At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead architectural vision and strategy, driving innovation and high-performance solutions.
- Company: Join a dynamic tech company transforming communication for millions globally.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days leave, gym membership, and a cycle to work scheme.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for continuous learning and growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of architecture while mentoring a talented team.
- Qualifications: Deep expertise in .NET, AI integration, and leadership experience required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Interact provides enterprise-grade intranet software that connects over three million employees to leading global names like Levi's, Domino’s, Teva Pharmaceuticals, and Technicolor. Our team of customer-focused problem solvers are passionate about helping organizations to communicate better. We do this together by constantly working to improve every service and product we offer. With offices in Manchester, New York, Dubai, Tulsa, and Warsaw, we operate across North America, EMEA, and Australia.
We are excited to announce we are looking for a Head of Architecture at Interact Software. The Head of Architecture will lead the architectural vision, strategy, and execution, ensuring alignment between technical initiatives and business goals. In this role you will drive the evolution of our technical architecture, foster innovation while overseeing the design, development, and optimization of scalable, high-performance solutions across a platform used by millions of users globally. You will be responsible for shaping the future direction of our systems, ensuring that both current and future needs are met through forward-thinking strategies, engineering excellence, and modern architectural practices.
In this leadership role, you will lead and develop a team of Principal Software Engineers and Technical Architects, setting clear expectations, driving high performance, and fostering a culture of innovation, ownership, and continuous improvement. You will also oversee AI integration across the organisation—both within the core product and across the wider ecosystem—ensuring these capabilities are delivered securely, responsibly, and at scale. You will communicate effectively between technical and non-technical stakeholders, drive governance, ensure architectural excellence, and guide teams toward successful and sustainable implementations. You will work closely with senior leadership to align architecture with business objectives and to deliver complex, high-impact features across the platform.
A little about you...
- Deep expertise in .NET and modern technical architecture, with the ability to operate hands‑on where needed.
- Proven experience leading teams of Principal Engineers and Architects in complex environments.
- Strong understanding of AI integration patterns (e.g. RAG, embeddings, vector databases), cloud‑native architectures, and scalable distributed systems.
- Experience overseeing AI‑enabled product capabilities at scale.
- Proven ability to drive high standards in system design, delivery practices, and operational performance across large‑scale platforms.
- Ability to define and execute long‑term architectural strategies while balancing short‑term delivery needs.
- Confident in making high‑stakes, complex decisions and leading teams through ambiguity and change.
- Strong understanding of governance frameworks, risk mitigation, and architectural assurance in enterprise environments.
- Exceptional ability to translate complex technical concepts for non‑technical audiences and influence at executive level.
- Demonstrated track record of adopting emerging technologies and driving impactful innovation.
- Proven experience building, mentoring, and leading high‑performing engineering and architecture teams.
- Deep knowledge of modern software architecture patterns, including microservices, event‑driven systems, and cloud‑native design.
- Strong understanding of AI/ML concepts and integration approaches, including LLMs, RAG architectures, vector databases, and responsible AI practices.
- Expertise in scalable platform design, performance optimisation, and distributed systems used by high‑volume, global user bases.
- Solid understanding of security, compliance, data privacy, and governance frameworks in enterprise SaaS environments.
- Strategic and forward‑thinking, with the ability to anticipate future technology and business needs.
- Highly collaborative, able to influence and align diverse stakeholders across engineering, product, and executive levels.
- Pragmatic and outcome‑focused, balancing innovation with delivery and operational realities.
- Strong ownership mindset, with a drive for accountability and continuous improvement.
- Resilient and adaptable, able to navigate ambiguity and lead through complex organisational and technical challenges.
About the role...
- Lead, mentor, and scale a high‑performing team of Principal Software Engineers and Technical Architects, ensuring strong technical leadership across domains.
- Shape and influence the architectural strategy across the business, aligning decisions with immediate needs and long‑term goals.
- Define and drive architectural roadmaps, standards, policies, and vision statements to guide the organisation’s evolution.
- Champion engineering excellence, driving best practices in design, delivery, scalability, and maintainability.
- Define and lead the AI architecture strategy across Interact’s platform and ecosystem.
- Oversee the design and delivery of AI‑powered features such as intelligent search, summarisation, classification, recommendations, generative capabilities, and insights.
- Ensure the development of secure, scalable AI integration layers using modern patterns (e.g. embeddings, RAG, vector databases, prompt orchestration, evaluation frameworks).
- Govern the creation and operation of AI services, APIs, telemetry, evaluation pipelines, and guardrails.
- Establish and enforce best practices for responsible AI, including privacy, compliance, model governance, and risk mitigation.
- Partner with Product and Engineering leadership to prioritise AI initiatives and define measurable business and user outcomes.
- Ensure reuse and scalability through shared AI components, SDKs, and architectural standards across teams.
- Serve as a bridge between engineering, product, and executive stakeholders to ensure architectural decisions align with business goals.
- Collaborate closely with senior leadership to shape and deliver strategic initiatives and complex platform capabilities.
- Proactively identify opportunities for architectural improvements, innovation, and transformation.
- Oversee technical governance, ensuring architecture decisions align with organisational standards, risk management, and budget considerations.
