Principal Architect

Principal Architect

Cheltenham Full-Time 72000 - 108000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead architectural strategy and guide the transition to modern cloud solutions.
  • Company: Join a renowned financial services firm undergoing major transformation.
  • Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work options and direct access to senior leadership.
  • Why this job: Shape the future tech landscape and make a significant impact on the business.
  • Qualifications: Extensive experience in enterprise architecture, especially in regulated sectors.
  • Other info: This role requires 50% onsite work in Edinburgh.

The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.

La Fosse have been engaged by a renowned financial services firm to recruit multiple Principal Architects to join their growing function and be aligned to each of their value streams. There is a real opportunity to shape the future technology landscape in an organisation that is undergoing major transformation, and you will play a key part in the decisions that are made here.

Why Join?

  • You will have direct access to senior leadership (at CxO level), with the authority to get things done!
  • High visibility and influence—architecture is seen as a critical business driver, and stakeholders are invested in making it architecture-led.
  • There is a shift from project to product model—designing for long-term outcomes, not just short-term fixes.
  • Time spent on meaningful work: selling ideas, negotiating, and doing the right thing, with significant impact on the future of the business.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Architecture Leadership: Define and execute architectural strategy, balancing modernisation with immediate business needs.
  • Legacy to Cloud Transition: Guide the shift from mainframe/monolithic systems to microservices, API-led, event-driven architectures.
  • Governance: Establish architectural standards and frameworks that ensure consistency and innovation across domains.
  • Collaboration: Partner with stakeholders, business leaders, and technical teams to ensure alignment with business strategy and long-term value.
  • Coaching: Support engineers in delivering deployable, scalable solutions.

Required Experience:

  • Extensive experience in enterprise or solution architecture within regulated sectors (e.g., financial services, insurance, pensions).
  • Strong expertise in cloud and modern architecture patterns.
  • Proven ability to establish governance, influence senior stakeholders, and translate strategy into action.
  • Excellent communication skills and a passion for delivering long-term customer value.

This is a hybrid role, requiring 50% time working onsite in the client's Edinburgh office.

Principal Architect employer: La Fosse

Joining this renowned financial services firm as a Principal Architect offers an exceptional opportunity to influence the future technology landscape within a dynamic and transformative environment. With direct access to senior leadership and a culture that values architecture as a critical business driver, you will engage in meaningful work that has a lasting impact. The company fosters a collaborative atmosphere, prioritising employee growth through coaching and development, while also providing the unique advantage of working in the vibrant city of Edinburgh, known for its rich history and thriving tech scene.
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Contact Detail:

La Fosse Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Architect

✨Tip Number 1

Network with professionals in the financial services sector, especially those who have experience in enterprise architecture. Attend industry events or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and learn about the latest trends in architecture.

✨Tip Number 2

Familiarise yourself with the specific technologies and frameworks mentioned in the job description, such as microservices and API-led architectures. Being able to discuss these in detail during interviews will demonstrate your expertise and readiness for the role.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to showcase your experience in guiding legacy systems to cloud transitions. Have examples ready that illustrate your strategic thinking and successful implementations in similar environments, as this is a key responsibility of the role.

✨Tip Number 4

Highlight your ability to influence senior stakeholders and establish governance frameworks. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully navigated complex organisational structures in the past, as this will be crucial for the Principal Architect position.

We think you need these skills to ace Principal Architect

Enterprise Architecture
Solution Architecture
Cloud Architecture
Microservices Design
API Management
Event-Driven Architecture
Governance Frameworks
Stakeholder Engagement
Strategic Planning
Technical Leadership
Collaboration Skills
Coaching and Mentoring
Regulatory Compliance Knowledge
Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your extensive experience in enterprise or solution architecture, particularly within regulated sectors like financial services. Emphasise your expertise in cloud and modern architecture patterns, as well as any relevant governance experience.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for architecture as a business driver. Discuss how your skills align with the company's shift from project to product model and your ability to influence senior stakeholders.

Showcase Relevant Projects: Include specific examples of past projects where you successfully guided legacy systems to cloud transitions or established architectural standards. This will demonstrate your capability to deliver long-term customer value.

Prepare for Interviews: Be ready to discuss your architectural strategy and how you balance modernisation with immediate business needs. Prepare to articulate your approach to collaboration with stakeholders and coaching engineers in delivering scalable solutions.

How to prepare for a job interview at La Fosse

✨Showcase Your Architectural Vision

Be prepared to discuss your vision for the future technology landscape. Highlight how you can balance modernisation with immediate business needs, and provide examples of past experiences where you've successfully executed architectural strategies.

✨Demonstrate Cloud Expertise

Since the role involves guiding the transition from legacy systems to cloud architectures, be ready to discuss your experience with cloud technologies. Share specific projects where you've implemented microservices or API-led architectures, and explain the impact of these changes.

✨Emphasise Governance and Standards

Talk about your experience in establishing architectural standards and frameworks. Provide examples of how you've ensured consistency and innovation across domains, and how you've influenced senior stakeholders to adopt these practices.

✨Highlight Collaboration Skills

This role requires strong collaboration with various stakeholders. Prepare to share instances where you've partnered with business leaders and technical teams to align architecture with business strategy, and how this has led to long-term value for the organisation.

Principal Architect
La Fosse
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  • Principal Architect

    Cheltenham
    Full-Time
    72000 - 108000 £ / year (est.)

    Application deadline: 2027-06-04

  • L

    La Fosse

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