Head of Data Architecture/Data Architect - Microsoft Fabric

Head of Data Architecture/Data Architect - Microsoft Fabric

Location: London | Hybrid - 2 days per week in Central London

Salary: £120,000 base + bonus + benefits

We are seeking a senior Data Architect/Head of Data Architecture to take ownership of the organisation's data architecture vision and play a pivotal role in shaping a modern, enterprise-scale data estate. The role will lead the architecture of a Microsoft Fabric-led data platform , creating the foundations required to turn trusted enterprise data into better decision-making, advanced analytics, AI and future digital products.

• Own the Data Architecture Strategy: Define the enterprise data architecture vision, target operating model, principles and roadmap, establishing a clear architectural direction that supports business strategy, analytics, AI and long-term digital transformation.
• Architect the Microsoft Fabric Platform: Lead the end-to-end architecture of the Microsoft Fabric data ecosystem , defining how Lakehouse, Data Warehouse, Data Engineering, Real Time Analytics and Semantic Models work together to create a scalable and coherent enterprise platform.
• Create an Enterprise Data Blueprint: Establish the architecture, standards and reusable patterns that govern how data is captured, integrated, transformed, stored, mastered and consumed across the organisation, reducing fragmentation and creating a consistent enterprise approach.
• Make Data Governance Architectural: Build governance, metadata, lineage, quality, security and ownership directly into the platform architecture. Define the standards and controls required to make data discoverable, trusted, appropriately governed and fit for consumption.
• Lead Enterprise Data Modelling: Own the development of enterprise information architecture, conceptual and logical data models, data domains, relationships and information flows. Develop architecture artefacts such as CRUD matrices, canonical models and data ownership structures to establish a common language for enterprise data.
• Shape Integration & Data Movement: Define the organisation's integration strategy across cloud, applications and data platforms, selecting appropriate API, ETL/ELT, event-driven, batch and Real Time patterns . Ensure integration decisions support scalability, resilience, security and maintainability.
• Drive Master Data & Data Quality: Establish architectural principles for Master Data Management, data mastering and critical data domains , ensuring the organisation has reliable sources of truth and clear accountability for the quality and life cycle of key business information.
• Provide Senior Technical Leadership: Act as the senior architectural voice across data initiatives, influencing engineering teams, Enterprise Architecture, Technology, Analytics and business leadership. Provide design assurance, challenge technical decisions where appropriate and ensure delivery remains aligned to the target architecture.
• Design for Analytics & AI: Build an architecture capable of supporting the next generation of BI, advanced analytics, machine learning and AI use cases . Ensure data products are scalable, reusable and accessible while maintaining appropriate security, governance and performance standards.
• Bring Deep Modern Data Expertise: Bring significant experience in enterprise/cloud data architecture , with strong hands-on expertise across Microsoft Fabric and the wider Microsoft data ecosystem , Azure data services, SQL, data modelling, metadata and catalogue platforms, lineage, integration and governance. You will combine strategic architectural thinking with the technical credibility to work directly with engineering teams and the judgement to influence senior stakeholders.