Lead Data Architect

ASA Recruitment’s client, a Public Sector organisation in Edinburgh are currently looking to recruit a Lead Data Architect, for an initial 10 month contract (with potential extensions) on a rate £735/day inside of IR35 (based on experience). This is a hybrid role with 2 days onsite per week in Edinburgh City Centre and 3 days remote.

• Design, govern and oversee data models and metadata systems, ensuring alignment with business needs
• Provide strategic leadership on data architecture across the programme, supporting the overall architecture lead and data architect vision
• Ensure systems are designed in accordance with agreed data architecture principles and standards
• Champion data architecture practices, standards and ways of working across teams
• Manage data-related risks, resolve complex data issues, and drive continuous improvement
• Ensure effective integration of data across products, services and external partners

• Data Strategy & Architecture:
  Ability to define and deliver a scalable data architecture strategy aligned to programme objectives and external standards (e.g. ONS).
• Data Modelling & Standards:
  Strong expertise in developing and governing data models, ensuring consistency and interoperability across systems and other government partners.
• Data Integration & Flow:
  Experience designing end-to-end data flows, enabling seamless data collection, processing, and dissemination at scale.
• Leadership & Governance:
  Proven leadership in complex programmes, establishing data governance, quality standards, and effective stakeholder engagement

• Advanced architectures:
  Data mesh, data fabric, real‑time/event‑driven systems
• Modern tools:
  Databricks, Snowflake, Kafka, dbt
• Cloud engineering maturity: CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, Data Ops, containers
• AI/ML enablement:
  Supporting MLOps and advanced analytics platforms
• Analytics expertise: BI tools and semantic data layers
• Certifications & frameworks: TOGAF, DAMA, cloud certifications