- Lead architectural assurance processes to mitigate risk and ensure quality across products and services.
- Define and enforce architectural principles, standards, and review processes.
- Provide strategic guidance on complex, high‑risk technical designs across the platform.
- Shape and evolve the overall system architecture, ensuring scalability, resilience, and performance at global scale.
- Lead the design and delivery of complex, cross‑cutting platform features.
- Review and approve key architectural decisions, ensuring alignment with long‑term strategy.
- Stay ahead of industry trends, particularly in AI, cloud, and modern software architecture.
- Evaluate and adopt emerging technologies that enhance the platform and improve engineering effectiveness.
- Foster a culture of experimentation and innovation within the architecture and engineering teams.
- Drive the development of architectural documentation, patterns, and best practices.
- Coach and mentor senior engineers and architects, building strong technical leadership across the organisation.
- Provide training and alignment sessions to ensure consistency in implementation and decision‑making.
- Make high‑impact, complex architectural decisions with significant business and technical implications.
- Build alignment and consensus across diverse stakeholders, balancing trade‑offs effectively.
- Ensure technical quality, reliability, and performance meet organisational goals.
- Embed engineering excellence into all aspects of architecture and delivery.
Benefits
- 25 days annual leave (with the option to buy and sell additional days)
- Cycle to work scheme
- Access to Learning & Development platform
- Life Insurance
- Auto Enrolment Pensions
- Healthshield (Cashback on dental check-ups and fillings, eye tests, physiotherapy, prescriptions and much more)
- Reimburse for usage of personal mobile phone
- Free Gym membership and Free Friday lunch for office based staff
Head of Architecture in Manchester employer: Sideways 6
Interact Software is an exceptional employer that values its people as its most valuable asset, fostering a culture of respect, innovation, and continuous improvement. Located in Manchester, the company offers a dynamic work environment with ample opportunities for professional growth, including access to a comprehensive Learning & Development platform and a supportive team atmosphere. Employees enjoy a range of benefits such as generous annual leave, health perks, and a commitment to work-life balance, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in technology.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Architecture in Manchester
✨Get Your Portfolio Game On Point
As an aspiring architect, your portfolio is your golden ticket. Make sure it's not just a collection of your best work, but tells a story about your design process and creative thought. Showcase a range of projects, from conceptual sketches to final renderings—think of it as a visual CV!
✨Slide into Networking Events
Architecture thrives on community connections, so keep an eye out for local architecture meetups, exhibitions, and lectures. These events are gold for meeting industry professionals, and who knows? You might just bump into someone from Sideways 6 who can give you the insider scoop on their hiring process!
✨Learn the Software Inside Out
Make sure you're up to speed with design software like AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp. Being able to discuss your proficiency during interviews can really set you apart. Plus, if you can mention particular projects where you’ve used them, you’ll demonstrate both skill and practical experience.
✨Refine Your Interview Skills
Interviews for architecture roles can get quite technical, so practice answering questions about your design process and decision-making strategies. Prepare for potential design challenges they might put forward in interviews—show them you can think on your feet and come up with innovative solutions!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Architecture in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Design Skills:Architecture is all about creativity and technical skills, so make sure your portfolio is front and centre! Include a range of your best projects, showcasing different styles and techniques. Don't forget to explain your design process and the challenges you overcame for each project – it gives hiring managers a glimpse into your thought process!
Tailor Your CV to Architecture:When putting together your CV, highlight relevant experience in architectural design software, like AutoCAD or Revit. Plus, if you have any internships or coursework that involved real-world projects, be sure to mention them. We want to see not just what you've done, but how it relates directly to this role at Sideways 6!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to express your passion for architecture and what drew you to Sideways 6. Talk about specific projects or values of theirs you admire, and how you see yourself contributing to their team. We want to feel your enthusiasm – let it shine through your words!
Use Professional Terminology:Don't shy away from using industry-specific jargon that demonstrates your expertise! Terms like 'sustainability', 'scale', and 'aesthetics' can not only show your knowledge but also help you connect with the hiring team. Just ensure it's done in a way that's relatable and not overly technical, so we can see your passion clearly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sideways 6
✨Master the Technical Questions
In an architecture interview, be ready to tackle some technical questions about building codes, design principles, and software like AutoCAD or Revit. Brush up on your knowledge of materials and components, as you might even face scenarios to solve during the interview that showcase your problem-solving skills in real-time.
✨Bring Your Portfolio to Life
Your portfolio is your golden ticket! Make sure it not only showcases your best work but also highlights your design thinking process, from sketches to final outputs. During the interview, be prepared to discuss the projects in detail—what challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and what you learnt.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Sustainability
In today's architecture landscape, sustainability is key. Be sure to highlight any projects that involved eco-friendly designs or your understanding of sustainable practices. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the trends but are genuinely passionate about creating a better future through your designs.
✨Engage with Your Interviewers
Architecture is a collaborative field, so showing that you're a team player is essential. When conversing with the interviewers, actively listen and respond to their ideas. This isn’t just about you showing off your skills, but also about connecting and demonstrating how well you’d fit into their team at Sideways 6.
