Principal Data Architect, Secure Government and Defence ProgrammesLocation: UK, hybrid, client site as requiredSecurity Requirement: Developed Vetting (DV) clearance is mandatory.This role is only suitable for candidates who currently hold active DV clearance.OverviewA leading UK consulting organisation delivering mission-critical digital and data transformation across defence, national security, and sensitive government environments is seeking a Principal Data Architect. This is a senior, client-facing role focused on defining and delivering secure, scalable data platforms within highly classified programmes.Due to the nature of the work and access to classified systems, only candidates with active DV clearance can be considered.Role ResponsibilitiesDefine and lead enterprise-level data architecture for complex, secure transformation programmesArchitect end-to-end data platforms covering ingestion, integration, storage, governance, and analyticsDesign secure, resilient, and scalable architectures aligned with defence and national security requirementsTranslate mission and operational needs into technical data solutionsProvide technical leadership across engineering teams and client stakeholdersContribute to capability growth, technical strategy, and thought leadership within secure environmentsTechnical EnvironmentArchitectural responsibility across modern and legacy secure platforms, including:Multi-cloud platforms and secure data environmentsData lakes, warehouses, and distributed data systemsData ingestion, orchestration, and integration toolingCloud ecosystems such as AWS, Azure, and GCPDatabricks, Snowflake, and similar modern data platformsInfrastructure automation, DevOps, and secure deployment patternsData governance, metadata, and secure access frameworksAnalytics, semantic layers, and enterprise reporting platformsSeniority and Leadership ExpectationsOperate at Principal Consultant or equivalent leadership levelOwn architecture strategy across large, complex client programmesLead multidisciplinary teams across data, engineering, and delivery functionsProvide strategic technical direction and advisory support to senior stakeholdersSupport business development, technical assurance, and capability developmentEssential RequirementsActive DV clearance (mandatory, non-negotiable)Strong experience designing and delivering enterprise data architecturesExperience working in defence, national security, or highly regulated government environmentsDeep understanding of secure data platform design and cloud architecturesStrong stakeholder engagement and consulting capabilityExperience leading teams and delivering complex programmesJBRP1_UKTJ