Data Design Lead

Data Design Lead

Posted 4 days ago by TTC Group (Tech Talent Consulting)

Negotiable
Undetermined
Hybrid
Southampton, England, United Kingdom

Summary: The Data Design Architect role is a hybrid position based in Southampton, requiring an experienced professional with over 7 years of expertise in data modelling and architecture. The successful candidate will lead complex data initiatives, ensuring high-quality data management and lifecycle processes while collaborating with various stakeholders. This hands-on role demands a meticulous approach to data design standards and scalable solutions across diverse data domains.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead the design and delivery of conceptual, logical, and physical data models for high-complexity, enterprise-scale data environments.
  • Define and maintain data architecture standards, patterns, and best practices across the organisation.
  • Work across structured, semi-structured, and non-tabular datasets, including event-based and streaming data sources.
  • Establish and embed data quality management frameworks, including profiling, validation, monitoring, and remediation processes.
  • Own end-to-end data lifecycle management — from ingestion and curation through to archival, retention, and decommissioning.
  • Write, optimise, and review advanced SQL to support modelling, validation, and analytical use cases.
  • Partner closely with data engineers, analysts, platform teams, and business stakeholders to translate requirements into resilient data designs.
  • Contribute to governance, metadata management, and access control strategies on the data platform.
  • Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior data designers, modellers, and engineers.

Key Skills:

  • 7+ years of experience as a Data Modeller or Data Architect, with a proven track record of modelling high-complexity data in enterprise environments.
  • Demonstrable experience implementing and managing data quality processes and frameworks.
  • Strong background in data lifecycle management, covering ingestion, storage, transformation, retention, and archival.
  • Hands-on experience working with non-tabular data and event-based data processing.
  • Advanced-level SQL querying skills, including performance tuning and complex transformations.
  • Strong attention to detail with a disciplined approach to documentation, standards, and design quality.
  • A collaborative working style with the ability to engage effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Salary (Rate): undetermined

City: Southampton

Country: United Kingdom

Working Arrangements: hybrid

IR35 Status: undetermined

Seniority Level: undetermined

Industry: IT

Detailed Description From Employer:

Position: Data Design Architect

Location: Hybrid (Southampton – one day a week or once every two weeks)

Duration: 6 months

Engagement mode: Contract Role

Experience Level: 7+ Years

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior / Lead Data Design Architect to take ownership of complex data modelling and architecture initiatives. The successful candidate will bring deep technical expertise in modelling high-complexity data alongside a strong grasp of data quality, lifecycle management, and modern data platform capabilities. This is a hands-on role for a meticulous, collaborative practitioner who can shape data design standards and deliver robust, scalable solutions across both tabular and non-tabular data domains.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead the design and delivery of conceptual, logical, and physical data models for high-complexity, enterprise-scale data environments.
  • Define and maintain data architecture standards, patterns, and best practices across the organisation.
  • Work across structured, semi-structured, and non-tabular datasets, including event-based and streaming data sources.
  • Establish and embed data quality management frameworks, including profiling, validation, monitoring, and remediation processes.
  • Own end-to-end data lifecycle management — from ingestion and curation through to archival, retention, and decommissioning.
  • Write, optimise, and review advanced SQL to support modelling, validation, and analytical use cases.
  • Partner closely with data engineers, analysts, platform teams, and business stakeholders to translate requirements into resilient data designs.
  • Contribute to governance, metadata management, and access control strategies on the data platform.
  • Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior data designers, modellers, and engineers.

Required Skills & Experience

  • 7+ years of experience as a Data Modeller or Data Architect, with a proven track record of modelling high-complexity data in enterprise environments.
  • Demonstrable experience implementing and managing data quality processes and frameworks.
  • Strong background in data lifecycle management, covering ingestion, storage, transformation, retention, and archival.
  • Hands-on experience working with non-tabular data and event-based data processing.
  • Advanced-level SQL querying skills, including performance tuning and complex transformations.
  • Strong attention to detail with a disciplined approach to documentation, standards, and design quality.
  • A collaborative working style with the ability to engage effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Desirable Experience

  • Working knowledge of Databricks Unity Catalog, particularly around metadata and system tables.
  • Understanding of row-level security (RLS) and attribute-based access control (ABAC) within modern data platforms.

What We're Looking For

A pragmatic, detail-driven data design leader who combines deep modelling expertise with a collaborative mindset. You will be equally comfortable shaping high-level architecture and rolling up your sleeves to validate data at the column level — and you will bring the rigour needed to embed quality and lifecycle discipline across complex, evolving data estates.