Lead Architect - Up to £130k in London

Lead Architect - Up to £130k in London

London Full-Time 110000 - 130000 € / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a team to shape innovative architecture for a major tech transformation in fitness.
  • Company: Join one of the UK's leading fitness brands with a modern and ambitious culture.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary up to £130k, bonus, and comprehensive benefits package.
  • Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities to drive AI and modern architecture practices.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on technology that serves nearly 1 million active users.
  • Qualifications: Strong background in Lead Architecture and cloud-native systems, preferably Azure.

The predicted salary is between 110000 - 130000 € per year.

Hybrid, London (3 days in office, South London)

£110,000 - £130,000 + bonus + benefits

We're partnered with one of the UK's leading fitness brands on a newly created Lead Architect hire, as they build out an Architecture team function internally. This isn't a "maintain the estate" architecture role. They're in the middle of a major technology transformation across customer platforms, memberships, integrations and mobile experience, all within a business serving close to 1 million active users across 250+ physical locations nationwide.

The scale is genuinely interesting:

  • High-volume customer journeys
  • Mobile-first member experiences
  • Real-time integrations with third-party platforms and connected devices
  • Operational telemetry and monitoring systems
  • Future-facing work around AI

Reporting directly to the CTO, you will...

  • Operate strategically, managing a team of 3-4 other Architects
  • Remain hands-on and technically credible
  • Be responsible for shaping the architectural blueprint across the business, defining governance, tooling, standards, and long-term target state architecture
  • Bring Applied AI into the systems of the business to automate internal or customer-facing solutions
  • Influence both executive-level technology direction and the reality of engineering delivery teams
  • Drive architectural governance and technical direction
  • Bring strong cloud-native and distributed systems experience
  • Understand modern B2C digital products, subscriptions, e-commerce, or app-led businesses

What they're looking for:

  • Strong Lead Architecture background within scaled digital businesses
  • Experience building or evolving architecture functions
  • Deep Microsoft Azure OR AWS architecture experience (They use Azure: AKS, App Services, Event Hubs, API Management etc.)
  • Strong distributed systems and cloud-native architecture knowledge
  • Experience designing high-availability, event-driven systems
  • Ability to operate across business, engineering and product stakeholders
  • Previous people leadership experience
  • Awareness of modern architecture patterns: DDD, Event-driven systems, CQRS, Hexagonal Architecture, Microservices
  • Proven experience in driving AI into workflows, teams, and systems
  • Understanding of observability, security and compliance considerations
  • Ideally some exposure to mobile / customer-facing platforms

The environment:

  • Re-platforming from monolithic systems into event-driven microservices
  • Large-scale backend and distributed systems challenges
  • Building toward domain-driven architecture and greater engineering autonomy
  • Stripe payments transformation
  • Major data platform evolution into Microsoft Fabric
  • A strategic mobile app rebuild likely centred around React Native
  • Strong interest in AI-enabled products, DevEx, and applied AI capabilities

The environment itself is modern and ambitious without being overly corporate. They've invested heavily into technology over the last 2 years, particularly across app and customer experience, and this role will play a major part in defining what the future technology organisation looks like.

Lead Architect - Up to £130k in London employer: Few&Far

As a Lead Architect at one of the UK's premier fitness brands, you will be part of a dynamic and innovative team driving a significant technology transformation. The company fosters a collaborative work culture that values creativity and technical excellence, offering competitive salaries, bonuses, and comprehensive benefits. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, this role provides a unique opportunity to influence the architectural direction of a business serving nearly 1 million active users, all while working in a modern, hybrid environment in South London.

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Contact Detail:

Few&Far Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Architect - Up to £130k in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who might know someone at the company you're eyeing. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to a referral, which is gold when it comes to landing that Lead Architect role.

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or any projects that highlight your experience with cloud-native architecture or AI integration, make sure to have them ready. Sharing these during interviews can really set you apart from the crowd.

Tip Number 3

Prepare for the tech talk! Brush up on your knowledge of modern architecture patterns and be ready to discuss how you've applied them in past roles. This will show that you’re not just a hands-on manager but also a strategic thinker who can influence technology direction.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of resources to help you prepare for interviews and connect with potential employers. Plus, applying directly can sometimes give you an edge over other candidates.

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Architect - Up to £130k in London

Lead Architecture
Cloud-native Architecture
Distributed Systems
Microsoft Azure
AWS
Event-driven Systems
High-availability Systems

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Lead Architect role. Highlight your hands-on experience with cloud-native architectures and any leadership roles you've held. We want to see how you can shape our architectural blueprint!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background in digital businesses makes you a perfect fit. Don’t forget to mention your experience with AI and modern architecture patterns!

Showcase Relevant Projects:If you've worked on projects involving high-volume customer journeys or event-driven systems, make sure to include those in your application. We love seeing real-world examples of how you've tackled challenges similar to what we face at StudySmarter.

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we’re excited to see what you bring to the table!

How to prepare for a job interview at Few&Far

Know Your Tech Inside Out

Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially Azure and distributed systems. Brush up on your knowledge of event-driven architectures and microservices, as these will likely come up during the interview.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills

Prepare examples that highlight your previous leadership experiences. Discuss how you've managed teams, influenced technology direction, and driven architectural governance. This role requires a hands-on manager, so be ready to demonstrate your ability to lead while remaining technically credible.

Understand the Business Context

Familiarise yourself with the fitness brand and its customer journey. Think about how architecture can enhance user experience and operational efficiency. Being able to connect your technical expertise to their business goals will set you apart.

Be Ready for AI Discussions

Since the role involves integrating AI into workflows, prepare to discuss your experience with applied AI. Think of specific examples where you've successfully implemented AI solutions and how they benefited the organisation. This will show your forward-thinking approach and alignment with their future goals.