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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative architecture projects and collaborate with product teams to shape the future.
- Company: Join Cancer Research UK, a bold and award-winning charity making a real impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous benefits, and flexible working arrangements.
- Why this job: Make a difference in healthcare while advancing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in architecture domains and strong analytical skills required.
- Other info: Inclusive culture that values diverse backgrounds and offers continuous learning opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 62000 - 79000 £ per year.
Overview
Award-winning and bold innovation. Modern Tech-Stack. Impacting the future. Lead Solution Architect. £72,000 – £79,000 (+ Benefits). Department: Chief Operating Office. Contract: Permanent. Hours: Full time 35 hours per week. Location: Stratford, London. Office-based with high flexibility (1-2 days per week in the office). Visa sponsorship: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship. Closing date: 15 October 2025 23:55. This vacancy may close earlier if a high volume of applications is received or once a suitable candidate is found; apply early. If you require more time to apply as part of a reasonable adjustment, please contact recruitment@cancer.org.uk.
What will I be doing?
- Experienced Architect with extensive experience in at least one of the following architecture domains: business, enterprise, solution, infrastructure, data, security, platform, or service.
- Please note that candidates with an engineering background will not be considered for this Solution Architect role, as this position requires an Architecture skill set and experience.
- Partnering with Heads of Product Portfolios and Product Managers to support roadmap development and provide early triage.
- Providing architecture support, coaching, and solution assurance across Technology’s product portfolios.
- Addressing key design decisions, balancing risks, benefits, and outcomes for complex technical problems.
- Collaborating with Lead Engineers and other technology teams to ensure the documented current state is maintained for change assessment and operational support.
- Communicating and coordinating architecture development and technical change across portfolios and products (including those delivered by our partners).
- Contributing to and building an active Architecture community across capabilities and partners.
- Providing in-depth expertise within at least one specialised domain of architecture, from: business, enterprise, solution, infrastructure, data, security, platform, or service.
Leadership & Impact
- Building credible stakeholder relationships across the charity ensuring to value ideas, drive momentum, and challenge when required.
- Balancing short-term needs with long-term strategic goals
- Translating complex information and concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Driving the direction and output on day-to-day workload and priorities while navigating ambiguity and making clear and timely decisions in changing situations.
- Mentor and coach colleagues, fostering a culture of continuous learning and leading through others.
Resource Management
- Reducing costs by proactively challenging to enable the optimal cost of resource ownership and delivered architecture.
- Building inclusive environments and working with third parties.
What skills will I need?
- Experienced Architect with extensive experience in at least one of the following architecture domains: business, enterprise, solution, infrastructure, data, security, platform, or service.
- Please note that candidates with an engineering background will not be considered for this Solution Architect role, as this position requires an Architecture skill set and experience.
- Has delivered large-scale migrations and implemented new technologies within an integrated architecture in large, complex organisations.
- Solid understanding of modern software and platform architecture approaches (e.g., microservices and cloud etc).
- Experience delivering architecture through Agile Product teams.
- Knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF, Zachman, etc.), industry-wide best practices, and emerging technologies.
- Modelling and documenting experience with the ability to create models and visualisations to enable others to understand the architecture.
- Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Our organisation values are Bold, Credible, Human, Together. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and cultures, particularly those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are under-represented. If you need adjustments to apply or interview, contact recruitment@cancer.org.uk or call 020 3469 8400.
What will I gain? We offer a supportive working environment, a generous benefits package, career and personal development opportunities, and tools to improve work-life balance. You can explore our benefits on our careers page.
Additional information: For more information about working with us please visit our website or recruitment@cancer.org.uk. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
We are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18.
Closing date and interview details: See above. Interview date: week commencing 20 October 2025. We will short list on a rolling basis.
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Lead Solution Architect employer: Cancer Research UK (CRUK)
Contact Detail:
Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Solution Architect
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who’s already in a lead architect role. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Showcase Your Expertise
When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, don’t hold back on sharing your knowledge. Discuss your experience with architecture domains and how you've tackled complex problems. This is your time to shine!
✨Tailor Your Approach
Before any interview, do your homework on the company and its tech stack. Tailor your examples to show how your skills align with their needs. It shows you’re genuinely interested and have done your research.
✨Apply Early and Often
Don’t wait until the last minute to apply! The sooner you submit your application through our website, the better your chances are. Plus, it gives you more time to prepare for interviews and follow-ups.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Solution Architect
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in the specific architecture domains mentioned in the job description. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves mentoring and building relationships, don’t forget to include examples of how you've led teams or projects in the past. We love seeing candidates who can drive momentum and foster a culture of learning.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language to explain your experience and how it relates to the role. We appreciate candidates who can communicate complex ideas simply!
Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We might close the vacancy early if we find the right candidate, so get your application in through our website as soon as you can!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cancer Research UK (CRUK)
✨Know Your Architecture Domains
Make sure you have a solid grasp of the architecture domains mentioned in the job description. Be ready to discuss your extensive experience in areas like business, enterprise, or data architecture. Prepare examples that showcase your expertise and how you've tackled complex technical problems.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Lead Solution Architect, you'll need to build credible relationships and mentor others. Think of specific instances where you've led teams or influenced stakeholders. Highlight your ability to balance short-term needs with long-term goals, and be prepared to discuss how you navigate ambiguity.
✨Communicate Clearly
You’ll need to translate complex information for both technical and non-technical audiences. Practice explaining your past projects in simple terms. This will demonstrate your communication skills and your ability to engage with diverse stakeholders effectively.
✨Prepare for Agile Discussions
Since the role involves delivering architecture through Agile Product teams, brush up on Agile methodologies. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented new technologies in an Agile environment and how you’ve collaborated with cross-functional teams to achieve project goals.
