We are pleased to present an exciting opportunity for a Data Architect to join our Data Architecture TSG team. This role is offered as Full Time Employee, with the benefit of hybrid working arrangements.
Who we areRailpen is responsible for the safekeeping and investment of around £34 billion in assets and the administration of several pension schemes, including the Railways Pension Scheme, one of the UK's largest and longest established pension funds.
Our heritage of looking after the pension needs of the rail industry and its employees gives us our name and our unique outlook on how we serve our members. Railpen takes a holistic view, focusing on how we serve members today and how we can positively impact the communities and the world they will retire into.
The roleThe core purpose of the Data Architect role is to provide architectural leadership across Railpen’s data ecosystem, shaping the design, governance, and evolution of data platforms supporting Member Services, Finance, and Pension Investment Management (PIM).
The role is responsible for defining and governing enterprise data architecture standards, including modelling approaches, integration patterns, and platform design, ensuring solutions are scalable, secure, and aligned to Railpen’s wider technology and AI strategy.
As the role will support investment data capabilities, the successful candidate must be comfortable working with investment data concepts and engaging with Investment business stakeholders to translate requirements into robust, scalable data models and platform designs.
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.
The personWe are looking for a hands-on Data Architect who can design practical, business-focused data solutions and work confidently with both technical and business stakeholders.
You should have:Strong hands-on experience with MS SQL Server 2016+ and Microsoft Fabric, or similar modern data platforms
Proven experience designing data models for reporting, analytics, data warehousing or operational use
Good understanding of investment management data, including areas such as securities, holdings, prices, transactions, valuations, benchmarks, performance, risk or reference data
Experience designing data solutions that support investment operations, investment reporting, analytics or regulatory requirements
Good understanding of data integration, ETL/ELT, data warehousing and platform design
Ability to work with business stakeholders, engineers and delivery teams to translate requirements into scalable data solutions
Strong communication skills and the ability to explain technical concepts clearly
Good attention to detail, with a focus on high-quality, maintainable solutions
Exposure to Python, Azure Data Factory or the wider Microsoft data stack would be beneficial
A collaborative mindset aligned to integrity, community and constructive challenge
A competitive salary
28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Generous annual bonus plan
We provide membership of the Railways Pension Scheme, a Defined Contributions arrangement under which you get a pension for life and a lump sum when you retire, based on your length of service and pay
Life Assurance cover
Colleague referral scheme
Employee assistance programme
Heath cash plan
Eye care vouchers
Flu vaccination
We support hybrid and flexible working
Buy and sell holidays
Give as you earn scheme
Paid volunteering days
Flexible half days leave
Electric vehicle leasing
Cycle to work scheme
Please apply by 5pm on 14th July 2026.
Railpen is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment, we value diversity and welcome people from all backgrounds and walks of life.
Skills Required
- Strong experience with MS SQL Server (2016+)
- Experience with Microsoft Fabric
- Proven ability to design business-focused data models
- Solid background in data warehousing, data integration, and ETL/ELT processes
- Good understanding of data usage across operational systems, reporting, and analytics
- Knowledge of the systems development lifecycle (SDLC) and delivery/design processes
- Experience designing and governing scalable, robust, and maintainable data solutions
- Ability to collaborate across teams and provide guidance to engineers
- Exposure to Python, Azure Data Factory, and Microsoft data stack
- Strong communication skills to articulate technical concepts and project goals
- Passion for data engineering and staying current with industry trends
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality delivery
- Ability to manage multiple projects and work both independently and in teams
- Legal right to work in the UK (no visa sponsorship)
- Collaborative mindset aligned to integrity, community, and constructive challenge
What We Do
The Railways Pension Scheme is one of the UK’s largest and longest established pension funds. Railpen is responsible for the safekeeping and investment of around £34 billion on behalf of the scheme’s 350,000 members who are connected to the railway industry. Railpen's purpose is to secure our members' future. To achieve this we invest the scheme’s assets to generate strong returns over the long term. Our members and their employers trust us with this very significant responsibility. We are proud of this responsibility, take it very seriously, and are committed to, and passionate about, improving their future lives. Generating the required returns is challenging. To be successful we must constantly strive to be considered a world-class asset owner by our stakeholders, with a proven track record of adding value for our members. This means we have to have excellent people, doing exemplary work, in every part of our business. We use the size of our assets to invest wisely and influentially. Our convictions and a clear set of investment beliefs guide us through complex and changing markets. We’re not afraid to think innovatively or act boldly in the best interests of the members we are proud to serve
