Senior Data Architect

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Job description

Our client is looking for a Senior Data Architect for a contract position, remote working available (regular travel to Aberdeen).

ROLE

• Responsible for the support, development and delivery of cloud-based data engineering solutions.
• Reference (Technical Authority) for cloud data architecture within the company (Centre of Excellence)
• Provide support & guidance on data and technology subjects for the Digital development squads across the business
• Act as consultant for the Data Engineers to ensure best practice for data architecture is applied consistently across the company

RESPONSIBILITIES

• The IS Data Architect will lead the development and design of cloud data solutions required to support the long term goals of the company and the wider company group.
• The IS Data Architect will be responsible for the specification, build and maintenance of new requirements for the company digital projects.
• The IS Data Architect will ensure robust move to run procedures and process are established to assist in the ongoing support of digital solutions.
• The IS Data Architect must be able to effectively work with key business users and IS colleagues to provide high-quality solution designs
• The IS Data Architect shall provide subject matter expert (SME) best practice guidance across the domain.
• The IS Data Architect must work effectively with centralised teams to ensure that solutions delivered within the affiliate align to Group standards, security rules and procedures

Data Architect / Strategy:

• Analyse and define data architecture requirements by evaluating business processes and existing data structures and applications.
• Design and implement data models to document the data architecture in its AS-IS and TO-BE states.
• Assist in the definition of a Cloud Data strategy, solutions and roadmaps, ensuring they meet both business and performance goals in line with the company IT strategy and Data Governance guidelines.
• Identification of new digital techniques, tools or best practices and assist in integrating them into the Digital & Data department's ways of working.
• Make recommendations on IS expenditure for digital enhancements and projects

Functional Expertise:

• Provide functional expertise and guidance around leveraging the capabilities of cloud platforms to business stakeholders.
• Act as liaison between business key users and the IS Department - for investigating, analyzing, and implementing cloud-based solutions (including documenting, data mapping, analytical processing and source system modifications).
• Identify and promote ways in which processes, procedures and IS can be changed or adapted to achieve improvements in the cost effectiveness and quality of its operation.

Solution Development:

• Assist in the development of end-to-end solutions for new and existing digital projects.
• Run proof of concepts and investigate opportunities for use of innovative cloud solutions.
• Review change/enhancements requests to ensure there is a business justification and that they are cost effective and technically sound

Solution Support:

• Support incident resolution on productionised digital solutions.
• Responsible for ensuring the production services are optimally configured and aligned to best practices to protect production data.
• Support the development of automated data pipelines (ETL, ELT) in conjunction with business stakeholders and IS teams.
• Work in close collaboration with IT to define and develop the industrialised digital support process which will be managed and administered by IT.

REQUIREMENTS

• A numerate honours degree (e.g. Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering) with professional experience.
• Ability to develop technical solutions and functional specifications based on business requirements.

Knowledge of leading technologies including:

o Enterprise data modelling

o Data ingestion and integration

o Data storage and security

o Data processing and distributed computing

• Extensive experience working with relational databases, including database administration.
• Proven production experience and best practice knowledge of cloud platforms, features, and capabilities (Microsoft Azure components)
• Experience integrating cloud services to securely work with on premise data sources.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication skills, written and verbal combined with effective technical presentation skills.
• Organised, methodical and able to multi-task whilst working under tight deadlines.

Preferred:

• An understanding of the Upstream industry and knowledge of Upstream companies main strategic drivers.
• Knowledge of multi-tier, high availability, cloud and on premise data engineering solutions in a complex multi-site enterprise environment.
• Experience of working within the Microsoft Azure tech stack
• Experience of working within a dynamic Agile based team.