Senior Technical/ Data Architect

Overview

Whiteflare are seeking a skilled Senior Data Architect to join the team on a contract basis working a mission critical digital platform for Defence customers with complex and evolving operational needs.

Specific job skills

• Lead the technical architecture and design of systems and services across assigned SPISN delivery areas, translating business and operational needs into coherent technical requirements and solution options. 
• Apply SPISN and enterprise architecture principles, policies, standards and reusable patterns across software, hardware, cloud, infrastructure, services and business processes
• Assure solution quality throughout the delivery lifecycle, working with enterprise, data, security, service and solution architects to ensure integration, resilience, security, supportability and scalability
• Identify and manage technical risks, complexity and technical debt, and conduct periodic reviews of implemented solutions against operational needs, service levels and performance measures. 
• Provide technical leadership and constructive challenge to multidisciplinary teams and suppliers, including task planning, product review, coaching, peer review and knowledge transfer. 
• Support delivery, investment and governance decisions by communicating technical options, cost and lifecycle implications, risks and trade-offs to technical and non-technical stakeholder

Essential skills and experience

• Significant practical experience in data architecture, data modelling, metadata management or enterprise data-solution design in a complex technology environment.
• Expert knowledge of data architecture and data literacy, including conceptual, logical and physical modelling, data dictionaries, metadata, lineage, governance and data quality.
• Proficiency in applying established data architecture frameworks, methodologies, patterns and standards to design and deliver robust data platforms and enterprise-wide solutions.
• Experience providing technical leadership, assurance and guidance to architects, engineers, suppliers and senior stakeholders.
• Ability to assess complex architecture options and explain security, resilience, interoperability, performance, supportability, cost and lifecycle trade-offs to non-specialist audiences.
• Ability to operate autonomously, manage competing priorities and recognise when issues should be delegated, governed or escalated.
• A Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Systems Engineering or a related subject, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Professional membership of a recognised body with externally recognised evidence of continuing professional development.
• BCS Practitioner Award in Data Architecture, CDMP Practitioner with a specialism in Data Architecture and Data Modelling and Design, or certification covering an equivalent syllabus.
• Experience working across Crown, military, supplier and industry-partner teams in Defence, government or another secure, regulated or mission-critical environment.
• Experience of architecture governance, design authority, technical assurance or standards-exception processes.
• Knowledge of Agile and SAFe delivery and how data architecture enables incremental delivery while retaining enterprise coherence.
• Experience of data catalogues, metadata repositories, master or reference data, analytics platforms, APIs, event-driven integration, or data mesh and data fabric approaches.
• Regular on-site attendance at Abbey Wood is anticipated due to the collaborative nature and security classification of the work. Travel to other UK locations may be required for architecture workshops, assurance, supplier engagement and stakeholder collaboration.
• The resource must be a sole UK national and hold a minimum of Security Check (SC) clearance. They must be willing and eligible to undertake Developed Vetting (DV); existing DV clearance would be advantageous. A Separate Confidentiality Agreement will also need to be signed.
• The assignment will operate within SPISN architecture and delivery governance, with functional direction from the Lead Data Architect. The resource will retain clear records of data decisions, risks, assumptions, dependencies and standards exceptions, and support knowledge transfer into the enduring organisation.

Desired skills and experience

• Experience working across Crown, military, supplier and industry-partner teams in Defence, government or another secure, regulated or mission-critical environment.
• Experience contributing to design authorities, architecture governance, business cases and investment decisions.
• Knowledge of Agile and SAFe delivery and how architecture enables incremental delivery while retaining technical coherence.
• Experience of hybrid cloud, service integration, zero-trust principles, resilient infrastructure or complex systems integration.

Other Information

• Regular on-site attendance at Abbey Wood is anticipated due to the collaborative nature and security classification of the work. Travel to other UK locations may be required for design workshops, assurance, supplier engagement and stakeholder collaboration.
• You must be a sole UK national and hold a minimum of Security Check (SC) clearance. They must be willing and eligible to undertake Developed Vetting (DV); existing DV clearance would be advantageous. A Separate Confidentiality Agreement will also need to be signed.
• The assignment will operate within SPISN architecture and delivery governance. You will be expected to retain clear records of decisions, risks, assumptions, dependencies and standards exceptions, and to support knowledge transfer into the enduring organisation.

Eligibility Checks

Candidates must be SC cleared UK nationals.

Please note: We cannot accept any applications from candidates currently working on the Aurora framework unless the contract is due to finish within the next month.

Please note: For security reasons this role is open to sole UK nationals only. A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country. We do not offer visa sponsorship.