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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Data Architect - **Company:** Affinity Water - **Location:** Hatfield, UK - **Contract:** Temporary contract - **Skills:** Third Normal Form, BigQuery, Data Architecture, Data Cleansing, Data Governance, Extract Transform Load (ETL), Data Systems, Data Vault Modeling, Software Design Patterns, Meta-Data Management, Metadata Standards, Software Architecture, Reference Data, Cloud Services, Data Streaming, User-Centered Design, Snowflake, Data Strategy, Integration Frameworks, Apache Kafka, Data Management, Physical Data Models, Api Design, Domain Driven Design, Azure Synapse Analytics, Amazon Redshift, Databricks - **Published:** July 14, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.totaljobs.com/job/data-architect/affinity-water-limited-job107682177 ## About the Role The ideal candidate will bring strong expertise in conceptual, logical, and physical data modelling, alongside deep experience in data governance, data quality, and metadata management. A strong knowledge of Master and Reference Data Management (MDM/RDM), with experience working across integrated data governance and metadata management ecosystems, including Infosphere, Alation, Informatica, and Ataccama, supporting data quality, lineage, governance, and enterprise-wide data consistency, would be highly valuable., * Proven experience as a Data Architect, Solution Architect with strong data background, or senior data engineer/analyst transitioning into architecture. * Knowledge of Master and Reference Data Management and experience of integrated associated systems (Infosphere, Alation, Informatica, Ataccama etc) * Demonstrable expertise in conceptual, logical, and physical data modelling with clear understanding of modelling patterns and trade-offs. * Strong understanding of data governance frameworks, metadata management, data ownership/stewardship models, and business glossaries. * Hands-on experience embedding data quality rules, profiling, scoring, and exception management into pipelines. * Familiarity with modern cloud data platforms (Snowflake, Databricks, Azure Synapse, BigQuery, Redshift, etc.). * Ability to lead architectural thinking across multiple domains and manage stakeholder complexity. * Ability to produce high-quality architectural artefacts: blueprints, models, solution designs, integration specifications. * Experience working in regulated sectors (utilities, financial services, health, etc.) is advantageous. Desirable * Experience with data mesh, domain-driven design, or federated data ownership models. * Experience with Great Expectations, dbt tests, or enterprise DQ tooling. * Knowledge of MDM, reference data management, and semantic modelling. * Experience with streaming platforms (Kafka, EventHub) and API-based integration. * Understanding of AI/ML data preparation pipelines and feature store design. ## Description We are looking for a highly capable Data Architect to join us on a 24-month FTC, bringing the ability to translate business needs into robust, scalable data architectures and confidently lead end-to-end design across complex, multi-domain technology landscapes. The role requires someone who can work collaboratively with business stakeholders, solution architects, data engineers, and product teams to shape, govern, and deliver scalable, reliable, and data-driven solutions that support operational, analytical, and regulatory objectives, while embedding integrity, lineage, and governance throughout the wider data estate and ensuring alignment to enterprise architecture and strategy., Data Architecture & Modelling * Develop conceptual, logical, and physical data models for operational, analytical, and regulatory workloads. * Create and maintain data architecture blueprints and reference architectures covering ingestion, integration, storage, lineage, and consumption. * Define modelling patterns (3NF, dimensional/star, Data Vault, canonical models) and guide teams on when and how to apply them. * Optimise physical designs for performance, scalability, cost and resilience across cloud data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks, Synapse, BigQuery). * Lead design reviews, ensuring models are accurate, high-quality, and aligned with business capabilities and domain boundaries. Data Governance & Metadata Management * Define data ownership, stewardship models, and contribute to the governance operating framework. * Build and maintain data dictionaries, business glossaries, critical data elements (CDEs) and metadata standards. * Ensure all data solutions align with governance policies, including lineage, retention, access, and security requirements. * Support governance forums and collaborate with business stewards to drive consistent definitions and controlled change. Data Quality Architecture & Pipelines * Embed data quality rules and dimensions (completeness, timeliness, accuracy, uniqueness, validity, consistency) across ETL/ELT and streaming pipelines. * Design data quality metrics, alerts, and monitoring frameworks to surface quality issues to stewards and downstream consumers. * Partner with engineering teams to implement automated DQ checks, profiling, and remediation patterns. * Ensure DQ scoring and lineage are built into architecture in a systematic and reusable way. Stakeholder Engagement & Requirements Leadership * Lead architectural discovery to capture business needs, translate them into data requirements, and shape programme/solution scope. * Manage and communicate architectural decisions with senior business and technical stakeholders. * Navigate ambiguity and stakeholder nuance, ensuring alignment across product teams, SMEs, vendors, and governance bodies. * Produce high-quality design documentation and present designs to Architecture Review Boards or equivalent governance forums. Delivery Governance & Technical Leadership * Oversee the implementation of data architectures and ensure engineering teams follow patterns, standards, and best practices. * Provide technical guidance on integration design, ingestion patterns, transformation methods, caching, orchestration, and storage optimisation. * Conduct design assurance throughout delivery, ensuring solutions adhere to non-functional requirements (performance, availability, resilience, cost). * Coach engineers, analysts, and stewards on modelling, data quality, and governance practices., * High trust and alignment among stakeholders because architectural decisions are well-reasoned and clearly communicated. * Measurable improvements in data quality, lineage visibility, and governance adoption. * Production of repeatable design patterns and frameworks that accelerate delivery. * Delivery teams are confident, aligned, and able to execute effectively because the architecture removes ambiguity. Why Join Us? * Work at the centre of a major transformation in a sector where reliable data is mission-critical. * Influence enterprise-level data strategy and shape how data is governed, modelled, and used across the organisation. * Join a team that values architectural thinking, collaboration, transparency, and continuous learning. * Opportunity to work across diverse data domains including asset management, customer operations, leakage, regulatory reporting, and sustainability. ## Related Videos - [Data Science in Retail](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/586-data-science-in-retail) - [Modern Data Architectures need Software Engineering](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1030-modern-data-architectures-need-software-engineering) - [Cutting LLM Costs Without Cutting Quality: How to Beat Proprietary LLMs with Fine-Tuned Open Source](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100151-cutting-llm-costs-without-cutting-quality-how-to-beat-proprietary-llms-with-fine-tuned-open-source) - [How Cisco embraced a DevOps culture within its network engineering team](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/99-how-cisco-embraced-a-devops-culture-within-its-network-engineering-team) - [From Messy Queries to Scalable Systems - How Data Engineering actually works](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100203-from-messy-queries-to-scalable-systems-how-data-engineering-actually-works) - [Blueprints for Success: Steering a Global Data & AI Architecture](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1577-blueprints-for-success-steering-a-global-data-ai-architecture) ## Related Articles - [Data Engineer Salary UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/253-data-engineer-salary-uk) - [Making Data Warehouses Fast: A Developer’s Story](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/107-making-data-warehouses-fast-a-developer-s-story) - [Data Analyst Salary in the UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/278-data-analyst-salary-in-the-uk) - [Graph and AI Trends 2026: Why Is AI Running but Not Yet Delivering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/680-graph-and-ai-trends-2026-why-is-ai-running-but-not-yet-delivering) - [Top Big Data Technologies That You Need to Know](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/108-top-big-data-technologies-that-you-need-to-know) - [The Most Popular IT Jobs on the Market](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/376-the-most-popular-it-jobs-on-the-market)