Senior Data Architect

Senior Data Architect

Pay of up to £83,917, plus 28.97% employer pension contributions, hybrid working, flexible hours, and great work life balance.

DWP. Digital with Purpose.

We're looking for Senior Data Architects to help shape how data underpins some of the UK's most critical public services.

At DWP Digital, we build and run services that support millions of people every day - from accessing financial support to finding work. Data is at the heart of that mission.

As a Senior Data Architect, you'll play a key role in designing the data foundations that enable these services to operate at scale, securely and effectively.

You'll work on complex, high-impact initiatives across DWP Digital, collaborating with architects, engineers and senior stakeholders to define the right solutions. You'll bring clarity to ambiguity, develop architectural options, and provide expert guidance that informs both technology choices and long-term strategic direction.

This is a rare opportunity to influence enterprise-scale data architecture in a genuinely meaningful context - improving services that make a difference to society.

What skills, knowledge and experience will you need?

• Extensive knowledge of data architecture design and modelling with demonstrable application of industry-recognised techniques, patterns, tools and standards.
• Demonstrable ability to present data architecture designs and articulate key decisions to technical governance forums ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture principles and strategic objectives.
• Proven experience across core data architecture disciplines including Data Modelling, Master Data Management (MDM), Metadata Management and Data Governance.
• In-depth understanding of event-driven architecture with demonstrable application of patterns such as publish-subscribe (pub/sub) and data streaming supported by appropriate modelling techniques tools and standards.
• Strong practical experience of public cloud technologies and cloud-native design including hosting, containerisation and networking patterns with proficiency across platforms such as AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
• Solid understanding of Agile delivery methodologies with proven application of best practices in complex cross-functional technology environments.
• Hands-on experience of DevOps principles including strong working knowledge of Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD) practices and tooling.
• Proven capability to shape, influence and support technology initiatives across projects, programmes and portfolios ensuring alignment with architectural vision and organisational outcomes.

You and your role

As a Senior Data Architect, you'll work across multiple programmes and delivery teams, applying enterprise-level thinking to complex data challenges.

You'll translate business and user needs into scalable, resilient data architectures - designing models, structures and frameworks that support consistent, high-quality and well-governed data across the organisation.

You'll take ownership of key architectural artefacts, including data models, metadata frameworks and data dictionaries, ensuring clarity, consistency and alignment at scale.

Working alongside other Data and Technical Architects, you'll ensure data architecture is fully integrated into wider system design, enabling solutions that are robust, interoperable and future-ready.

You'll also provide technical leadership within the community - guiding other Data Architects, supporting design decisions, and ensuring adherence to agreed standards, policies and governance frameworks.

Through your work, you'll influence how data is managed and used across DWP Digital, helping to build platforms and services that are secure, reliable and designed for long-term impact.

Details. Wages. Perks.

Location: You'll join us in one of our brilliant digital hubs in your choice of Birmingham, Blackpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield.

Hybrid Working: We work a hybrid model - you'll spend some time working at home and some time collaborating face to face in a hub.

Pay: We offer competitive pay of up to £83,917. You'll get a salary of £57,946 plus a Government Digital and Data Allowance of up to £25,971, subject to our assessment of capability at interview.

Pension: You'll get a brilliant civil service pension with employer contributions worth 28.97%, worth up to £16,786 per year.

Holidays: A generous leave package starting at 25 days rising to 30 days over time.

You can also take up to 3 extra days off a month on flexi-time. You'll also get all the usual public holidays.

We have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Flexible working including flexible hours and flex-friendly policies
• Time off volunteering and charitable giving
• Bring your authentic self to work with 'I Can Be Me in DWP'
• Discounts and savings on shopping, fun days out and more
• Interest-free loans to buy a bike or a season ticket, so it's even easier for you to get to work and start making a difference
• Sports and social activities
• Professional development, coaching, mentoring and career progression opportunities.

And we have an award-winning environment and culture:

• DWP have been recognised as 2024 Diversity Employer of the Year at the Computing Women in Tech Excellence awards
• Diverse and Inclusive Leadership at Digital Leaders Awards 2024
• Commended as Best Place to Work in Digital category in the Computing Digital Technology Leaders awards 2025
• Recognised as one of the Best Public Sector Employers at 2025 Women In Tech Employer Awards

Process:

We know your time is valuable so our application and selection process is just two stages:

Apply: complete your application on Civil Service Jobs. There'll be full instructions when you click through.

Interview: a single stage interview online.

CLICK APPLY for more information and to start your application.