The Company
Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is a leading provider of information technology, consulting, and business process outsourcing services, dedicated to helping the world's leading companies build stronger businesses. Headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey (U.S.), Cognizant has over 350,000 employees globally. Cognizant is a member of the NASDAQ-100, the S&P 500, the Forbes Global 1000, and the Fortune 500, and is recognized among the fastest growing companies worldwide. Data & AI Consulting
Cognizant’s Data & AI Consulting practice partners with global enterprises to modernize data platforms, accelerate cloud transformation, and unlock business value through advanced analytics and AI-driven solutions. Our teams work across large-scale data modernization programs, helping organizations establish scalable, secure, and governed data foundations using modern cloud data platforms such as Databricks.
This role offers an opportunity to lead architecture governance and design assurance for a strategic Databricks transformation program, ensuring technical excellence, compliance, and alignment with enterprise architecture objectives.
About the Role
As a Senior Enterprise Architect – Databricks , you will lead the Technical Design Authority (TDA) function for a large-scale Databricks transformation program. You will be responsible for governing enterprise architecture decisions, driving design assurance, and ensuring all technical solutions align with business objectives, enterprise standards, security requirements, and long-term platform strategy.
Working closely with engineering teams, solution architects, cybersecurity stakeholders, platform teams, and executive leadership, you will serve as the senior technical authority for architecture governance and strategic technology direction across the program.
Key Responsibilities Technical Design Authority Leadership
Lead and chair the Technical Design Authority (TDA), reviewing and approving solution designs across Databricks workstreams
Establish and govern architecture review processes, including submission standards, governance forums, decision logs, and approval workflows
Ensure architectural alignment with enterprise standards, target-state roadmaps, and platform strategies
Identify, manage, and mitigate architecture risks, exceptions, and technical dependencies raised through governance processes Enterprise & Solution Architecture
Provide architecture assurance for Databricks Lakehouse implementations, including data ingestion, medallion architecture, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, and compute strategies
Validate integration patterns across Databricks, cloud platforms, enterprise applications, and data ecosystems
Define and maintain reference architectures, architecture principles, design patterns, and technical standards
Drive standardization and reuse of architectural components to reduce technical debt and improve delivery efficiency Security, Governance & Compliance
Ensure solutions comply with security-by-design principles, data privacy requirements, and enterprise governance frameworks
Collaborate with Cyber Security, Risk, and Data Governance teams to ensure control effectiveness and regulatory compliance
Oversee architecture assurance activities related to data protection, identity management, monitoring, and auditability
Maintain documented architecture decisions and governance evidence for audit and assurance purposes Stakeholder Management & Advisory
Act as the senior architecture authority across delivery teams, business stakeholders, and third-party partners
Present architecture recommendations, governance outcomes, and technical risks to executive leadership and governance boards
Facilitate architecture workshops, design reviews, and decision-making forums with cross-functional stakeholders
Build strong relationships with technology, security, infrastructure, and program delivery teams to drive alignment Delivery Oversight
Support solution teams in resolving complex technology challenges and architectural decisions
Ensure solutions are scalable, resilient, maintainable, and aligned with enterprise objectives
Monitor architectural compliance throughout design, development, testing, and deployment phases
Provide guidance and oversight to ensure consistent delivery quality across multiple workstreams Skills & Experience Domain Expertise
Strong experience in enterprise architecture, solution architecture, and architecture governance functions
Deep understanding of modern data platforms, cloud-native architectures, and large-scale data modernization programs
Experience establishing and managing Technical Design Authority (TDA) or equivalent architecture governance frameworks
Knowledge of enterprise data management, governance, security, and regulatory requirements Functional Skills
Proven experience leading architecture reviews, design assurance processes, and governance forums
Strong expertise in architecture documentation, standards development, and decision management
Ability to balance strategic architecture objectives with practical delivery requirements
Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills across technical and business audiences Technical Skills
Strong hands-on knowledge of Databricks including Lakehouse Architecture, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, and platform governance
Experience with cloud platforms supporting Databricks environments, including AWS and/or Azure
Solid understanding of enterprise integration patterns, data architecture, API ecosystems, and data governance controls
Familiarity with infrastructure, security, networking, and platform architecture considerations for cloud environments
Knowledge of architecture frameworks such as TOGAF or equivalent enterprise architecture methodologies Delivery Experience
Experience leading architecture governance within large-scale enterprise transformation programs
Strong collaboration across architecture, security, engineering, infrastructure, and delivery teams
Experience supporting full solution lifecycle activities from design through implementation and operational readiness
Proven ability to manage multiple architectural workstreams in complex delivery environments Personal Attributes
Strong communicator with the ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders and executive audiences
Strategic thinker capable of driving long-term architectural vision while supporting immediate delivery needs
Analytical and solution-focused mindset with strong decision-making capabilities
Collaborative leader who can build alignment across diverse teams and organizations
Proactive and adaptable, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and evolving business priorities Contribution to Development of Practice
Contribute to the development of enterprise architecture and governance capabilities within the Data & AI Consulting practice
Support the creation and maintenance of reusable architecture assets, reference architectures, standards, and accelerators
Drive knowledge sharing and mentoring across architecture communities and delivery teams
Contribute to thought leadership, white papers, client proposals, and governance best practices related to modern data platforms and architecture assurance
Industry Experience
10+ years of experience in Enterprise Architecture, Solution Architecture, Data Platform Architecture, or Technology Strategy roles
Demonstrated experience leading Technical Design Authority (TDA) and architecture governance functions within large-scale transformation programs
Proven experience delivering Databricks-based modernization, analytics, and cloud data platform initiatives
Experience working within highly regulated industries such as Financial Services, Public Sector, Healthcare, Insurance, or Telecommunications is preferred
Familiarity with enterprise architecture frameworks, security governance, and cloud operating models
Certifications (Preferred)
TOGAF Certification or equivalent Enterprise Architecture certification
Databricks Certified Data Engineer Professional and/or Databricks Certified Architect
AWS or Microsoft Azure Architecture certifications
Relevant security, governance, or cloud platform certifications Location
London, United Kingdom (Hybrid – London / Remote)
Security Clearance: SC Clearance required or eligibility to obtain clearance.
