At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead architectural strategy and design for cutting-edge technology solutions.
- Company: Join Southern Water, a leader in digital transformation and sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work model, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on innovation and career development.
- Why this job: Shape the future of technology while making a real impact on water services.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in IT architecture and leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
The Lead Technology Architect is a pivotal role within the Digital Architecture team, responsible for shaping strategy and providing architectural leadership across Southern Water’s IT and OT technology domains. Technology Architecture is responsible for shaping and governing Southern Water’s core technology landscape across infrastructure, cloud, networking, security, operational technology and data.
The Lead Technology plays a strategic leadership role in defining technology direction, guiding platform evolution, and ensuring architectural alignment with business goals and digital ambitions. The role provides architectural oversight across foundational platforms and infrastructure services, collaborates with cross-functional teams to deliver secure, scalable, and cost-effective solutions, and influences strategic decisions through governance forums and design authority. It acts as a key advisor on technology matters, enabling business outcomes while managing complexity and risk across IT and OT environments.
This role is accountable for delivering architectural leadership across Southern Water’s core technology domains, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and enabling secure, scalable, and cost-effective solutions. Working within the Digital Architecture team and in collaboration with the wider Digital Directorate and business stakeholders, the role contributes to the following key outputs:
- Technology Strategy & Planning – Translating business and digital objectives into actionable architecture strategies and roadmaps for infrastructure, cloud, security, and operational technology.
- Solution Architecture – Shaping and guiding solution designs that meet business needs while ensuring technical integrity, scalability, and supportability.
- Infrastructure Design – Defining and evolving infrastructure patterns and domain roadmaps, including hybrid cloud, identity management, endpoint management, and virtualisation.
- Enterprise IT Governance – Participating in architecture forums and design authorities to provide governance and assurance across technology domains.
- Technology Research – Monitoring emerging technologies and evaluating their relevance and impact on Southern Water’s digital landscape.
- Consultancy – Acting as a senior advisor to solution architects and platform teams, influencing key decisions and supporting programme delivery.
- Stakeholder Relationship Management – Engaging with technical and non-technical stakeholders to ensure architectural alignment and shared understanding of technology direction.
The role will have direct reports, which will require line management and appropriate support for performance, development and retention.
Skills and Competencies
The candidate must have significant skills & competency in IT Architecture which include the following:
- Solution Architecture – Leads the design of technology solutions across infrastructure and cloud domains, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
- Infrastructure Design – Defines and evolves infrastructure patterns and services to support scalable and resilient platforms.
- Technology Strategy and Planning – Develops and maintains strategic technology roadmaps aligned to business and digital objectives.
- Enterprise IT Governance – Applies governance to architecture decisions, ensuring consistency, compliance, and reuse.
- Systems Design – Reviews and assures system designs for quality, scalability, and supportability.
- Technology Research – Evaluates emerging technologies and trends to inform strategic direction and innovation.
- Leadership – Provides technical leadership across architecture domains, setting direction and priorities.
- People Management – Manages and develops a team of architects, supporting performance, growth, and retention.
Knowledge
Technical
- IT Architecture
- Windows Server, Active Directory, DNS, DHCP
- Cloud Platforms – Azure, hybrid cloud models
- Identity & Access – Entra ID, Azure AD, SSO, MFA
- Collaboration Tools – Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint
- Endpoint Management – Intune, SCCM
- Virtualisation & Load Balancing – VMware ESXi/NSX, F5, VMware ALB
- Linux Environments – Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- Operational Technology Integration – IT/OT interfacing, secure-by-design awareness
- Software design (Utilities, regulated industries)
- Data & Analytics
- Integration & service orientated design
- Software delivery (Waterfall, Agile)
- Knowledge of solutions used within the Utilities / Water sector
Qualifications - Desirable
- TOGAF
- Relevant BCS qualifications
Onsite a minimum of 2 days per week in Durrington office.
Lead Technology Architect in Worthing employer: SouthernWaterServices
Southern Water is an exceptional employer, offering AI Automation Engineers the chance to work with cutting-edge technologies like Microsoft Copilot and Power Platform in a dynamic and supportive environment. With a strong commitment to employee growth through training and development opportunities, as well as a focus on diversity and inclusion, Southern Water fosters a culture where innovative ideas thrive and every team member can make a meaningful impact on the future of water services.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Technology Architect in Worthing
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what SouthernWaterServices values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges SouthernWaterServices might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
✨Leverage LinkedIn for Connections
Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at SouthernWaterServices!
✨Direct Apply to SouthernWaterServices
Let's not forget to apply directly through the SouthernWaterServices website! Tailor your application to showcase our understanding of their consulting style and how we can contribute to their projects. A personalised approach can make a huge difference in landing that full-time position!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Technology Architect in Worthing
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at SouthernWaterServices.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at SouthernWaterServices. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at SouthernWaterServices
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
