Data architecture and governance in critical infrastructure: two complementary profiles
In critical infrastructure environments, effective data management requires a clear distinction between two engineering functions that, whilst complementary, correspond to differentiated responsibilities. The systems and data architect defines the logical and physical structure over which information flows: data models, integration schemas, interoperability patterns and design decisions that determine the scalability and coherence of the whole. This work operates at the systems design layer, where the precision of the model determines the viability of any subsequent solution. Hands-on experience in languages such as TypeScript and Python is not an ancillary requirement, but rather the condition that makes it possible to translate architectural decisions into verifiable, long-term maintainable implementations. The data platform and data governance specialist operates at a distinct, though equally critical, layer: that of the operation, cataloguing and regulatory compliance of information assets. Their remit includes the implementation of architectures such as the Unified Namespace or the Data Lake, the definition of semantic models that enable the cross-cutting reuse of data, and the establishment of governance policies aligned with regulatory frameworks such as the General Data Protection Regulation or the National Security Framework. In organisations that manage data of sensitive origin or institutional use, this profile is the guarantor that information is traceable, classified and compliant with applicable legal requirements. The complementarity between both profiles manifests itself in practice when architectural design must be subject to compliance constraints, or when governance policies need to be implemented on specific technical infrastructures. Without a well-defined architecture, the data catalogue lacks a coherent substrate; without data governance, even the most rigorous architecture can give rise to opaque silos or regulatory non-compliance. Interoperability through open standards is the meeting point: it allows both functions to work on shared technical contracts without generating structural dependencies between teams. In the context of critical infrastructure operators and public administrations of the European Union, maturity in data management has become an operational requirement, not a modernisation option. European regulatory frameworks on data, cybersecurity and interoperability require organisations to demonstrate real capabilities in cataloguing, traceability and access control over their information assets. Meeting these requirements on a sustained basis demands engineering profiles with accredited experience, not merely theoretical knowledge of regulatory frameworks. NASSAT has two open positions in this area, both fully remote and full-time. The first, Systems and Data Architect, requires a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Engineering or Sciences and a minimum of four years of accredited experience in systems and data architecture with hands-on development and senior-level proficiency in TypeScript and Python. The second, Data Platform and Data Governance Specialist, requires a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Engineering, Data Science or equivalent, and a minimum of three years of experience in the implementation of Unified Namespace, Data Lake or Data Hub, semantic models, data catalogues and data governance under frameworks such as the GDPR and the ENS. Full details of both positions and the application process are available on the NASSAT Employment Portal at nassat.com/empleo.html.
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