Job Description
Arriva is a leading European passenger transport partner, operating in 11 countries across the UK and Europe. The company employs around 35,000 people, delivering more than 1.5 billion passenger journeys connecting people and communities safely, reliably and sustainably. We have strong roots dating back to 1938, an ambitious growth and sustainability agenda, and a continuously developing relationship with I Squared Capital – a global infrastructure investment fund manager - who acquired Arriva in 2024.
We are looking for Data Architect to join our BI Product Team on a full-time, permanent basis. We offer hybrid working. This role can be based in either our London or Sunderland office, with a minimum of three days per week on-site. The remaining time can be spent working wherever you can best deliver for your customers, while still maintaining a healthy work–life balance.
The Data Architect is responsible for defining and maintaining the overall data architecture strategy that enables Arriva’s BI and self-serve analytics capabilities. This role establishes the technical vision, standards and frameworks that enable scalable, efficient, and secure data solutions across the organisation. Working close with the Lead BI Engineers, BI engineers, Lead BI Developer, BI Developers the Data Architect ensure that data models, pipelines and storage solutions are designed to support current and future business needs and growth. They will act as a technical authority and strategic advisor, balancing architectural excellence alongside timely delivery, and play a critical role in evaluating new technologies. Ensuring that Arriva’s data infrastructure remains modern, performant and competitive with industry best practice.
Direct Responsibilities
Architecture Design & Strategy
Assess existing data architectures, documenting current-state models, pipelines, technologies, standards, and approaches
Define and maintain the enterprise data architecture vision and roadmap, ensuring alignment with business objectives and BI product strategy
Design logical and physical data models that support efficient reporting, analytics, and self-service BI capabilities
Establish architectural patterns and frameworks (e.g. medallion architecture, data vault, dimensional modelling) for consistent implementation across data solutions
Evaluate and recommend architectural approaches for data storage, processing, and consumption, including lakehouse, data warehousing, and data lake patterns
Design technical architecture for cloud-based data platforms (AWS preferred: Redshift, Athena, S3, Glue)
Create and maintain architecture documentation, including data flow diagrams, architecture decision records, and design patterns
Technology Leadership & Innovation
Research, evaluate, and recommend new technologies and tools that enhance Arriva's data and BI capabilities
Stay current with emerging trends including open table formats (Apache Iceberg, Delta Lake), data observability, real-time/streaming architectures, and cloud-native solutions
Conduct proofs-of-concept and technical assessments to validate new technologies before adoption
Monitor industry best practices and ensure Arriva's architecture remains competitive and future-proof
Data Modelling & Standards
Define and document standard business entities, metrics, and KPIs to ensure consistency across reporting
Review and approve complex data models designed by BI Engineers, ensuring alignment with architectural standards
Design and implement data governance framework, ensuring clear accountability of data products within the platform
Collaboration & Leadership
Work with Group BI & Data Director to define strategy and frameworks
Provide technical guidance and mentorship to BI Engineers and Lead BI Engineer on architectural decisions and complex data challenges
Collaborate with BI Developers to understand frontend requirements and ensure data architecture supports optimal dashboard performance
Partner with BI Product Manager to translate business strategy into technical architecture requirements
Facilitate architecture discussions and workshops with technical and non-technical stakeholders
Establish documentation standards and frameworks in collaboration with Lead BI Engineer and Lead BI Developer, ensuring practical adoption and accessibility for both technical teams and business stakeholders
Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
Essential Experience
Extensive experience in data architecture with proven track record of designing and implementing enterprise-scale data solutions
Deep expertise in data modelling techniques with strong SQL proficiency
Comprehensive knowledge of cloud data platforms (AWS preferred: Redshift, Athena, S3, Glue; Azure or GCP beneficial)
Strong understanding of modern data engineering patterns including ETL/ELT, data lake architectures, and lakehouse approaches
Understanding of emerging technologies such as open table formats (Apache Iceberg, Delta Lake), data observability tools, and real-time/streaming architectures
Experience with data governance frameworks, data quality tools, metadata management, and ensuring compliance with security and regulatory requirements
Personal Attributes
Strong business acumen with ability to translate business requirements into technical architecture and understand how data enables business outcomes
Continuous learning mindset with curiosity about new technologies
Pragmatic approach that balances architectural excellence with practical delivery constraints and timely delivery
The closing date for applications is Friday 13th February 2026. Arriva Group reserves the right to close this vacancy early.
