Data Architect

We are looking for an experienced Data Architect who can work across business and technology to design modern enterprise data architectures and guide their implementation. This is a senior, client-facing consulting role for someone who understands the full data landscape, from source systems and integration through data platforms, modelling, governance, analytics and AI enablement.

The successful candidate will work alongside Data Engineers, Data Analysts, Solution Architects, AI specialists and client stakeholders to ensure solutions are scalable, secure, governed and fit for purpose.

The Data Architect owns the design integrity of enterprise and solution-level data architectures, translating business and technology strategy into practical data platforms, integration patterns, models and governance controls. The role provides architecture direction from discovery and solution design through delivery assurance, while remaining grounded in real-world implementation.

Responsibilities:

Data Architecture & Strategy

• Design enterprise and solution-level data architectures aligned to business and technology objectives.
• Define current-state and target-state data architectures, together with pragmatic transition roadmaps.
• Develop architecture principles, standards and reusable patterns for data platforms, integration, modelling and consumption.
• Translate business requirements into scalable data architecture solutions.
• Ensure architecture decisions consider performance, scalability, security, governance, maintainability and cost.
• Provide architectural guidance across data transformation and modernisation initiatives.

Modern Data Platforms

• Design architectures spanning cloud, hybrid and enterprise data environments.
• Shape solutions across data warehouses, data lakes, lakehouse platforms and modern analytics environments.
• Define approaches for batch, streaming, API and event-driven data integration where appropriate.
• Guide technology selection based on client requirements rather than a single preferred platform.
• Work with engineering teams to ensure architectural designs can be implemented and operated effectively.

Data Modelling, Integration & Governance

• Define conceptual and logical data architecture, data domains and integration patterns.
• Guide dimensional, relational and other appropriate data-modelling approaches.
• Ensure architecture supports data quality, lineage, metadata, master and reference data, and governance requirements.
• Work with Data Governance, Security and Enterprise Architecture stakeholders to embed appropriate controls.
• Define how data should be made available to analytics, reporting, data science and AI workloads.

Architecture Assurance & Delivery

• Review solution designs and provide technical assurance throughout delivery.
• Identify architectural risks, dependencies and trade-offs early.
• Guide Data Engineers, Data Analysts and other delivery professionals in applying agreed patterns.
• Support technical problem-solving across multiple systems and data domains.
• Maintain architecture documentation and decision records.
• Ensure delivered solutions remain aligned to the agreed architecture.

Client Advisory & Consulting

• Facilitate data architecture and solution-design workshops with technical and business stakeholders.
• Explain complex architecture decisions in clear business language.
• Advise clients on data modernisation and platform evolution.
• Build credibility with senior technology, architecture and data stakeholders.
• Balance technical best practice with commercial and delivery realities.
• Contribute to opportunity shaping, proposals, estimation and technical responses where appropriate.

Capability Development

• Mentor Data Engineers, Data Analysts and emerging architects.
• Develop reusable reference architectures, patterns and accelerators.
• Contribute to the continued evolution of the iqbusiness Data & Analytics capability.
• Share knowledge across Data, AI, Architecture and adjacent technical teams.

Education

• Relevant Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data, Engineering or a related discipline.

Experience

• 8+ years' experience in data or technology, with significant experience designing data solutions or data architectures.
• Demonstrable experience delivering enterprise-scale data solutions.

Skills

• Enterprise and solution data architecture.
• Data modelling.
• Integration architecture, including API, batch, streaming and event-driven integration patterns.
• Data warehouse, data lake and lakehouse architecture.
• Metadata, lineage, data quality, master and reference data, data governance and security principles.
• Exposure to several modern ecosystems, such as:
  • Microsoft Azure, AWS, Databricks, Microsoft Fabric and Snowflake.
  • Spark, SQL platforms and modern ETL/ELT.
  • Power BI or similar analytics platforms.
• Architecture breadth and the ability to transfer skills across platforms are more important than depth in one product.

Advantageous

• Previous consulting or complex client-facing experience (strongly advantageous).
• Cloud and/or architecture certifications.

Key Competencies:

• Moves comfortably between strategic architecture and delivery detail.
• Challenges technical decisions constructively and explains architecture to engineers and executives.
• Works effectively where requirements or technology choices are still evolving.
• Designs for real-world delivery rather than architecture for architecture's sake.
• Recognises that strong AI and analytics capability starts with trusted, accessible and well-governed data.

Please Note:
As all iqbusiness roles require honesty in the handling of or access to cash, finances, financial systems, or confidential information; our recruitment process requires that the following background checks be completed: credit, criminal, ID, and qualification verification.

iqbusiness is committed to sustainable growth and transformation, we embrace diversity and employ previously disadvantaged individuals