The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) is a research institute focused on developing and deploying commercially sustainable solutions to solve some of humanity's most enduring challenges. Guided by four humane endeavours—Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology; Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture; Climate Change & Managing Atmospheric CO2; Artificial Intelligence & Robotics—the institute aims to create transformative tools and technologies.

EIT’s campus in Littlemore, set for completion in 2027, will include more than 300,000 sq ft of research laboratories, educational and gathering spaces, and a 2 million sq ft campus across the western part of The Oxford Science Park. Designed by Foster + Partners, the campus will become a transformative workplace for up to 7,000 people, with autonomous laboratories and dynamic spaces to spark interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Pathogen Mission highlights EIT’s transformative approach, using Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and Oracle cloud technology to create a global pathogen metagenomics system.

We are currently recruiting for a Data Architect to support the EIT Pathogen Programme.

In this role, you will play a pivotal part in designing and implementing cutting‑edge data architectures to support the pathogen mission. You will collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams to understand business requirements and translate them into robust data models and architectures. As a Data Architect, you will shape the future of EIT’s data platform and collaborate with platform and product teams to deliver analytical and AI products to transform pathogen monitoring and diagnostics. You will be responsible for defining data standards, data models and best practices to ensure the integrity, security, and accessibility of our data assets, optimising data processes and workflows, and fostering a data‑driven culture within the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Understand and manage the data requirements by working with stakeholders to analyse requirements and identifying those of architectural significance
• Formulating the data model and standards to be used by the data platform to support interoperability and federation to support pathogen monitoring and research
• Communicating the data architecture to various stakeholder groups within EIT
• Developing data architectures including different data flows, data lifecycle, data security, durability, as well as applying consistent documentation standards and architecture methods
• Supporting developers and making sure they can realise the data architecture by a combination of mentoring and direct involvement
• Responsible for producing architecture artifacts and presenting the work through architecture governance
• Verifying implementations and ensuring the delivered systems is consistent with the agreed architecture and meets requirements
• Defining architecture data standards are defined to ensure compliance. This may include Medical Device Accreditation (where relevant)
• Ensuring that squads have available a set of standard patterns, guidance, and technical standards to help them deliver
• Ensuring solutions are documented and assured through defined architecture governance processes

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Knowledge and experience of architecting and delivering modern data platform standards, tools and patterns including data lakes, lake houses, iceberg, data mesh
• Experience of architecting, building, and delivering modern data platforms at scale
• Familiar with TOGAF and other enterprise architecture frameworks
• Experience and knowledge of data governance, data quality, and data cataloguing
• Knowledge of master, metadata and reference data management
• An understanding of Agile working practices and sprint based methodology
• Capable of actively contributing to knowledge sharing

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of genomics
• Experience with cloud-based data platforms preferably Oracle OCI or equivalent AWS and Azure services
• Understanding of federation standards for genomics (ga4gh)
• Understanding of data standards for pathogen data interoperability PHA4GE
• Experience of architecting data standards for research environments
• Experience with healthcare clinical data and associated standards OMOP , snowmed

Key Attributes

• Collaboration
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment
• Willingness to learn and cross train / upskill in new technology
• Willingness to be hands on to explore new technology or develop POC's

Benefits

• Salary: Competitive Salary on offer
• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electrical Car Scheme

Why work for EIT

At the Ellison Institute, we believe a collaborative, inclusive team is key to our success. We are building a supportive environment where creative risks are encouraged, and everyone feels heard. Valuing emotional intelligence, empathy, respect, and resilience, we encourage people to be curious and to have a shared commitment to excellence. Join us and make an impact!

Terms of Appointment

You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary. You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford. During peak periods, some longer hours may be required and some working across multiple time zones due to the global nature of the programme.