Atkins is part of the SNC Lavalin Group of companies, the delivery of its IT is via a function called IT Services (ITS). Our ITS business is made up of digital, user service, technology and project management experts, working across multiple regions. Our teams are supporting globally including those based in offices and working on remote sites with our clients where we partner the business on some of the worlds iconic design and build and infrastructure projects.
The Enterprise data Architect is a key member of SNCL Technology Architecture team ensuring that the Group maintains a future ready technology strategy and product that is secure, scalable, customer-centric, cost effective and remains on the leading edge of innovation.
The Enterprise Data Architect (EDA) will interface with colleagues across the IT Function, continually bringing expertise to the wider SNCL Information Technology community and to the business. The EDA will also contribute to the strategic decisions to ensure the most effective use of technology.
The EDA will have the ability to successfully create re-usable technology architecture building blocks to support projects and business objectives.
The Enterprise Data Architect specialises in helping internal clients with cross-cutting programmes where a holistic view of the organisation is important but can also direct and shape solutions where the data aspects are a critical success factor.
The Technology Architect will take an active role to the Design Transformation of SNCL business for example in terms of Design Reuse, Project Mobilisation and Common Data Environments.
The Technology Architect will take an active role in SNCL’ major enterprise-wide technology programmes, ensuring that our technology strategy and roadmaps are aligned with our businesses overall vision and objectives.
The successful candidate Technology architect will combine industry experience with business analysis skills to act as a bridge between the Business and the IT function.
Based in London / Epsom, with travel to regional offices expected
Key Deliverables/Responsibilities
The Technology Architect will:
- Take a long-term strategic view of SNCL application architecture ensuring its alignment with our business vision and commercial objectives.
- Defines and resolves complex data collection, data integration, data storage and data access challenges to place key insights in the hands of decision makers at all levels of the organisation.
- Play a key role on projects from a data engineering perspective, working with key stakeholders to model the data landscape, and define secure data exchange standards
- Focus on future innovations and directions that will support SNCL achieving its business goals and improve efficiency, effectiveness and competitive advantage.
- Liaise with a variety of business and IS stakeholders to establish and develop application strategies, principles and standards to guide delivery, and roadmaps work to build and improve our application delivery lifecycle
- Collaborate with Data-specialists in the development of new data platforms in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders internally and externally
- Be able to communicate and market application concepts to non-technical audiences, describing appropriate business benefits and outcomes
- Engage directly with Product teams and projects to provide Technology Expertise and support, ensuring alignment with SNCL strategic and tactical goals.
- Produce, promote and manage relevant documentation.
- Identify and apply industry best practice architectural practices.
- Sets strategies for effective use of database and persistence technologies taking account of the complex interrelations between hardware/software.
Experience Required
- Must have had past hands-on experience e.g. as a Software Developer, Database, System or Network Administrator. Candidates with no past hands-on technical experience won’t be considered.
- A significant amount of experience working within large organisations.
- A career encompassing senior architectural roles.
- Plan and execute secure, good practice data integration strategies and approaches
- Acquire, ingest, and process data from multiple sources and systems into Big Data platforms
- Previous experience of data environment management (Cloud, on premise)
- Collaborate with business analysts and data scientists to map data fields to hypotheses and curate, wrangle, and prepare data for use in their advanced analytical models
- Strong understanding of Information Security principles to ensure compliant handling and management of client data
- Evidence of a hands-on, practical approach to architecture based on collaborating actively with IS and business colleagues rather than adopting an ‘ivory tower’ style.
- A record of delivering world class architecture solutions within large, complex commercial operations where flexibility and value for money are key success factors.
- Proven analytical, problem solving and design skills. Able to visualise large, complex situations and break them into component parts to drive appropriate actions.
- Knowledge of architecture development tools and techniques
- Knowledge of IT controls and governance procedures including technology risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
Competencies specific for this role:
- A strong background in Cloud market and principles, database design and information management.
- Experience of working with engineering data on large data platforms across multiple applications
- Experience on client-facing projects, including working in close-knit teams
- Strong development background with experience in at least two scripting, object oriented or functional programming language, etc. SQL, Python
- Experience working on projects within the cloud ideally AWS or Azure
- Experience and desire to work with open source and branded open source frameworks
- Experience working on lively projects and a consulting setting, often working on different and multiple projects at the same time
- Data Warehousing experience, building operational ETL / ELT data pipelines across a number of sources, and constructing relational and dimensional data models
- Experience of modern Network and Infrastructure platforms and standards
- Knowledge and experience of business analysis techniques
- Understanding of how engineering consultancies use and consume information (BIM) and experience of delivering applications in support of this
- Experience of mobile and cloud-based app delivery platforms and tools, particularly Azure, Amazon and Office 365
- Strong experience in developing long-term IT strategies and plans
- Excellent written and verbal communication supported by excellent interpersonal skills and an attention to detail.
- Knowledge of data architecture modelling tools, techniques and processes, and an awareness of relevant industry techniques.
- Experience defining information and integration architectures in support of creative application delivery
- The ability to prioritise and handle multiple work assignments, and act with autonomy or under general direction.
- The ability to influence and communicate effectively with all levels of the organisation on topics from architecture to enterprise strategy; workshop and meeting facilitation.
Training
Atkins develops individuals through a portfolio of training and development activities designed to help you make the best of your abilities and talents. These are reviewed with individuals through an annual appraisal process. We actively support staff in achieving corporate membership of relevant institutions.
Rewards and benefits
Atkins offers a fantastic range of benefits, which you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. All the information you need to know is available on our dedicated benefits portal; your reward, which is available to access 24/7 from any device: https://www.yourrewardatkins.com
Security Clearance:
This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview.
If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.
Atkins, part of the SNC-Lavalin Group, is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.
Atkins recognise that there are many well qualified people who are looking to further their career, but who cannot commit to full time employment. We support flexible working arrangements and are interested to discuss how we can accommodate individual requirements.
