Senior Data Architect - AI & Data Modernisation

Senior Data Architect - AI & Data Modernisation

£700 - £725 p/day | 12-month contract | Hybrid

We’re looking for a senior Data Architect to join a major technology and data organisation on a long-term contract, working on a significant programme of data modernisation and AI enablement.

This is a senior architecture role for someone who can look across an enterprise data estate, understand how the different parts fit together and design an architecture that supports modern analytics, AI and real-time data.

You’ll work closely with Product, Data, Engineering and Data Science teams, helping shape the future data platform while also providing practical architectural direction to delivery teams.

What you'll be doing

Lead data modernisation across a large and complex data estate

Design enterprise data architectures that support AI, advanced analytics and predictive modelling

Define architectures for real-time data ingestion, processing and analytics

Work closely with Data Engineering and Data Science teams to make sure data and AI models can be operationalised at scale

Improve data interoperability, integration, reuse and the overall flow of data across the organisation

Establish and document data lineage, metadata and architectural standards

Build privacy and responsible AI considerations into data architecture

Work with senior stakeholders across Product, Data and Technology to make architectural decisions and gain agreement

Balance longer-term architecture with the practical requirements of live delivery

Help shape how the organisation's data architecture evolves to support AI, LLMs, knowledge graphs and wider ecosystem integration

We're looking for someone with

Strong experience as an Enterprise Data Architect / Data Architect

Experience leading data modernisation or transformation programmes

Strong understanding of enterprise data architecture, integration and data platforms

Experience designing architectures for real-time data and analytics

A good understanding of modern AI and LLM technologies and the data architecture needed to support them

Experience working closely with Data Engineering, Data Science and Product teams

Understanding of data governance, metadata, lineage and privacy

The ability to influence senior stakeholders and explain complex architecture in straightforward business terms

A pragmatic approach to architecture, with a track record of getting things delivered rather than producing architecture documents that sit on a shelf

Contract

Start: ASAP

Duration: 12 months

Hours: 35 per week

Location: Hybrid, with 2 days per week in the Heathrow/London area

This would suit an experienced Data Architect who enjoys working at enterprise level but still likes being close enough to delivery to see their architecture put into practice