Head of Data Architecture & Engineering
Salary: £80,962 + £4,936 salary supplement + excellent benefits
Location: Wooburn Green, High Wycombe or Letchworth Garden City
Hybrid: Minimum 2 days per week in the office, 3 days from home
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 37 hours per week
Are you looking to join a growing, values-led organisation with a clear social purpose?
At SettleParadigm, we’re proud to be the largest housing group in the region, managing over 30,000 homes across Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire.
Everything we do is about delivering excellent services, high quality homes, neighbourhoods we can be proud of and maximising number of new affordable homes we build. Through our merger we’ve brought together shared values, skills and ambition, so we can build more affordable homes and make an even bigger difference in the communities we serve
If you're ready to grow your career in a supportive, inclusive environment while helping to shape stronger communities, we’d love to welcome you on our journey. Together, we’re building a better future.
As we continue to strengthen our data capability, we’re looking for a senior leader to shape the future of our enterprise data platforms and architecture.
About the Role
We’re recruiting a Head of Data Architecture & Engineering to lead the design, development and operation of our enterprise data environment. This is a pivotal role in our Data, Insight & Analytics directorate. Responsible for building the foundations that enable trusted reporting, analytics and future advanced data capabilities.
You’ll lead our Data Engineering and Data Architecture teams, ensuring our data is reliably sourced, integrated and made available through modern, scalable and secure cloud‑based platforms. You’ll set the technical direction, champion engineering standards and work closely with colleagues across Technology, Digital Platforms, Infrastructure, Information Governance and Business Systems.
This is a role for someone who enjoys combining strategic thinking with hands‑on leadership, someone who takes pride in building platforms that are robust, secure and built to last.
About You:
You’re a technically credible and pragmatic leader with deep experience in enterprise data architecture, data engineering and cloud data platforms (Azure preferred). You understand what good looks like and you know how to build it.
You enjoy creating clarity, setting direction and enabling engineers to do their best work. You’re comfortable working across boundaries. Collaborating with infrastructure, security, digital and business teams to ensure data needs are understood early and delivered effectively.
You bring curiosity, resilience and a continuous improvement mindset. You take ownership of the services you lead, and you’re motivated by seeing well‑engineered solutions directly support better decisions and better outcomes for colleagues and residents.
Key Responsibilities:
Own and evolve the enterprise data architecture
Lead the design and operation of the enterprise data platform (warehouse / lake / lakehouse)
Ensure reliable, automated data pipelines from core business systems
Define and enforce data engineering standards and patterns
Ensure data platforms are secure, resilient and cost‑effective
Provide technical leadership for data integration across the organisation
Work closely with application, infrastructure and security teams
Lead and develop high‑performing engineering teams
Must haves/Essential:
Significant experience as a Data Architect or equivalent enterprise‑level architecture role
Experience leading data engineering and/or data platform teams
Strong experience designing and operating cloud data platforms (Azure preferred)
Experience developing platforms such as Fabric, Snowflake or Databricks
Knowledge of enterprise architecture patterns and data integration approaches
Strong communication, stakeholder management and technical leadership skills
Confidence making architectural decisions and balancing long‑term strategy with practical delivery
Nice to haves/Preferred:
Experience supporting large‑scale system integration or organisational change
Experience working across complex, multi‑system environments
Knowledge of modern data lake/lakehouse architectures
Understanding of data security, resilience and platform governance
Experience coaching and developing senior technical talent
Experience in housing, public sector or regulated environments
Benefits
At SettleParadigm, we believe in creating an environment where our people feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow. Our comprehensive benefits and rewards package reflects this commitment.
annual salary: £80,962 + £4,936 salary supplement per annum
25 days holiday, increasing with service, plus Christmas closure and buy options
Generous pension scheme – up to 9.5% employer contribution via salary sacrifice
Family-friendly leave: Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
Health cash plan – claim up to £1,800 for everyday health costs (plus free kids’ cover)
Life cover and income protection
Flexible working – hybrid options, modern offices, free parking & EV charging
And that’s just the beginning! We’re also thrilled to provide:
Mental Health First Aiders available to support
Car leasing via salary sacrifice (for permanent colleagues subject to conditions)
Funded training, qualifications & apprenticeships
3 paid volunteering days in the local communities
Peer-recognition rewards platform
Paid professional subscription (one per year)
Working Hours & Additional Pay
Our Commitment
We are committed to creating an inclusive workforce, by reflecting and representing the diversity of the communities we serve. We would like to encourage applications from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds; people who identify as disabled, neurodiverse, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people from underrepresented groups.
Accessibility and Adjustments
We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. Please let us know in advance of any suitable arrangements required.
Due to the nature of some of our roles involving work with vulnerable members of society, this post may be subject to a basic or enhanced Criminal Disclosure, which will be carried out when a conditional offer is made.
Please ensure you fully answer the questions on the application form.
Closing Date: 05.07.2026
We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the closing date should we find a suitable candidate.
