At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead architectural direction and influence engineering teams in a dynamic media environment.
- Company: Major media organisation focused on digital platform evolution.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on innovation and modern technology.
- Why this job: Shape the future of large-scale digital platforms and make impactful architectural decisions.
- Qualifications: Strong software engineering background and experience with cloud-native architecture.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
I'm working with a major media organisation that is looking to hire a Lead Architect to play a key role in the evolution of its large-scale digital platforms. This isn't a traditional architecture role where you'll sit above engineering teams acting as an approval gate. My client is looking for someone who can set technical direction, influence engineering teams and create an environment where good architectural decisions are made at the right level.
You’ll be working across a high-traffic, content-driven web and mobile ecosystem, partnering closely with Engineering, Product and Delivery leadership. The role will involve:
- Setting architectural direction across multiple engineering teams
- Designing and evolving large-scale distributed systems
- Helping engineering teams navigate trade-offs around scalability, resilience, coupling, cost and operability
- Establishing architectural principles, patterns, golden paths and sensible defaults
- Encouraging lightweight architectural practices such as ADRs rather than heavyweight governance
- Supporting decisions around build vs buy, platform vs product and longer-term technology investment
- Coaching Tech Leads and Engineers in architectural thinking
- Helping modernise and simplify complex technology platforms
I'm particularly interested in speaking with people who have:
- A strong software engineering/technical background
- Strong knowledge of modern cloud-native architecture
- Experience with CI/CD and observability
- An understanding of evolutionary architecture and incremental change
- Experience influencing technical direction across multiple engineering teams
- The ability to challenge senior stakeholders while building consensus
- Worked as a Lead/Principal Architect, Software Architect, Principal Engineer or similar
- Experience within large-scale digital or media environments would be beneficial, but isn't essential.
Lead Architect employer: Oliver Bernard
At Oliver Bernard, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that fosters innovation and collaboration in the tech space. Our hybrid work model allows for flexibility while still providing opportunities for meaningful face-to-face interactions in our London office. We are committed to employee growth, offering continuous learning opportunities and a supportive work culture that values creativity and teamwork, making us an ideal place for passionate Full Stack Engineers to thrive.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Architect
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Oliver Bernard or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Oliver Bernard.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Oliver Bernard.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Oliver Bernard that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Architect
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Oliver Bernard.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Oliver Bernard and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Oliver Bernard
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Oliver Bernard uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
