, fun days out and more
• Interest-free loans to buy a bike or a season ticket, so it's even easier for you to get to work and start making a difference
• Sports and social activities
• Professional development, coaching, mentoring and career progression opportunities.

And we have an award-winning environment and culture:

• DWP have been recognised as 2024 Diversity Employer of the Year at the Computing Women in Tech Excellence awards
• Diverse and Inclusive Leadership at Digital Leaders Awards 2024
• Commended as Best Place to Work in Digital category in the Computing Digital Technology Leaders awards 2025
• Recognised as one of the Best Public Sector Employers at 2025 Women In Tech Employer Awards