Lead Architect - Technology Strategy & Application Architecture

EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Permanent

DEPARTMENT: Information Systems

DIVISION: Group

WORKPLACE STRUCTURE: Hybrid

ROLE OVERVIEW

PURPOSE OF JOB

As JTC enters the Genesis era of growth and transformation under private equity ownership, the Group’s ambition is to become a data- and AI-powered specialist-services platform where every interaction, acquisition and piece of expertise makes the firm smarter, more efficient and easier to scale. The Lead Architect sits within Application Architecture, part of the Technology Strategy & Application Architecture function within JTC’s unified Tech-AI operating model. The role owns JTC’s target-state application architecture and leads the design of solution architecture for priority initiatives, working across an estate that has been built up through acquisition and contains duplicated systems and point-to-point integrations requiring active rationalisation.

The postholder will provide architecture input into buy-vs-build and vendor decisions, including evaluating third-party and embedded AI tools, and will design the solution architecture for priority initiatives, working closely with AI Engineering & Data Science and Group Data so that AI, agentic and data platform components are built onto the estate coherently and without creating vendor lock-in. As JTC continues to grow by acquisition, the role also covers assessing new acquisitions’ technology estates against the target architecture and helping prioritise what gets integrated first.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• TARGET ARCHITECTURE & GOVERNANCE
  • Define and own JTC’s target-state application architecture, rationalising a fragmented, acquisition-built estate of duplicated systems and point-to-point integrations.
  • Provide architecture input into buy-vs-build and vendor decisions, including evaluating third-party and embedded AI tools for fit with the Group’s data and application estate.
  • Establish architecture standards, integration patterns and principles, and run or contribute to the architecture governance forum for the Group.
  • Assess new acquisitions’ technology estates against the target architecture and help prioritise what gets integrated first.
• SOLUTION ARCHITECTURE & DELIVERY
  • Design the solution architecture for priority initiatives, translating the target architecture into delivery-ready designs.
  • Work hands-on across specific integration and delivery projects, including those spanning multiple existing systems being consolidated or replaced.
  • Partner directly with AI Engineering & Data Science and Group Data on the architecture of agentic and data platform components, ensuring AI capability is built onto the estate coherently and without creating vendor lock-in.
• AI & AGENTIC ARCHITECTURE
  • Maintain current, practical fluency in agentic and AI architecture patterns, including orchestration, retrieval and grounding, and MCP-style integration, sufficient to credibly shape how these fit the wider estate.
  • Contribute architecture positions on AI-related integration, data dependencies and target-state implications as new agentic capabilities move from prototype into production.
• REGULATORY & RISK AWARENESS
  • Make architecture decisions with awareness of JTC’s regulated, multi-jurisdiction footprint, recognising that data residency, cross-border transfer and compliance requirements vary by jurisdiction and should be confirmed with Compliance and Legal rather than assumed.
• DOCUMENTATION & CAPABILITY BUILDING
  • Document architecture decisions, standards and patterns clearly enough to be usable by other teams without ongoing explanation.
  • Contribute to the ongoing development of the Application Architecture capability as the team and function grow.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Senior architecture experience that includes real exposure to target-state and governance decisions, combined with current, hands-on solution design experience from within the last one to two years.
• Experience operating in a fragmented, multi-entity, acquisitive estate rather than a greenfield environment, ideally including consolidation of point-to-point integrations.
• Demonstrable experience contributing to buy-vs-build and vendor decisions, including evaluating embedded AI or SaaS tools.
• Current, practical fluency in AI and agentic architecture patterns, sufficient to partner credibly with AI engineering teams.
• Strong modern solution design experience, including cloud-native architecture, APIs and integration patterns.
• Experience in a regulated, multi-jurisdiction environment, ideally Financial Services or Professional Services, with sound judgement on when to involve Compliance and Legal.
• Experience with technology integration during M&A or acquisition-driven growth is highly advantageous.
• Strong written communication skills, able to produce documentation and standards that are usable by others without ongoing explanation.
• Comfortable operating without a large architecture team, moving between strategic and hands-on delivery work as needed.
• A relevant degree in computer science, engineering or a related discipline, and relevant professional certifications, are valued but not required.

OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION & WELLBEING

JTC is committed to fostering a healthy, inclusive organisation where all individuals feel welcome and feel able to participate in the workplace fully. We value different perspectives, backgrounds and lived experiences. This includes supporting employee wellbeing so that people feel equipped to thrive.