SA_EA_TDA_Databricks_JD_DSA

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.

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