Data Architect
Job Description:
Role Overview
Data Edge is looking for an experienced Data Architect to support the modernisation of a legacy application and its migration from Oracle to AWS-native data platforms.
The role will be responsible for defining the target data architecture, redesigning the data model for PostgreSQL and NoSQL databases, and leading the data migration strategy. The focus will be on ensuring data integrity, performance, scalability, security, and compliance throughout the transformation.
The Data Architect will work closely with solution architects, application developers, cloud engineers, data teams, and business stakeholders to ensure that the modernised data landscape supports both functional and non-functional requirements.
Key Responsibilities
- Define the target data architecture on AWS, including PostgreSQL and NoSQL components such as DynamoDB, MongoDB, or similar technologies.
- Analyse the existing Oracle relational data model and identify opportunities for refactoring, optimisation, and cloud-native redesign.
- Design logical and physical data models for PostgreSQL and NoSQL databases, optimised for performance, scalability, and application access patterns.
- Lead and govern the data migration strategy, including schema conversion, data transformation, validation, reconciliation, and cutover planning.
- Select and define appropriate migration tools and approaches, including AWS DMS, ETL pipelines, custom migration scripts, or other relevant solutions.
- Define data standards, naming conventions, governance principles, and documentation practices.
- Ensure compliance with security, privacy, and regulatory requirements, including encryption, access control, auditability, and data protection.
- Collaborate with application development teams to support application refactoring related to data access, persistence, and integration.
- Support performance tuning, query optimisation, indexing strategies, and capacity planning in the target AWS environment.
- Provide guidance on data lifecycle management, backup, recovery, disaster recovery, and operational resilience.
- Document data architecture decisions, target-state designs, migration plans, and key technical recommendations.
Required Skills and Experience
- Bachelor's and/or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Relevant certification such as CBDA, CFLBA, CPRE, PBA, or equivalent.
- Strong experience as a Data Architect in application modernisation, data transformation, or cloud migration projects.
- Deep expertise in relational databases, especially Oracle and PostgreSQL.
- Hands-on experience designing and implementing NoSQL data models.
- Strong understanding of data modelling patterns, including relational modelling, NoSQL modelling, CQRS, event-driven data, and access-pattern-based design.
- Experience with AWS data services such as Amazon RDS, Aurora PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, S3, Glue, and AWS DMS.
- Proven experience leading large-scale data migrations with minimal downtime and strong data quality controls.
- Solid knowledge of SQL, data transformation, data validation, and data quality management.
- Familiarity with cloud security, IAM concepts, encryption, and access control related to data platforms.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate business and technical requirements into clear data architecture designs.
Nice to Have
- Experience modernising monolithic applications into cloud-native or microservices-based architectures.
- Knowledge of event streaming or data integration platforms such as Kafka, Amazon Kinesis, or similar.
- Experience with DevOps, DataOps, and CI/CD practices for database schema changes and data platform deployments.
- AWS certification, such as AWS Solutions Architect, AWS Data Analytics, or similar.
- Experience working in highly regulated or enterprise environments.
Profile
The ideal candidate is a senior Data Architect with strong hands-on experience in Oracle, PostgreSQL, NoSQL, and AWS data services. They should be able to bridge legacy database environments and modern cloud-native architectures, while ensuring that migration, performance, security, and governance requirements are properly addressed.
This role is best suited for someone who can combine strategic architecture thinking with practical delivery experience in complex data migration and application modernisation projects.
Required Skills:
Environment Performance Tuning Cloud Performance Data Validation Data Access Control Support Access Data Quality Database ETL Disaster Recovery Protection Development Data Migration Architects Pipelines Quality Management Kafka Regulatory Requirements NoSQL Data Integrity Compliance Scalability CI/CD Validation Components Data Analytics Architecture Developers DevOps Analytics AWS Communication Skills Integration Strategy Databases PostgreSQL Computer Science MongoDB Security Oracle Documentation Planning Design Engineering Business SQL Science Communication Management