Lead Data Architect

Salary: £43,000 - 83,000 per year

Requirements:

• Extensive experience in data architecture and/or data platform engineering, including ownership of architecture on complex programmes
• Proven experience taking an established architecture and evolving it through clear roadmaps, standards, patterns and governance
• Good knowledge of on-premises, cloud and hybrid platforms, and strong knowledge of data governance, metadata, lineage, data quality, stewardship and lifecycle management
• Experience designing and governing architectures for constrained or mission environments, including edge deployments and contested connectivity patterns
• Experience leading engineers, setting clear technical direction, making pragmatic decisions and mentoring in a multidisciplinary environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex architecture to senior stakeholders
• Willingness to learn and the ability to demonstrate the required level of experience; we welcome applicants from varied educational and professional backgrounds
• Willingness to undergo DV Clearance

Responsibilities:

• Own our Data Fabric architecture end to end, including integration, processing, storage, metadata and lineage, governance, and consumption patterns
• Set the technical direction and make pragmatic architectural decisions while providing hands-on leadership to Data Fabric Engineers and Data Analysts
• Evolve, adopt and deploy our Data Fabric in secure customer environments, keeping the platform secure, scalable, resilient and operable
• Maintain and refine the target architecture and roadmap, including technology evolution, capability increments and deployment waves across environments
• Lead architecture for data integration and interoperability, including connector strategy, data-sharing patterns, event-driven integration, APIs, interface contracts and cross-domain data exchange
• Translate architectural intent into reference architectures, patterns and guardrails that enable repeatable engineering delivery
• Establish and run architecture governance and assurance, and lead data modelling at conceptual, logical and physical levels, including analytical models for downstream use
• Help unlock AI capability through strategic Data Fabric delivery, focusing on data quality, governance, accessibility and integration
• Stay close to engineering to ensure designs are buildable, testable and supportable

Technologies:

• AI
• Architect
• Cloud
• Fabric
• Support
• Security

More:

We are QinetiQ, where we create technologies and innovations to empower and protect lives. We are seeking a Lead Data Architect to join us at our Farnborough site, working with advanced technology and talented colleagues. The role is 37 hours per week, with hybrid working available. Our Farnborough site brings together engineering, IT and cyber specialists, project managers and other teams, and features high-energy laser technologies, a 5-metre pressurised wind tunnel and major research and development projects. We offer a competitive salary and benefits including a matched-contribution pension scheme with life assurance, generous holiday allowance with the option to purchase additional days, optional health cash plan, private medical and dental insurance, an employee discount portal and volunteering opportunities. We support the Armed Forces community and maintain Gold Award standard in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. We aim to make our recruitment process inclusive and can discuss reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability or health condition. Some roles are subject to national security vetting and additional restrictions; this role requires applicants to be willing to undergo DV Clearance.

last updated 40 week of 2026