Job Description – Technical Architect (SFIA Level 5)
Job Title: Technical Architect (SFIA Level 5 – Senior).
Programme: Unified Data Platform (UDP) – Azure Microsoft Fabric.
SFIA Level: Level 5 – Ensure, Advise.
DDaT Role: Technical Architect.
Contract Duration: Up to 36 months (with potential extension).
Location: Leeds / London / Sheffield / Remote (hybrid – travel to client sites as required).
Security Clearance: SC Clearance (required for this role).
Job Summary – What Makes This Role Exciting
An exceptional opportunity to shape the technical direction of one of the UK's most significant public sector data programmes. As a Senior Technical Architect on the client Unified Data Platform, you will define and govern the end-to-end technical architecture of a cloud-native data Lakehouse on Microsoft Azure Fabric, enabling data-driven services for over 22 million citizens across Universal Credit, State Pension, and disability benefits.
At SFIA Level 5, you will own the High-Level and Low-Level architectural designs, provide technical leadership across the data engineering, DevOps, and infrastructure squads, and serve as the primary technical authority for the programme. You will represent the programme at client Digital Design Authority, Red Lines Assessment boards, and other governance forums, ensuring all architectural decisions are compliant, defensible, and aligned to client strategic vision.
Key Responsibilities: -
• Define, own, and maintain the end-to-end technical architecture for the client UDP on Microsoft Azure Fabric; produce and gain approval for HLD and LLD artefacts.
• Provide technical governance leadership: represent the programme at client Digital Design Authority, Red Lines Assessment, and security governance boards; ensure all designs meet client standards.
• Lead architectural decision-making across the Microsoft Fabric Lakehouse, including medallion architecture design, data integration patterns, OneLake governance, and Microsoft Purview integration.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight to Data Engineers, DevOps Engineers, and Infrastructure Engineers; review designs, conduct code and architecture reviews, and enforce standards.
• Define non-functional requirements (NFRs) including performance, scalability, availability, security, and disaster recovery; validate these are met throughout the build lifecycle.
• Lead knowledge transfer of architectural design decisions, patterns, and documentation to client teams; build internal capability and ensure operational readiness.
Essential Technical Skills:
• Extensive experience as a Technical or Solution Architect on large-scale cloud data platform programmes.
• Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Azure Fabric – Lakehouse, Warehouse, Data Pipelines, OneLake, Fabric Notebooks, Real-Time Analytics, and Power BI integration.
• Extensive experience designing data Lakehouse architectures (medallion architecture, Delta Lake, Apache Spark).
• Strong expertise in Azure data services: Azure Data Factory, ADLS Gen2, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Databricks.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Purview for enterprise data governance, cataloguing, lineage, and compliance.
• Strong experience with Azure security architecture: Entra ID, Private Endpoints, Azure Key Vault, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, and zero-trust networking.
• Strong experience producing HLD and LLD documentation for governance and assurance processes.
• Good experience with infrastructure-as-code (Bicep/Terraform) and Azure DevOps CI/CD architecture.
Nice to Have Skills:
• Experience presenting at senior governance forums (e.g., government Digital Design Authority or equivalent).
• Familiarity with TOGAF or other enterprise architecture frameworks.
• Experience migrating from on-premises data warehouses or AWS/Azure Synapse to Microsoft Fabric.
• Knowledge of UK government security standards (NCSC Cloud Security Principles, OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE classification).
• Experience in client Digital or comparable DDAT-governed public sector programmes.
Domain / Behaviours:
• Ability to operate at both strategic and technical levels – from governance boards to code reviews.
• Strong influencing and communication skills with senior client stakeholders and multi-supplier teams.
• Commitment to building lasting client capability through knowledge transfer and documentation.
• Pragmatic and delivery-focused approach to architecture – balancing aspiration with programme reality.
• High levels of personal integrity and accountability, consistent with working in a sensitive government environment.
Qualifications:
• Relevant degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305) – essential.
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate (DP-203) or Fabric Analytics Engineer (DP-600) – desirable.
• TOGAF 9/10 Certification – desirable.
Travel Required:
• Yes – travel to client sites (Leeds, London, Sheffield) as required.
About Cognizant:
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, bridging the gap between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization’s unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, drive tangible outcomes and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at cognizant.ai or @cognizant.
Additional employment information
Compensation information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.
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