Senior Solutions Architect; Databricks Specialist

This is a remote position.
We are seeking an experienced Senior Solutions Architect specializing in Databricks to provide strategic leadership and architectural oversight for a large-scale data modernization program within a leading Financial Services organization.
The client is currently transitioning from a traditional SQL Server and Microsoft-centric data ecosystem to a modern Databricks-based platform to support its long‑term data, analytics, and AI strategy. While the client has an established and capable Data Engineering team, they require a senior‑level architect to provide strategic direction, implementation frameworks, architectural governance, and best‑practice guidance to ensure a successful and cost‑effective transformation.
This role will focus on defining the target‑state architecture, establishing standards and governance, optimizing platform design, and ensuring alignment between technology investments and business objectives.

• Provide strategic architectural leadership for the organisation's Databricks implementation and data modernization initiatives.
• Design and define enterprise‑scale data and analytics architectures aligned to business and AI objectives.
• Develop and implement architectural frameworks, standards, patterns, and best practices for Databricks adoption.
• Guide the Data Engineering team on solution design, scalability, performance optimisation, security, and governance.
• Assess current SQL Server and Microsoft‑based environments and define migration strategies to Databricks.
• Ensure architecture decisions support future AI, machine learning, advanced analytics, and reporting requirements.
• Evaluate and optimise platform utilisation to drive cost efficiency and maximise return on investment.
• Establish governance, architecture review processes, and implementation roadmaps.
• Provide executive‑level insights and recommendations on technology direction, risks, opportunities, and investments.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders, technology leadership, engineering teams, and vendors to drive successful outcomes.
• Oversee solution quality and ensure alignment with enterprise architecture principles and regulatory requirements.
• Identify technical risks, dependencies, and potential challenges, implementing mitigation strategies where required.
• Mentor engineering teams and promote architectural excellence across the program.

• Deep expertise in Databricks architecture, implementation, and optimisation
• Strong understanding of enterprise data platforms and modern data architectures
• Data Lakehouse architecture design and implementation
• Data governance, security, compliance, and data management frameworks
• Data migration strategy and execution
• Enterprise integration patterns and cloud‑based architectures
• Analytics, Business Intelligence, and AI/ML platform enablement

• Experience with Microsoft Azure Data Services
• Azure Data Factory
• Azure Synapse Analytics
• SQL Server
• Delta Lake
• Unity Catalog
• Data Ops and Dev Ops practices
• AI and Machine Learning platform architecture

• 10+ years of experience in Solution Architecture, Enterprise Architecture, or Data Architecture roles.
• Demonstrated experience delivering large‑scale data transformation and modernisation initiatives.
• Extensive experience designing and implementing Databricks solutions in enterprise environments.
• Proven track‑record supporting cloud migration and modern data platform programmes.
• Experience with in Financial Services, Banking, Insurance, or highly regulated environments.
• Strong understanding of data governance, security, compliance, and risk management frameworks.
• Experience developing enterprise architecture standards, frameworks, and…