Solution Architect / Enterprise Architect - Contract
Location: 100 Liverpool Street, London
Working Pattern: Hybrid - 2/3 days per week in the office
Team Day: Wednesday, with two additional office days flexible
Contract: 12 months initially, with a longer-term requirement
Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm
Rate: Umbrella day rate
Positions: 2 - 1 x Solution Architect and 1 x Enterprise Architect
Role Overview
We are looking for two experienced Architects to join a growing architecture function supporting a significant pipeline of change, technology modernisation and strategic global programmes.
The architecture team is currently small, comprising contractors and permanent/temporary resources, and is being expanded to increase its capacity and strengthen the organisation's architecture capability.
The two roles will complement each other, with one position focused primarily on Solution Architecture and hands-on solution design, and the other focused on Enterprise Architecture, governance, standards and strategic alignment.
Both roles will work closely with technology and project teams, as well as security, data and technology domain teams. There will also be an international dimension to the roles, with engagement across regions including EMEA and APAC.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the organisation's portfolio of change initiatives, strategic programmes and technology modernisation projects.
- Ensure proposed solutions align with enterprise architecture principles, standards and strategic objectives.
- Work closely with project teams, technology teams and technical stakeholders to understand requirements and develop appropriate architectural approaches.
- Collaborate with security, data and technology domain teams to ensure solutions meet organisational standards and requirements.
- Support the modernisation of legacy platforms and the transition towards modern, scalable technology architectures.
- Contribute to cloud architecture and transformation initiatives.
- Work with API-led and event-driven architecture patterns where appropriate.
- Identify architectural risks, dependencies, gaps and opportunities and provide pragmatic recommendations.
- Support and strengthen architecture governance, processes, standards and ways of working.
- Help ensure technology change is aligned with the wider enterprise technology strategy.
- Engage with stakeholders across multiple technology domains and geographical regions.
Solution Architecture Focus
The Solution Architect will have a stronger emphasis on solution design and delivery, including:
- Designing end-to-end technology solutions for change initiatives.
- Translating business and technical requirements into scalable, secure and sustainable architectures.
- Producing and reviewing solution architecture designs.
- Working closely with engineering and delivery teams to support implementation.
- Assessing technology options and making architecture recommendations.
- Supporting the integration and modernisation of existing and legacy platforms.
- Ensuring solutions remain aligned with enterprise standards and target architecture.
Enterprise Architecture Focus
The Enterprise Architect will have a stronger emphasis on strategy, governance and enterprise-level architecture, including:
- Providing enterprise-level architecture guidance across strategic programmes.
- Reviewing initiatives and solutions against enterprise architecture principles and standards.
- Defining, maintaining and evolving architecture standards, principles, patterns and governance processes.
- Providing architectural oversight across the change portfolio.
- Identifying architectural dependencies and risks across the wider technology estate.
- Ensuring individual projects and programmes align with the broader technology strategy.
- Providing constructive architectural challenge to project and technology teams.
- Helping mature the organisation's enterprise architecture capability and governance framework.
Essential Experience
- Proven experience working as a Solution Architect, Enterprise Architect or Architect within a complex technology environment.
- Strong experience with cloud architectures and modern technology environments.
- Experience designing, reviewing or governing technology solutions.
- Experience working with complex or legacy technology estates and supporting modernisation initiatives.
- Good understanding of modern architecture approaches, including API-led and/or event-driven architectures.
- Experience working closely with technology, engineering and project delivery teams.
- Strong understanding of architecture principles, standards and governance.
- Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Strong stakeholder management and collaboration skills.
- Experience working across multiple technology domains and stakeholder groups.
Desirable Experience
- Experience within Financial Services, although candidates from other industries will be considered.
- Experience working on large-scale strategic transformation or global programmes.
- Experience with cloud transformation or large-scale cloud adoption.
- Experience working across geographically distributed teams, particularly EMEA and APAC.
- Experience establishing or improving architecture governance and standards.
- Experience working alongside security, data and technology domain architects.
- Experience supporting significant legacy modernisation programmes.
Key Attributes
- Pragmatic and delivery-focused approach to architecture.
- Able to operate effectively in a high-demand environment with multiple concurrent initiatives.
- Comfortable providing constructive challenge while maintaining positive relationships with delivery teams.
- Able to balance strategic architecture objectives with practical delivery requirements.
- Collaborative approach and willingness to contribute to the development of a growing architecture function.
TO APPLY - PLEASE APPLY WITH AN UP-TO-DATE CV
Candidates will ideally show evidence of the above in their CV in order to be considered.
Please be advised if you haven't heard from us within 48 hours then unfortunately your application has not been successful on this occasion, we may however keep your details on file for any suitable future vacancies and contact you accordingly.
*Pontoon is an employment consultancy. We put expertise, energy, and enthusiasm into improving everyone's chance of being part of the workplace. We respect and appreciate people of all ethnicities, generations, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, gender identities, and more. We do this by showcasing their talents, skills, and unique experience in an inclusive environment that helps them thrive.
We use generative AI tools to support our candidate screening process. This helps us ensure a fair, consistent, and efficient experience for all applicants. Rest assured, all final decisions are made by our hiring team, and your application will be reviewed with care and attention.
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