At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the modernization of applications to cloud-native solutions and drive technical vision.
- Company: Join IRIS Software Group, a leader in business-critical software solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on innovation and continuous learning.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by transforming legacy systems into cutting-edge cloud solutions.
- Qualifications: BSc in software engineering or equivalent experience; architecture certifications preferred.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
IRIS Software Group provides industry leading business critical software solutions and services to manage core business operations. We started 45 years ago with accountancy software and have evolved to be relied on by more than 100,000 customers across 135 countries in accountancy, education and business. IRIS simplifies and automates critical workflows, allowing professionals in businesses and schools to focus on what they do best.
Its software solutions and services for finance, HR and payroll teams, educational organisations, and accountancy firms helps comply with regulations, drive productivity and better engage with key stakeholders. Through simplifying, automating and providing insights on everyday mission-critical tasks for organisations of all shapes and sizes, IRIS ensures customers operate with confidence, backed by data-driven insights and dependable systems.
As a Senior Architect on our Education product team, you’ll shape the technical vision and lead the end-to-end modernization of applications—many originally built before the cloud era—to operate as scalable, secure, cloud native solutions. You will partner with product, engineering, and architecture peers to drive roadmap, design, and governance across our cloud portfolio. You’ll be working with another Senior Architect and together looking after the Education solutions in Iris. The role reports to the Senior Director for Software Engineering in Education.
Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end modernization of on-premises or monolithic applications, redesigning them as cloud native solutions (microservices, serverless, containers).
- Define migration strategies—including phasing, data migration, and integration patterns—to move existing applications to public cloud platforms (Azure/AWS) with minimal disruption.
- Develop proof of concepts for refactoring, containerization, and infrastructure as code approaches; validate performance, scalability, and cost efficiency improvements.
- Architect services and features according to company cloud principles, ensuring they integrate seamlessly with modernized legacy systems.
- Design fullstack, API-first solutions (UI, middle tier, data layer) that leverage event driven and multitier patterns to maximize resilience and extensibility.
- Collaborate with Engineering and Product to translate business goals into a prioritized, agile delivery roadmap for both new and modernized services.
Governance, Quality & Security
- Establish and enforce an architecture framework—covering standards, patterns library, security controls, and compliance requirements—for both legacy-refactored and cloud-native code.
- Conduct regular architecture reviews and code-quality checkpoints; define KPIs/metrics to track maintainability, performance, and adherence to best practices.
- Partner with Security and Operations to embed security-by-design into modernization efforts and cloud deployments.
Technical Leadership & Change Management
- Mentor and guide cross-functional teams through significant technical transformations, removing blockers and managing cross-team dependencies.
- Evangelize modern cloud and application modernization practices via workshops, brownbags, and internal documentation.
- Continuously scan emerging technologies and frameworks that can accelerate modernization or improve system reliability and cost optimization.
- Evangelize AI driven development in the teams and the wider Product and Engineering department.
Stakeholder Collaboration
- Work closely with Development Managers to scope modernization projects, estimate effort, and align on delivery milestones.
- Engage Product Owners to ensure modernization initiatives are appropriately prioritized alongside new feature development.
- Liaise with Architecture Guild to evolve and maintain the architectural backlog, incorporating lessons learned from each migration engagement.
Key Relationships
- Product team
- Operations
Qualification
Must Have:
- BSC or equivalent in a software engineering discipline, or relevant experience.
- Architecture Certifications (Azure)
Experience
Must Have:
- Multiple years of developing and architecting in cloud in AWS or GCP.
- Familiarity with observability practices.
- Experience of designing full-stack architectures (multi-tier, so UI/UX, middle tier and persistence tier).
- An API-first approach.
- Deep understanding of REST APIs.
- Understanding of different software design patterns e.g Multi-tier, Microservice, Event driven.
- Ability to explain complex concepts to diverse audiences.
Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
Employment type: Full-time
Job function: Information Technology
Industries: Software Development
Senior Architect in England employer: IRIS Software Group
IRIS Software Group is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and development, offering a collaborative work culture where your contributions directly impact client success. Located in a vibrant area, we provide competitive benefits and a supportive environment that fosters innovation and teamwork, making it an ideal place for professionals looking to make a meaningful difference in customer relationships.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Architect in England
✨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 IRIS Software Group 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!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Architect in England
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 IRIS Software Group!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to express your passion for architecture and what drew you to IRIS Software Group. 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 IRIS Software Group
✨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 IRIS Software Group.
