At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead architectural decisions and facilitate collaboration across engineering teams.
- Company: Join BBC Studios, a leader in sustainable media and technology.
- Benefits: Flexible working hours, 26 days leave, and a generous pension scheme.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on technology evolution and product strategy.
- Qualifications: Experience in distributed systems and strong facilitation skills required.
A Lead Architect is accountable for creating the conditions in which good architectural decisions emerge across teams. Rather than acting as a central authority or approval gate, the architect operates as a facilitator, shaping direction, enabling teams, and ensuring that local decisions align with broader system goals, organisational strategy, and long-term sustainability. This role exists to optimise the system as a whole - not individual components - balancing autonomy with coherence across a complex, evolving technology landscape.
Why Join The Team
This is a high-impact role at the heart of how we evolve our technology and product operating model. You'll work with senior stakeholders and engineering teams to simplify complexity, modernise our platforms, and deliver meaningful outcomes for the business.
Key Responsibilities
- Facilitate architectural thinking within teams rather than owning decisions centrally
- Support engineers and tech leads in evaluating trade-offs (e.g. scalability, operability, cost, coupling, resilience)
- Encourage explicit decision-making through lightweight artefacts (e.g. ADRs, design narratives)
- Ensure decisions are made at the right level - pushing ownership to teams wherever possible
- Set clear architectural direction through principles, patterns, and sensible defaults
- Establish and evolve paved roads and golden paths that make good decisions the easiest decisions
- Avoid heavyweight governance (e.g. design authorities, approval boards) in favour of guidance and enablement
- Work closely with Product, Engineering, and Delivery leadership to ensure alignment between business goals, product strategy, and technology direction
- Help shape decisions around build vs buy, platform vs product, and long-term investment
- Coach and mentor engineers and tech leads in architectural thinking
Essential Criteria
- Strong experience designing and evolving distributed systems
- Deep understanding of architectural trade-offs (e.g. coupling, cohesion, consistency, scalability)
- Familiarity with evolutionary architecture practices (e.g. fitness functions, incremental change)
- Experience with modern engineering practices (CI/CD, observability, cloud-native systems)
- Proven ability to influence without authority across multiple teams
- Strong facilitation skills - able to guide discussions and surface trade-offs
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and complexity
- Able to challenge constructively and build alignment across diverse stakeholders
Desired but Not Required
- Experience working in large-scale digital or media organisations
- Familiarity with modern product operating models and outcome-driven delivery approaches
- Exposure to financial planning, vendor management or commercial technology decisions
Benefits
- A flexible 35-hour working week with 26 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) and the option to buy an extra five days
- Defined pension (up to 10% employer contributions)
- Caring and parenting support, 24/7 remote GP access, life assurance and accident benefit
- Career development in a values-led purpose-driven culture
Equal Employment Opportunity
We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.
Disability Confident
We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we'd be happy to discuss: reasonable.adjustments@bbc.co.uk
Lead Architect employer: BBC Group and Public Services
Join BBC Studios as a Lead Architect and be part of a dynamic team that values innovation and collaboration in the heart of London. With a flexible working environment, generous benefits including 26 days of annual leave, and a commitment to employee growth within a purpose-driven culture, you'll have the opportunity to shape architectural decisions that drive meaningful outcomes. Experience a workplace that prioritises sustainability and inclusivity, making it an exceptional employer for those seeking impactful careers.
Contact Details:
BBC Group and Public Services Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Architect
✨Get Your Portfolio Game On Point
As an aspiring architect, your portfolio is your golden ticket. Make sure it's not just a collection of your best work, but tells a story about your design process and creative thought. Showcase a range of projects, from conceptual sketches to final renderings—think of it as a visual CV!
✨Slide into Networking Events
Architecture thrives on community connections, so keep an eye out for local architecture meetups, exhibitions, and lectures. These events are gold for meeting industry professionals, and who knows? You might just bump into someone from BBC Group and Public Services who can give you the insider scoop on their hiring process!
✨Learn the Software Inside Out
Make sure you're up to speed with design software like AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp. Being able to discuss your proficiency during interviews can really set you apart. Plus, if you can mention particular projects where you’ve used them, you’ll demonstrate both skill and practical experience.
✨Refine Your Interview Skills
Interviews for architecture roles can get quite technical, so practice answering questions about your design process and decision-making strategies. Prepare for potential design challenges they might put forward in interviews—show them you can think on your feet and come up with innovative solutions!
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Design Skills:Architecture is all about creativity and technical skills, so make sure your portfolio is front and centre! Include a range of your best projects, showcasing different styles and techniques. Don't forget to explain your design process and the challenges you overcame for each project – it gives hiring managers a glimpse into your thought process!
Tailor Your CV to Architecture:When putting together your CV, highlight relevant experience in architectural design software, like AutoCAD or Revit. Plus, if you have any internships or coursework that involved real-world projects, be sure to mention them. We want to see not just what you've done, but how it relates directly to this role at BBC Group and Public Services!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to express your passion for architecture and what drew you to BBC Group and Public Services. Talk about specific projects or values of theirs you admire, and how you see yourself contributing to their team. We want to feel your enthusiasm – let it shine through your words!
Use Professional Terminology:Don't shy away from using industry-specific jargon that demonstrates your expertise! Terms like 'sustainability', 'scale', and 'aesthetics' can not only show your knowledge but also help you connect with the hiring team. Just ensure it's done in a way that's relatable and not overly technical, so we can see your passion clearly!
How to prepare for a job interview at BBC Group and Public Services
✨Master the Technical Questions
In an architecture interview, be ready to tackle some technical questions about building codes, design principles, and software like AutoCAD or Revit. Brush up on your knowledge of materials and components, as you might even face scenarios to solve during the interview that showcase your problem-solving skills in real-time.
✨Bring Your Portfolio to Life
Your portfolio is your golden ticket! Make sure it not only showcases your best work but also highlights your design thinking process, from sketches to final outputs. During the interview, be prepared to discuss the projects in detail—what challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and what you learnt.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Sustainability
In today's architecture landscape, sustainability is key. Be sure to highlight any projects that involved eco-friendly designs or your understanding of sustainable practices. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the trends but are genuinely passionate about creating a better future through your designs.
✨Engage with Your Interviewers
Architecture is a collaborative field, so showing that you're a team player is essential. When conversing with the interviewers, actively listen and respond to their ideas. This isn’t just about you showing off your skills, but also about connecting and demonstrating how well you’d fit into their team at BBC Group and Public Services.
