At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate the Solution Architecture function at Royal Mail.
- Company: Join Royal Mail, a historic institution undergoing a tech transformation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, healthcare, and family-friendly support.
- Other info: Inclusive culture welcoming diverse applicants and offering excellent career growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of technology for a national organisation with a £100m+ tech portfolio.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in architecture with strong cloud expertise.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Job reference 338093
Director of Solution Architecture
Competitive salary pluscar allowance, healthcare, annual bonus potentia l, 25 day s annual leave plus bank holidays rising with service and a company pension scheme with highly competitive contribution rates
Permanent, Full time
- Hybrid working in either London or Sheffield x3 days a week
- Director of Architecture - Royal Mail Group
- Hybrid: London or Sheffield (3 days onsite)
Royal Mail is transforming at pace, modernising our technology estate and reshaping how architecture drives value across the organisation.
We're looking for an outstanding Director of Architecture to lead our Solution Architecture capability and help define the future of technology for one of the UK's most iconic institutions.
The role
- Lead and mature the Solution Architecture function across the Royal Mail estate.
- Translate enterprise strategy into solution level blueprints, standards and roadmaps.
- Oversee architecture assurance, governance and design quality for major programmes.
- Guide a large, federated community of architects (c.50) through modern ways of working.
- Drive adoption of cloud native, platform led and product aligned architecture practices.
- Partner with senior business and technology leaders to shape investment and delivery decisions.
- Hold internal teams and strategic partners to account for quality and value.
- What you will bring
- Proven experience leading architecture functions in large, complex organisations.
- Deep expertise in solution and enterprise architecture, with strong cloud knowledge (Azure & GCP).
- A track record of transforming architecture teams and ways of working.
- Strong leadership, stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Ability to influence at executive level and drive change through organisational barriers.
- Broad understanding of business, data, cloud, infrastructure and cyber architecture.
- Why join us
- Shape the architecture vision for a national organisation with a £100m+ annual tech portfolio.
- Lead a high impact capability at a pivotal moment in Royal Mail's transformation.
- Work with senior leaders to modernise platforms, simplify the estate and deliver real business value.
- Extra Benefits
- Family friendly support - enhanced maternity pay, paternity leave, adoption leave and shared parental leave
- Supportive and generous company sick pay
- Funded Dental - As a manager you are eligible to a level of employer funded dental insurance*
- Health Assessment - As a manager you are eligible to an employer funded health assessment every 2 years*
- Benefits Account - You will have access to your personal benefits account on our My Bundle+ platform.
There are more than 800 retail offers to help you save on things like groceries, days out, holidays and your household bills as well as employer provided and voluntary benefits to suit your lifestyle.
- Your Wellbeing - you and your family have 24/7 access to services and tools to help you get the most out of life.
From your physical and mental health to financial and social support and advice.
It's free, and it's for everyone.
- *Available only to permanent employees
- Next Steps
The next stage of the selection process will be a face to face/virtual interview consisting of competency based and role specific questions.
Trust is the foundation of Royal Mail / Parcelforce / RM Property and Facilities Solutions.
We aim to be transparent about the qualities we seek and what a career with us entails, building trust from the start of your journey with us.
Your interview is the first step, and we want you to shine.
To help you prepare, we'll provide your interview questions in advance, so you can have your best examples ready.
At Royal Mail Group, we value trust and our people.
We understand that candidates may not meet all the criteria for the role.
If your experience is different, but you have relevant skills we'd love to hear from you. (delete if essential criteria only)
Royal Mail Group is committed to inclusion and representing the diverse communities we serve.
We welcome applications from all individuals.
As a proud Gold signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, we especially encourage applications from the Armed Forces community, including cadet instructors and spouses/partners.
We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process.
If you require any adjustments to support you during the hiring process, please discuss these with your recruiter when contacted.
We are Forces family friendly and a Gold signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant.
We welcome applications from ex-Armed Forces personnel, reservists, veterans, cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.
Closing Date: . 7th October 2026 Please note, this advert may close early if the appropriate number of applications has been reached.
- #LI-POST
Director of Solution Architecture employer: Royal Mail Group
At Parcelforce Worldwide, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture where every team member is valued. Located in Basingstoke, our drivers enjoy competitive salaries, generous benefits including medical cover and paid holidays, and opportunities for overtime, all while being part of a dedicated team that delivers exceptional service. Join us to grow your career in a stable, long-term role within a respected organisation that values trust and inclusion.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Solution Architecture
✨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 Royal Mail Group 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 Royal Mail Group.
✨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 Royal Mail Group.
✨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 Royal Mail Group 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 Director of Solution Architecture
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 Royal Mail Group.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Royal Mail Group 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 Royal Mail Group
✨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 Royal Mail Group 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.