We are looking for Data Architect to join our BI Product Team on a full-time, permanent basis. We offer hybrid working. This role can be based in either our London or Sunderland office, with a minimum of three days per week on-site. The remaining time can be spent working wherever you can best deliver for your customers, while still maintaining a healthy work–life balance.
The Data Architect is responsible for defining and maintaining the overall data architecture strategy that enables Arriva’s BI and self-serve analytics capabilities. This role establishes the technical vision, standards and frameworks that enable scalable, efficient, and secure data solutions across the organisation. Working close with the Lead BI Engineers, BI engineers, Lead BI Developer, BI Developers the Data Architect ensure that data models, pipelines and storage solutions are designed to support current and future business needs and growth. They will act as a technical authority and strategic advisor, balancing architectural excellence alongside timely delivery, and play a critical role in evaluating new technologies. Ensuring that Arriva’s data infrastructure remains modern, performant and competitive with industry best practice.
Direct Responsibilities
Architecture Design & Strategy
Assess existing data architectures, documenting current-state models, pipelines, technologies, standards, and approaches
Define and maintain the enterprise data architecture vision and roadmap, ensuring alignment with business objectives and BI product strategy
Design logical and physical data models that support efficient reporting, analytics, and self-service BI capabilities
Establish architectural patterns and frameworks (e.g. medallion architecture, data vault, dimensional modelling) for consistent implementation across data solutions
Evaluate and recommend architectural approaches for data storage, processing, and consumption, including lakehouse, data warehousing, and data lake patterns
Design technical architecture for cloud-based data platforms (AWS preferred: Redshift, Athena, S3, Glue)
Create and maintain architecture documentation, including data flow diagrams, architecture decision records, and design patterns
Technology Leadership & Innovation
Research, evaluate, and recommend new technologies and tools that enhance Arriva's data and BI capabilities
Stay current with emerging trends including open table formats (Apache Iceberg, Delta Lake), data observability, real-time/streaming architectures, and cloud-native solutions
Conduct proofs-of-concept and technical assessments to validate new technologies before adoption
Monitor industry best practices and ensure Arriva's architecture remains competitive and future-proof
Data Modelling & Standards
Define and document standard business entities, metrics, and KPIs to ensure consistency across reporting
Review and approve complex data models designed by BI Engineers, ensuring alignment with architectural standards
Design and implement data governance framework, ensuring clear accountability of data products within the platform
Collaboration & Leadership
Work with Group BI & Data Director to define strategy and frameworks
Provide technical guidance and mentorship to BI Engineers and Lead BI Engineer on architectural decisions and complex data challenges
Collaborate with BI Developers to understand frontend requirements and ensure data architecture supports optimal dashboard performance
Partner with BI Product Manager to translate business strategy into technical architecture requirements
Facilitate architecture discussions and workshops with technical and non-technical stakeholders
Establish documentation standards and frameworks in collaboration with Lead BI Engineer and Lead BI Developer, ensuring practical adoption and accessibility for both technical teams and business stakeholders
Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
Essential Experience
Extensive experience in data architecture with proven track record of designing and implementing enterprise-scale data solutions
Deep expertise in data modelling techniques with strong SQL proficiency
Comprehensive knowledge of cloud data platforms (AWS preferred: Redshift, Athena, S3, Glue; Azure or GCP beneficial)
Strong understanding of modern data engineering patterns including ETL/ELT, data lake architectures, and lakehouse approaches
Understanding of emerging technologies such as open table formats (Apache Iceberg, Delta Lake), data observability tools, and real-time/streaming architectures
Experience with data governance frameworks, data quality tools, metadata management, and ensuring compliance with security and regulatory requirements
Personal Attributes
Strong business acumen with ability to translate business requirements into technical architecture and understand how data enables business outcomes
Continuous learning mindset with curiosity about new technologies
Pragmatic approach that balances architectural excellence with practical delivery constraints and timely delivery
The closing date for applications is Friday 13th February 2026. Arriva Group reserves the right to close this vacancy early.
💡 Quick Summary
Seeking a career-building opportunity? The Data Architect position is now open for candidates interested in the Back Office Jobs sector. This role in London offers a professional environment and growth potential.
Requirement Snapshot: Candidates should possess basic communication skills, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work in a team. Experience in Back Office Jobs is a plus.
