Lead Data Architect

About the Role

At QinetiQ, we are shaping the future of defence technology. As a Lead Data Architect based at our Farnborough site, you will play a pivotal role in creating and implementing our data fabric architecture. This is an opportunity to collaborate with leading experts and contribute to groundbreaking innovations that empower and protect lives.

Your Responsibilities

You will take ownership of our data fabric architecture, driving its evolution, adoption, and deployment into secure customer environments. This involves both strategic planning and hands-on delivery.

• Set the technical direction and make pragmatic architectural decisions.
• Provide leadership to Data Fabric Engineers and Data Analysts, ensuring the platform is secure, scalable, resilient, and operable.
• Maintain and refine the target architecture and roadmap, establishing standards and governance.
• Ensure designs are buildable, testable, and supportable by staying closely connected to engineering efforts.
• Be a champion for unlocking AI capability through the strategic delivery of a Data Fabric, with a strong focus on data quality, governance, accessibility, and integration.
• Own the Data Fabric architecture end-to-end, encompassing integration, processing, storage, metadata/lineage, governance, and consumption patterns.
• Define and maintain the architecture roadmap, including technology evolution, capability increments, and deployment waves across various 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 approaches.
• Translate architectural intent into reference architectures, patterns, and guardrails to enable repeatable delivery by the engineering team.
• Establish and run architecture governance and assurance, leading data modelling across conceptual, logical, and physical levels, including analytical models for downstream use.

Essential Experience

• Extensive experience in data architecture and/or data platform engineering, including ownership of architecture on complex programmes.
• Proven experience in taking an established architecture, owning it, and evolving it through clear roadmaps, standards, patterns, and governance.
• A good knowledge of on-prem, cloud, and hybrid platforms, with strong expertise in data governance, metadata, lineage, data quality, stewardship, and lifecycle management.
• Previous experience designing and governing architectures for constrained or mission environments, including edge deployments and contested connectivity patterns.
• Proven experience leading engineers, providing clear technical direction, making pragmatic decisions, and mentoring in a multidisciplinary environment.
• The ability to clearly explain complex architecture to senior stakeholders, supported by excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Qualifications

We value diversity and welcome candidates from various backgrounds and educational paths. If you can demonstrate the required level of experience and a willingness to learn, we encourage you to apply.

Location and Working Patterns

This role is based at our Farnborough site, working 37 hours per week. Hybrid working patterns are available.

Why Join QinetiQ?

QinetiQ offers a dynamic and exciting work environment where innovation and collaboration are key. You will be part of a team that tackles complex challenges, contributes to future defences, and works in a diverse and inclusive culture. We offer a comprehensive benefits package including a matched contribution pension scheme, generous holiday allowance, health cash plan options, and an employee discount portal.

Security Clearance

Many roles at QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting. Applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it. Please note that all applicants for this role must be willing to undergo DV Clearance. Additional restrictions related to nationality or previous nationalities may apply.