Technical Architect - Data Platform Modernisation

+ Fuly remote role (with expensed travel)

+ £500 to £520 per day Inside IR35

+ SC Cleared role

Role Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced Technical Architect to lead the architectural modernisation of a large-scale, mission-critical data platform within DWP.

This is a hands-on senior architecture role focused on transforming a complex brownfield data estate while maintaining uninterrupted service delivery. You'll be driving major technical decisions across data architecture, infrastructure, security, and cross-cloud connectivity - shaping the future of a platform that directly supports millions of UK citizens.

Key Responsibilities

1. Brownfield Architecture & Platform Modernisation

Lead the re-architecture of an established enterprise data platform (DWX).

Support new microservice-based upstream integrations and large-scale schema evolution (300+ schemas).

Design strategies to merge 3-5 years of legacy data with new data models while maintaining consistent user journeys.

Define modernisation approaches that minimise disruption to live services.

2. Data Platform & Integration Architecture

Design modern ingestion, transformation, and storage patterns.

Define migration and schema transition strategies that maintain data quality, lineage, and service continuity.

Architect phased rollout approaches to reduce operational risk.

3. Infrastructure, Security & Network Architecture

Lead the transition from bespoke UC MacBook/VPC setups to standardised DWP environments using Zscaler.

Define secure connectivity models between AWS-hosted platforms and Azure-based DWP environments.

Ensure secure cross-cloud data transfer, compliance, and governance.

4. Technology Modernisation & Standards Alignment

Assess existing technology choices and define migration strategies to DWP-aligned standards.

Produce architecture options, technical roadmaps, and ADRs.

Drive reduction of technical debt and alignment to DWP Digital Blueprint and Enterprise Architecture standards.

5. Leadership, Governance & Stakeholder Engagement

Act as senior architectural authority across DWX and related platforms.

Provide architectural assurance, governance, and strategic technical leadership.

Essential Skills & Experience

Proven experience as a Senior / Lead Technical Architect in complex brownfield environments.

Deep expertise in data platform architecture, including ingestion patterns, schema evolution, and microservice integration.

Strong AWS + Azure multi-cloud integration experience.

Background working within government, public sector, or regulated environments.

Strong infrastructure, security & network architecture experience (Zscaler, VPCs, VPN, identity).

Experience modernising critical platforms while maintaining live service delivery.

Strong governance, security assurance and SRE handover experience.

Excellent stakeholder communication and leadership skills.

Strong technical documentation skills (Confluence / SharePoint).

Desirable

Event-driven and microservice-based data architectures.

Kotlin experience and migration pathways to Java / Python.

Knowledge of Power BI, CoPilot, or GenAI