At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead architectural direction and cloud adoption for a major financial services organisation.
- Company: Join a leading financial services firm focused on modernising technology.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work model, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Opportunity to influence enterprise-wide decisions in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Be the architect who shapes technology evolution and makes a real impact.
- Qualifications: Strong engineering background with experience in Microsoft technologies and architecture.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 75000 € per year.
Location: Leeds (Hybrid)
Salary: £75,000
Take ownership of Application Architecture Modernisation and Cloud Adoption for a leading Financial Services Organisation. We're supporting a leading Financial Services organisation on a multi-year evolution of its core platforms and technology landscape. This role offers a rare opportunity to step in as the Architect, taking full ownership of architectural direction, governance, and process across the business.
You'll operate across both technical depth and enterprise-level thinking, helping the organisation move from a predominantly on-prem Microsoft estate towards a more modern, API-led and cloud-ready architecture, at a pace that aligns with business risk and regulatory requirements.
What You'll Be Doing
- Own the Architecture Function: Act as the organisation's primary Architect, establishing architecture practices, governance, and processes, including involvement in and shaping of Technical Design Authority (TDA).
- Technical Leadership & Decision-Making: Work closely with Engineers and senior stakeholders to drive key decisions across areas such as APIs, authentication, integration patterns, and application design.
- Application & Platform Architecture: Lead the evolution of a core Microsoft-based platform, currently on-prem, introducing scalable, modern architectural patterns.
- API & Integration Strategy: Play a key role in shaping a more API-led ecosystem, including the potential introduction of an API Gateway and improved service-to-service communication.
- Cloud Readiness & Transformation: Support early-stage cloud adoption, helping define a pragmatic, low-risk path to Azure, balancing innovation with regulatory and operational considerations.
- Collaboration Across Technology: Partner closely with an established Infrastructure SME, ensuring a clear separation and alignment between infrastructure and application architecture.
- Governance & Standards: Introduce structure, best practices, and architectural governance across the technology landscape, ensuring consistency, scalability, and security.
What You'll Bring
- Strong Engineering Background: Previous hands-on development experience (ideally within the Microsoft stack), with the credibility to engage deeply with engineering teams.
- Architectural Experience (Solution or Enterprise): Able to operate both tactically and strategically, with a clear understanding of how solutions fit within a wider enterprise context.
- Microsoft-Centric Expertise: Strong knowledge of .NET, C#, SQL Server, and designing within Microsoft-based environments.
- API & Integration Knowledge: Experience designing or working with API-driven architectures, authentication models, and modern integration patterns.
- Cloud Awareness (Azure Preferred): Exposure to cloud architecture and migration concepts, even if the majority of experience to date is within on-prem environments.
- Governance & Stakeholder Engagement: Comfortable setting up architectural processes, contributing to design authorities, and influencing both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Why Apply
- Be THE Architect: Take true ownership of architecture within the organisation, with the autonomy to define standards and direction.
- Make a Visible Impact: Play a central role in shaping how technology evolves across a key, business-critical platform.
- Blend Strategy and Hands-On Influence: Stay close to engineering while influencing enterprise-wide decisions.
- Transformation Without Chaos: Join a business that is committed to modernisation, but taking a considered, pragmatic approach to cloud and change.
This role is ideal for an experienced Solutions Architect who wants to step into a lead, high-ownership position, balancing hands-on technical influence with the opportunity to build and mature an architecture function from the ground up.
Solution Architect in Leeds employer: Harvey Nash Plc
Join a leading Financial Services organisation in Leeds as a Solutions Architect, where you will take ownership of architectural direction and governance in a hybrid work environment. Enjoy a collaborative culture that values innovation and strategic thinking, with ample opportunities for professional growth and development as you help modernise core platforms and drive cloud adoption. With a focus on employee well-being and a commitment to a pragmatic approach to transformation, this role offers a unique chance to make a significant impact within the organisation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Solution Architect in Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend meetups, webinars, or even local tech events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those related to cloud architecture or API design. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do and sets you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common architectural scenarios. Think about how you'd approach modernising an application or integrating APIs. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will impress interviewers and show you're ready for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We make it easy for you to find roles that match your skills and aspirations. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team and helps us keep track of your application.
We think you need these skills to ace Solution Architect in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Solutions Architect role. Highlight your hands-on development experience, especially within the Microsoft stack, and any architectural projects you've led.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've taken ownership of architecture in previous roles and how you can contribute to our cloud adoption journey.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t shy away from detailing your technical expertise. Mention your knowledge of .NET, C#, SQL Server, and any experience with API-driven architectures. We want to see how you can blend technical depth with strategic thinking.
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’re considered for this exciting opportunity to shape our architectural direction.
How to prepare for a job interview at Harvey Nash Plc
✨Know Your Architecture Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the principles of application architecture and cloud adoption. Brush up on your knowledge of Microsoft technologies, especially .NET and C#, as well as API-driven architectures. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you’re ready to take ownership of the architectural direction.
✨Prepare for Technical Leadership Questions
Expect questions about your experience in leading technical teams and making architectural decisions. Think of specific examples where you’ve influenced design choices or introduced governance practices. This will demonstrate your ability to blend hands-on technical skills with strategic thinking.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
This role requires working closely with engineers and stakeholders. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve successfully collaborated across teams in the past. Highlight any experiences where you’ve facilitated discussions or driven consensus on architectural decisions.
✨Understand the Business Context
Familiarise yourself with the financial services sector and the regulatory landscape. Be ready to explain how your architectural decisions can align with business goals while managing risk. This shows that you’re not just a techie but also understand the bigger picture.
