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

• 37 hours per week.
• 09:00 - 17:30 Monday - Thursday
• 09:00 - 17:00 Friday
• 1 hour for lunch.

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.