Solutions Architect in Manchester

The Solutions Architect works closely with an Enterprise Architect, Development Managers, and the Transformation delivery team (PMs, BAs, etc.) to ensure ongoing alignment of technical and business outcomes. They also work with the US-based Architecture team, as needed, to ensure architectural outcomes are within required standards and guardrails. The SA owns the creation, maintenance and communication of the Solution Design for one or more projects or products, along with technical oversight through implementation by one or more development teams. The SA is comfortable working in both Agile and Waterfall delivery models.

Key Responsibilities

• Builds and continually refines the Solution Design and Epics in collaboration with various stakeholders for application architecture, with data or infrastructure architectural elements as required.
• Supports the Development teams in overcoming hurdles, implementing new designs, and implementing best practices.
• Provides expert knowledge to, and participates in the prioritisation of deliverables.
• Guides and negotiates with Developers/Engineers, Business Analysts, Business Relationship Directors, Project Managers & Transformation team to ensure architectural alignment.
• Engages with other Architects as needed for support and guidance, working with them and Enterprise Architects to ensure technical standards, procedures and methodologies are adhered to and/or provide feedback where changes are needed.
• Actively engages in all project and BAU planning ceremonies, collaborating, coaching and guiding stakeholders to ensure ongoing alignment with the Architectural Vision.
• Influences and creates the ongoing Maintenance requirements for maintaining and stabilizing delivery of application changes and pipelines; including upgrades of technology, frameworks, and infrastructure.
• Presents Architectural Overview at Project and Change Triage meetings, socializing and enabling delivery teams to successfully complete associated changes.
• Negotiates scope adjustments, as needed, and accepts them as they are completed.
• Ensures technical guardrails are enforced via designs.
• May perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Expert knowledge of design and implementation of enterprise workflow systems, distributed architecture, intranet/internet architecture, and communication architectures.
• Senior level knowledge of the system development life cycle, along with system and application program development technological alternatives and architecture methodologies for multi-platform environments.
• Solid understanding of coding principles and practices, experience managing code quality through pull requests and other processes.
• Extensive experience at highest technical level of all phases of system architecture design using state of the art architecture, object oriented component analysis and development and proficiency in web-based systems architecture, service-based architecture and enterprise application architecture.
• Strong knowledge of contemporary technology and business trends that allows architecture to solve problems in a creative and cost effective manner.
• Expert understanding of Agile (desirable would be knowledge of SAFe), SDLC, Waterfall delivery, and testing practices with experience incrementally building and shepherding the agile mindset, values, principles, and practices across teams.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills. Able to communicate, collaborate and consult effectively with vendors, clients, peers, and IT management and staff.
• Strong analytical, problem solving and negotiations/conflict resolution skills. Able to balance technical excellence with business results.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to coach, influence, guide and mentor teams, peers, clients and leadership in cross functional teams.
• Extensive experience developing strategic system architecture plans and decomposing architectural initiatives into deliverables.
• Extensive experience with information processing fundamentals, understanding of current and emerging best practices.
• Proven experience identifying, analyzing and resolving system problems.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree (preferred) in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related discipline; or equivalent work experience.
• Typically, a minimum of 10 years work experience in technical delivery, including experience with systems architecture methodologies, concepts and frameworks like TOGAF.
• Typically, a minimum of five years work experience with architecture in some of the following technology platforms (ASP.Net, Python, Tiered Architectures, Cloud Architecture).
• Experience with insurance or finance based products.
• Applicable certifications preferred – TOGAF.
• Preferred experience with use of Jira, Confluence, and LucidSpark.

The Company

CNA Hardy is a leading specialist commercial insurance provider for clients within the Lloyd’s and company markets. We offer a highly specialised and comprehensive portfolio of innovative and market leading products. Coverage is available to businesses of all sizes for domestic, international and global exposures.