At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the transformation of insurance architecture, focusing on modernising legacy systems.
- Company: Join a leading mutual pension provider embarking on a major transformation journey.
- Benefits: Be part of a new team with minimal politics and full in-house ownership.
- Why this job: Make a huge impact from day one in a tech-first, user-centric environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in solutions architecture within the insurance industry is essential.
- Other info: This role blends hands-on work with strategic leadership opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 £ per year.
Nixor is proud to be supporting a leading mutual pension provider at the very start of a significant, multi-year transformation programme. They’re building a brand-new architecture function from scratch, and this is your opportunity to be one of the first senior hires — joining right at the start and helping to define how things are done from day one.
They are looking for Senior Solution Architects or Lead Architects with Insurance industry (ideally Life Insurance) backgrounds. With full board backing, a clearly defined strategy, and no reliance on third-party vendors, this is a rare opportunity to join a large-scale enterprise at day zero of its transformation journey.
About the Role
As a Senior Solutions Architect, you’ll take technical ownership of a critical business domain — Pensions, Protection, or Closed Book. You’ll guide the transition from legacy systems to a modern, cloud-native, microservices architecture, with a specific focus on solutions that serve the Pensions business unit. This role blends hands-on architecture with strategic leadership. You’ll work in close partnership with business and enterprise architects, product owners, engineers, and C-suite stakeholders to shape scalable, secure, user-focused platforms.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the solutions architecture for your domain (applications, cloud infrastructure, integration, and security)
- Guide the modernisation of legacy platforms into a decoupled, event-driven microservices estate
- Define and implement architecture patterns, development standards, and observability practices
- Act as the go-to technical authority for your business unit
- Engage with senior stakeholders to ensure architecture aligns with wider strategy and goals
- Mentor developers and junior architects, fostering a high-performing engineering culture
Why Join?
- Be in at the beginning of building a brand new team.
- Huge Impact as you will own the technical landscape for your domain.
- Clear direction, no third-party constraints, and full in-house ownership
- Minimal politics, strong alignment from board to tech team
- Tech-first and user-centric approach from day one
We’re looking for experienced Senior Architects with:
- Proven experience in solutions architecture with the Insurance Industry
- A strong track record of modernising legacy systems into scalable, microservices-based platforms
- Deep knowledge of design patterns, cloud-native practices, and architectural governance
- Excellent communication skills with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
This is a hands-on leadership role — ideal for someone who wants to shape strategy but also stay close to the technology.
Interested? This is your chance to join one of the UK’s most ambitious architecture transformations — with the scale of a large enterprise and the agility of a start-up team. To find out more or apply, contact the team at Nixor today.
Lead Architect - Life Insurance employer: Nixor
Contact Detail:
Nixor Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Architect - Life Insurance
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the insurance and architecture sectors. Attend industry events, webinars, or meetups to connect with potential colleagues and learn about the latest trends in life insurance architecture.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your experience with modernising legacy systems by discussing specific projects you've led or contributed to. Be prepared to explain your approach to transitioning to microservices and cloud-native architectures.
✨Tip Number 3
Familiarise yourself with the company's current technology stack and their strategic goals. This will help you tailor your discussions during interviews and demonstrate your understanding of how you can contribute to their transformation journey.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you mentor junior architects and developers. Highlight examples of how you've fostered a high-performing engineering culture in previous roles, as this is crucial for the position.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Architect - Life Insurance
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in solutions architecture, particularly within the insurance industry. Emphasise any projects where you've modernised legacy systems or worked with microservices.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for the role and the transformation journey. Mention specific experiences that align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description, such as guiding technical ownership or mentoring teams.
Highlight Relevant Skills: In your application, clearly outline your skills in cloud-native practices, architectural governance, and communication with stakeholders. Use examples to demonstrate how these skills have contributed to past successes.
Showcase Leadership Experience: Since this is a hands-on leadership role, include examples of how you've led teams or projects in the past. Discuss your approach to fostering a high-performing engineering culture and how you engage with senior stakeholders.
How to prepare for a job interview at Nixor
✨Showcase Your Industry Knowledge
Make sure to highlight your experience in the insurance industry, particularly in life insurance. Be prepared to discuss specific challenges and trends in the sector, as well as how your previous roles have equipped you to tackle these issues.
✨Demonstrate Technical Expertise
Since this role involves modernising legacy systems, be ready to talk about your hands-on experience with cloud-native architectures and microservices. Prepare examples of past projects where you've successfully implemented these technologies.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
This position requires collaboration with various stakeholders. Practice articulating how you would engage with both technical and non-technical team members, ensuring that your architectural decisions align with broader business goals.
✨Prepare for Leadership Questions
As a lead architect, you'll need to demonstrate leadership skills. Think of examples where you've mentored others or led a team through a challenging project. Be ready to discuss your approach to fostering a high-performing engineering culture.