Data Architect

Description

The company is hiring an experienced Data Architect for its Technology team on a permanent basis.

The role supports the build-out of a new end-to-end cloud data platform, keeping data architecture and platform strategy tied to business needs and the value the company wants to create.

You will work alongside the Product Manager, Data Platform and the Lead Data Engineer to turn product priorities, epics and user stories into practical designs that the Data Engineering team can build, supporting the shift toward a Dev/DataOps culture and a product-led approach to data.

The Technology team delivers solutions for Penguin Random House and values accountability, openness to change, personal ownership and collaboration with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design scalable, reliable data pipelines and architecture that bring internal and external data sources together in the cloud data platform.
• Define the architecture and migration approach for moving legacy data into Snowflake, including supporting data lake and transformed data layers.
• Build security, quality, performance and scalability into data environments so analysts and decision makers can rely on them.
• Make sure the architecture supports Power BI reporting and analytics as well as wider analytical and business intelligence needs.
• Set the technical direction for data architecture so it stays aligned with the data strategy, platform roadmap and business priorities.
• Keep data structures consistent with agreed policies, properly catalogued, and suitable for secure, compliant use of first and third-party data.
• Work with data science and analytics teams to build environments and structures that support advanced analytics, machine learning and AI.
• Track developments in the data industry and identify ways to improve the platform, raise efficiency and support new business outcomes.

Requirements

• Essential: extensive experience architecting cloud-based data engineering, BI and data science solutions.
• Essential: experience using dbt to transform, model, test and document data in a modern data platform.
• Essential: strong experience designing scalable data models and schemas for structured and unstructured data, including transactional, web analytics, CRM and marketing data.
• Essential: expert knowledge of data modelling and data structures, and the judgement to choose the right approach for each business and technical use case.
• Essential: very strong SQL skills and hands-on experience with PostgreSQL, SQL Server and Data Vault.
• Essential: experience designing code-based and tool-based data ingestion and storage solutions, knowing when each offers the most benefit.
• Essential: experience migrating and refactoring legacy data solutions and physical environments into cloud platforms, including handling the challenges and opportunities that arise.
• Essential: experience designing data structures that allow appropriate use of first and third-party data while meeting GDPR requirements.
• Essential: ability to work closely with engineering teams to build complex data environments and resolve data issues proactively.
• Essential: strong influencing and communication skills for working with technical colleagues, peers and business stakeholders.
• Essential: an inclusive, collaborative approach that values diverse perspectives and ways of working.
• Essential: you must currently be based in the UK with full right to work.
• Desirable: experience in the media sector or a similarly complex organisation.
• Desirable: experience with AWS Functions and related cloud technologies.

Conditions

Salary of up to £65,000, depending on how your skills and experience match the role.

Hybrid working: you will be in the head office in Embassy Gardens, London at least 2 days a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, plus extra days for team meetings, town halls and similar as needed.

Occasional travel to the warehouse site in Frating, Colchester may be required.

Applications close at 23:59 on Sunday 15th November 2026, with reviews on a rolling basis and the advert possibly closing earlier, so apply as soon as you can.

Apply with your CV. Candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria can opt in to an interview; reasonable adjustments can be discussed by contacting the recruitment team.

Equal opportunities: the company welcomes applications from all backgrounds.

Benefits

• A generous bonus scheme and benefits package.