Job Description

Data Architect

Department: IS

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: London

Reporting To: James Kirby

Description

We are seeking an experienced SQL Database Architect Administrator to lead the design, implementation, optimisation, security, and administration of enterprise database environments. This role combines strategic database architecture with hands-on database administration, ensuring that business-critical systems remain highly available, secure, scalable, and aligned with organisational objectives.

The successful candidate will be responsible for designing robust database solutions, managing SQL Server environments, supporting cloud and hybrid database platforms, implementing disaster recovery strategies, and driving database performance improvements. You will work closely with application development teams, infrastructure specialists, cybersecurity professionals, and business stakeholders to deliver reliable data solutions that support business growth and innovation.

This is an excellent opportunity for a database professional who thrives in complex environments and enjoys balancing architectural leadership with operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and maintain scalable, secure, and high-performance SQL database architectures.
• Administer and support Microsoft SQL Server environments across development, testing, and production platforms.
• Develop database strategies, standards, policies, and best practices to ensure consistency and governance.
• Monitor database performance and proactively identify opportunities for optimisation.
• Implement and maintain database security controls, access management, encryption, and compliance requirements.
• Design and manage high-availability and disaster recovery solutions, including backup, restore, clustering, and replication technologies.
• Support cloud-based database services, including Microsoft Azure SQL and hybrid database architectures.
• Collaborate with developers to design efficient database structures, queries, stored procedures, and indexing strategies.
• Troubleshoot complex database issues and provide technical leadership during incident resolution.
• Plan and execute database upgrades, migrations, patches, and platform enhancements.
• Ensure data integrity, availability, and recoverability across all database systems.
• Create and maintain technical documentation, architecture diagrams, operational procedures, and support knowledge bases.
• Conduct capacity planning and forecasting to support future business requirements.
• Provide technical mentoring and guidance to database administrators and development teams.
• Participate in architecture reviews and contribute to technology roadmaps and strategic initiatives.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Advanced expertise in Microsoft SQL Server administration and architecture.
• Strong knowledge of database design principles, data modelling, normalisation, and performance tuning.
• Experience with SQL Server Always On Availability Groups, Failover Clustering, Replication, and Log Shipping.
• Proficiency in T-SQL, stored procedures, triggers, and query optimisation.
• Experience managing Azure SQL Database, Azure Managed Instance, or other cloud database services.
• Knowledge of ETL processes, data integration, and data warehousing concepts.
• Familiarity with PowerShell scripting and database automation tools.
• Experience with database monitoring and performance management platforms.
• Understanding of backup, recovery, business continuity, and disaster recovery planning.
• Database security frameworks, encryption technologies, and access control methodologies.
• Data governance, regulatory compliance, and information security best practices.
• Enterprise architecture principles and database lifecycle management.
• Infrastructure concepts including Windows Server, networking, storage, and virtualisation technologies.
• DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, and Infrastructure-as-Code concepts.
• Proven experience in both database architecture and database administration roles.
• Demonstrated ability to manage large-scale, mission-critical database environments.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting capabilities.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Ability to translate business requirements into effective technical database solutions.
• Experience leading database projects, migrations, upgrades, and transformation initiatives.
• Relevant certifications such as Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or equivalent are advantageous.

This role is ideal for a senior database professional who can provide architectural leadership while ensuring the ongoing stability, security, and performance of enterprise SQL environments.