Lead Data Architect

I.T. & Communications
Midlothian
July 7, 2026
Permanent
Urgent

Job Description

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.

Responsibilities

  • 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

Essential Skills & Experience

  • 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

Desirable Skills

  • 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, DataOps, containers
  • AI/ML enablement: Supporting MLOps and advanced analytics platforms
  • Analytics expertise: BI tools and semantic data layers
  • Certifications & frameworks: TOGAF, DAMA, cloud certifications

Location

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