Principal Data Solution Architect, Methods
More information about location
IT services consultancy
Be an early applicant
IT services consultancy
201-500 employees
Be an early applicant
More information about location
201-500 employees
Company mission
To help safeguard public-facing services and apply digital thinking to make sure the future of our public services is centred around our citizens.
Role
Who you are
- Deep knowledge of Fabric architecture, governance, OneLake, Real-Time Intelligence, Data Engineering, Warehousing and Power BI integration
- Capability to influence senior stakeholders, programme sponsors and project boards
- Ability to communicate technical decisions to non-technical executives and secure agreement on technical direction
- Deep knowledge of the Azure data stack (Azure SQL Server, CosmosDB, Azure Data Factory, Purview, Synapse, Event Hub, Azure Databricks/Fabric)
- Extensive data modelling experience: both normalised relational models and de-normalised Star Schema/dimensional models
- Excellent relational database design skills with expertise in diagnosing and optimising performance across SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and cloud databases
- Proven track record with complex data migration projects (terabyte+ datasets, multiple legacy source systems, structures and unstructured data)
- Proficiency with Parquet/Delta Lake or other modern data storage formats
- Experience with streaming architectures using Kafka, Event Hubs, or Kinesis for real-time data processing
- Knowledge of data architectures supporting AI/ML workloads, including vector databases, feature stores and MLOps pipelines
- Experience processing and managing unstructured data types (text, images, logs, sensor data)
- Understanding of Lambda and Kappa architectural patterns and when to apply each
- UKSV (United Kingdom Security Vetting) clearance is required for this role, with Security Check (SC) as the minimum standard, either already held or with a willingness to undergo the process. As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)
Desirable
- Exposure to high-performing, low latency or large volume data systems
- Knowledge of and/or experience with Government Digital Service practices across Discovery/Alpha/Beta/Live phases
- Understanding of vector databases and similarity search for AI applications
- Experience with Infrastructure as Code and modern DevOps practices
- Knowledge of how to design and analyse operational logs for data processing, and triage incidents
- Awareness of advances in AI technologies, data services, and architectural practices
- Industry specialisation in specific sectors (Engineering, Manufacturing, Healthcare etc.)
- Public sector or defence experience
- Understanding of data mesh or data fabric architectural approaches
- Relevant industry certifications such as TOGAF 9, CDMP (Certified Data Management Professional), or Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305)
What the job involves
- Methods is recruiting for a Data Architect with deep knowledge of Fabric architecture to join our team a permanent basis
- This role will be mainly remote but require flexibility to travel to client sites, and our offices based in London, Sheffield
- Be the senior technical authority for the programme, responsible for defining technical direction, priorities, standards and decision-making
- Be accountable for creating and maintaining the Data Transformation Programme roadmap and ensuring all workstreams align to the target architecture and business objectives
- Setting priorities
- Guiding technical workstreams
- Identifying incorrect or low-value activities
- Redirecting effort towards programme outcomes
- Uplift the capability of the existing team
- Mentor architects and engineers
- Establish good engineering practices
- Develop Fabric knowledge within both Methods and the customer team
- Chair or lead: Architecture reviews. Design authorities, Technical governance forums and Data platform standards reviews
- Advocate the business benefit of data standards, championing and governing those standards across projects and the organisation
- Demonstrate an overall perspective on business issues and activities, determining patterns, standards, policies, roadmaps and vision statements
- Make and guide effective decisions, explaining clearly how decisions have been reached and resolving technical disputes across varying levels of complexity and risk
- Communicate effectively across organisational, technical and political boundaries, making complex technical information accessible for non-technical audiences
- Design how to expose data from systems (APIs, real-time streams), link data from multiple systems, and deliver modern data services
- Ensure that risks associated with deployment are adequately understood and documented
- Design end-to-end data solutions from requirements through implementation, including technical documentation and architecture blueprints
- Lead complex data migration projects from legacy systems to modern cloud-native platforms
- Evaluate and recommend appropriate technologies across the modern data stack to meet specific client needs
- Enable transformative business decisions through robust, scalable data architectures
- Drive adoption of modern data platforms and AI-enabled analytics solutions
- Establish technical standards and architectural patterns that ensure quality, security, and maintainability
- Help cultivate a data-driven culture within client organisations and internally
- Deliver architectures that seamlessly integrate traditional and modern data systems
Salary benchmarks
Our take
The UK public sector has long understood the need for digital transformation, but antiquated systems and outdated processes can make even the most ambitious plans for adaptation fall short. Methods has existed for more than 30 years to assist government departments and agencies make the leap, helping them understand the possibilities of digital transformation and guiding them through strategic planning, data migration and implementation phases.
Methods is an acknowledged leader in IT consultancy within the public sector, praised for their human touch and focus on sustainability which it believes sets it apart from firms. Indeed it is trusted by huge swathes of the UK public sector including the NHS, the Office for National Statistics, the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Defence, to name just a few.
Methods was acquired by the Alten Group in mid-2022. This acquisition will help to reinforce Method's position as a leading player in the public sector while also allowing it to broaden its role in the private sector. It is poised for growth and is investing heavily in talent to make this a reality.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Company
Company benefits
- Autonomy to develop and grow your skills and experience
- Be part of exciting project work that is making a difference in society
- Strong, inspiring and thought-provoking leadership
- A supportive and collaborative environment
- Development access to LinkedIn Learning, a management development programme and training
- Wellness 24/7 Confidential employee assistance programme
- Social - Breakfast Tuesdays, Pizza Thursday monthly, weekly social in the office and commitment to charitable causes
- Time off 25 days a year
- Pension Salary Exchange Scheme with 4% employer contribution and 5% employee contribution
- Discretionary Company Bonus based on company and individual performance
- Life Assurance of 4 times base salary
- Private Medical Insurance which is non-contributory (spouse and dependants included)
- Worldwide Travel Insurance which is non-contributory (spouse and dependants included)
- Benefits Platform offering various retail and leisure discounts
Company HQ
Farringdon, London, UK
Leadership
Pat Crossley-Smith
(Executive Director)Previously worked in Agile Product at BUPA and Senior Manager in Development at British Airways.
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