Contract Data Architect (AWS & Databricks) - Pensions Domain
Job Title: Data Architect
Contract Type: Day Rate Contract
Location: Hybrid (UK-based)
Duration: Initial 6 months (Extensions Likely)
Rate: £550-£600 (Outside IR35)
Overview
Our client is seeking an experienced Data Architect to support a major data transformation programme within the pensions sector. The successful contractor will play a key role in defining and delivering the target data architecture, helping modernise Legacy platforms and establish a scalable cloud-based data ecosystem.
This opportunity requires strong expertise across AWS and Databricks, alongside proven experience within the pensions industry, ideally supporting scheme administration, scheme management, member services, or pension operations functions.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and implement enterprise-scale data architectures leveraging AWS and Databricks.
- Define data models, architecture standards, governance frameworks, and best practices.
- Lead the migration of Legacy data platforms into modern cloud-based environments.
- Work closely with business stakeholders to understand pensions data requirements and translate them into architectural solutions.
- Develop and maintain conceptual, logical, and physical data models.
- Design scalable data lakes, lakehouse architectures, and analytics platforms.
- Ensure data solutions align with regulatory, security, and governance requirements.
- Support data integration initiatives across multiple source systems and third-party platforms.
- Collaborate with engineering, analytics, and business teams to establish data quality and master data management processes.
- Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance to delivery teams.
Required Skills & Experience
Technical Skills
- Extensive experience performing a Data Architect role within large-scale enterprise environments.
- Strong hands-on expertise with:
- AWS (S3, Glue, Lambda, Athena, Redshift, IAM, Lake Formation).
- Databricks (Lakehouse Architecture, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog).
- Data Warehousing and Data Lake solutions.
- ETL/ELT architecture and modern data integration patterns.
- SQL and data modelling techniques.
- Data governance, metadata management, and data quality frameworks.
- Experience designing cloud-native data platforms and migration strategies.
- Strong understanding of data security, privacy, and compliance requirements.
Domain Experience (Essential)
- Proven experience working within the Pensions industry.
- Strong understanding of:
- Pension schemes and scheme administration.
- Member data management.
- Pension calculations and benefits data.
- Contributions, transfers, and scheme operations.
- Regulatory and compliance considerations within pensions.
- Previous experience supporting Scheme Management functions is highly desirable.