Enterprise Architect in Milton Keynes

Join Network Rail - Where People and Connections Matter. At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway. We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance.

Some of our great benefits:

• Generous maternity, paternity, and adoption leave to support our employees during significant life moments
• Flexible/hybrid working arrangements considered
• Generous annual leave up to 28 days plus statutory days (role dependant), with the option to buy/sell days
• Discounts at selected stations with your Network Rail pass
• Defined benefit pension scheme
• 75% off leisure train tickets for you and your dependents (subject to T&Cs)
• Interest-free travel loan for train and car park season tickets
• Volunteer leave to make a positive impact

Duration: Permanent

Location: The Quadrant, Milton Keynes (Hybrid working 3 days a week in the office)

Band & Salary: Band 2C £85,395 - £115,735 (plus benefits)

About the role: At Network Rail, we keep Britain moving. Every day, millions of passengers and tonnes of freight rely on the railway to connect people, communities and businesses across the country. As the organisation responsible for managing and maintaining Britain's railway infrastructure, we play a critical role in supporting economic growth, improving sustainability and enabling a safer, more reliable transport network for the future. Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) is at the heart of this transformation. We are modernising how the railway operates by harnessing the power of digital technology, data, cloud platforms and artificial intelligence to improve decision-making, enhance operational performance and deliver better outcomes for customers and colleagues.

Our Enterprise Architecture function provides the strategic direction that ensures technology investment delivers lasting business value. Working across Network Rail and the emerging Great British Railways landscape, we define the roadmaps, standards and architectural foundations that shape our digital future. This is an exciting opportunity to influence some of the largest and most complex digital transformation programmes in the UK, helping to create a more integrated, intelligent and sustainable railway.

We are seeking an Enterprise Architect specifically focusing across Digital, Data & AI to play a key role in defining and governing the enterprise architecture that underpins Network Rail's digital transformation ambitions. Acting as a strategic bridge between business vision and technology delivery, you will shape the future direction of our digital, data and AI capabilities across the organisation. You will develop enterprise-wide architecture strategies, target states, standards, principles and roadmaps that enable business objectives while ensuring solutions remain secure, resilient, scalable and aligned to industry and regulatory requirements.

Working closely with senior leaders across business, operational and technology functions, you will translate complex challenges into practical architecture outcomes. You will provide leadership across major investment programmes, guide solution and domain architects, and ensure that technology decisions support long-term business value, interoperability and operational effectiveness. As artificial intelligence and data-driven decision making become increasingly important to the future of the railway, you will help establish the architectural foundations, governance and standards needed to enable responsible adoption at scale. You will also play a leading role in driving innovation, influencing technology strategy, and ensuring that Network Rail's digital ecosystem remains adaptable to the evolving needs of the rail industry.

This is a highly visible and influential role, offering the opportunity to shape strategic decisions, work with senior stakeholders across the organisation, and leave a lasting impact on the future of Britain's railway. Get ready to embark on a journey where your skills will not just be utilised; they'll be honed and expanded.

Your experience and skills:

• Assessing the disruptive forces impacting the railway industry and identify the areas for optimisation for enabling transformation through Digital, Data & AI technologies within the railway industry.
• Developing actionable digital strategies, operating models and producing the supporting deliverables for the wider enterprise to enable an efficient railway.
• Delivering Enterprise Architecture (EA) products and services (e.g. target states, reference architectures, roadmaps, business cases) using the skills gained through analysing the latest technology trends and maintain these within the architecture repository to support various stakeholder views.
• Managing the EA framework as a set of consistent and coherent reference materials to empower business leaders to make informed business and technology choices.
• Building strategic relationships and collaborating with internal and external organisations to successfully deliver business outcomes consistently across the business.
• Tracking innovative technologies and facilitating the application of these technologies by rapid prototyping to drive business value.
• Managing, mentoring and coaching EA team members to engage, research, develop and communicate the digital, data and AI agenda of Network Rail.
• Producing artefacts demonstrating thought leadership to improve EA's brand-value and accelerate delivery of EA services.
• Analysing the digital and EA market trends and be proficient with the relevant skills through self-learning and/or formal training where available to enable the delivery of EA services.

The ideal candidate:

• Business and commercial acumen - understanding business models, financial drivers, competition.
• The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) / Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) or equivalent certification.
• Bachelor's or master's degree in business, information systems or related discipline, or equivalent and extensive related experience.
• Proven experience in all components of enterprise architecture - business, information, data, application and technology architecture.
• Excellent soft and interpersonal skills including negotiation, influencing, communication, facilitation and teamwork.
• Demonstrable problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with current information management practices and digital/EA frameworks and practices.
• Deep knowledge of current and emerging Digital, Data and AI technologies and their use in large and complex organisations.
• Ability to rapidly learn and apply new technologies, business concepts and methodologies to solve business problems.

It would be great if you also had:

• Experience of Railway, Transportation, Utilities or Engineering industries.
• Information Security Concepts, Standards, Infrastructure and Technologies.
• Enterprise Architecture tooling, EA data management and reporting.
• Leadership experience in other parts of the IT lifecycle - including delivery, service, operations, supplier management.
• Experience in providing management or technology consulting services.