Data Solution Architect

Competitive salary plus benefits

This role would suit a passionate and experienced architect who enjoys working within a mature architecture practice and collaborative environment.

You will:

• Lead end-to-end solution architecture for data initiatives, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture, data strategy, principles and standards.
• Shape data solutions that support Asda's business objectives and digital transformation programmes.
• Act as the architecture lead for major data initiatives, partnering with engineering, product and business teams to deliver strategic outcomes.
• Translate business requirements into high-level solution designs, data flows, integration approaches, architectural decisions and supporting documentation.
• Develop reusable architecture patterns and standards that improve consistency, reduce complexity and accelerate delivery.
• Support programmes and products from discovery and planning through detailed design, build, production transition and continuous improvement.
• Champion best practice across data architecture, governance, security and compliance.
• Contribute to the continued evolution of Asda's enterprise data capabilities and technology landscape.

You'll be an experienced architect with a strong background in delivering modern data solutions within large-scale, complex environments.

You'll bring:

• Experience collaborating with business, technology and data stakeholders to understand priorities, requirements and constraints.
• Proven experience designing scalable and maintainable data architectures on modern cloud platforms such as Databricks, Snowflake, Microsoft Fabric, AWS, Azure or Google Cloud.
• Strong architecture and solution design skills, including current-state assessment, gap analysis and future-state definition.
• A strong understanding of modern data platforms, including data ingestion, transformation, storage, governance, security, analytics and data product delivery patterns.
• The ability to translate ambiguous business requirements into practical, scalable technical solutions.
• Experience producing high-level designs, solution documentation, architecture artefacts and data flows.
• A good understanding of data integration, observability, resilience and non-functional requirements.
• Experience applying architecture principles, standards and governance processes to ensure alignment with enterprise strategy and platform direction.
• The ability to identify and mitigate technical, operational and data-related risks, ensuring solutions meet regulatory and organisational requirements.
• Confidence working with product, engineering, security, delivery and business stakeholders across multiple levels.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to distil complex architectures into clear and consumable documentation.
• The ability to explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences in a compelling and accessible way.
• Experience presenting at Design Authority and other governance forums, building consensus and influencing decision-making.
• A collaborative approach to managing complexity, influencing outcomes and delivering robust, cost-effective solutions.

Retail experience would be advantageous, although we're equally interested in architects who have operated successfully within other large, complex enterprise environments.

• Experience designing solutions across adjacent domains including integration, applications, infrastructure and cyber security.
• Knowledge of modern data architecture patterns, including Medallion Architecture, and an appreciation of dimensional modelling techniques such as Kimball.
• Experience developing reusable design patterns and standards that improve delivery consistency and reduce operational overhead.
• Awareness of architecture frameworks such as TOGAF.
• Experience with enterprise architecture tooling. Experience with Ardoq would be beneficial, although training will be provided.
• Experience working within Agile delivery environments and Agile Architecture practices.
• Relevant cloud, architecture or data certifications.
• Awareness of current technology trends, including the practical application of AI and GenAI within enterprise data solutions.
• Experience working within cross-functional product, engineering and delivery teams.

To ensure we balance moments where we know we need to collaborate together and the need for flexibility, Asda has a hybrid way of working with a minimum 3 days a week in one of our Home Offices. Over and above this, each area of Asda may have additional requirements which may require spending more days in the office, visiting suppliers, stores or depots.

You will also get an excellent benefits package including:

• Discretionary company bonus

• Company pension up to 7% matched

• Company Car allowance of £5,700

• 15% colleague discount in store and online

• Free access to wellbeing services such as Stream, 24/7 virtual GP, counselling, health and dental cash plans and a 24/7 employee assistance helpline, alongside discounts across a range of services and activities, from airport parking, enhanced to theme parks and cinemas.

• Asda Allies Inclusion Networks – helping colleagues to make sure everybody is included and that our differences are recognised and celebrated

• Excellent parental leave policies, including maternity & adoption leave, paternity leave, shared parental leave, neonatal care leave, and support for those doing fertility treatments.

We want all colleagues to be able to bring their best and true selves to work, every day. Simply put, we want our colleagues to be Proud to be Asda and proud to be themselves