Senior Solution Architect in City of London
Senior Solution Architect

Senior Solution Architect in City of London

City of London Full-Time 48000 - 72000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead solution design and shape digital services at a top 10 global university.
  • Company: UCL's Information Services Division, a leader in IT services for education.
  • Benefits: 41 days holiday, pension scheme, gym access, and employee support services.
  • Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on UCL's digital transformation and enhance user experiences.
  • Qualifications: Experience in large organisations, strong architectural skills, and ability to influence teams.
  • Other info: Join a diverse team committed to equality, creativity, and continuous improvement.

The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.

Information Services Division (ISD) is the primary provider of IT services to UCL. We support and enhance learning, teaching, research and administrative processes by providing information- and technology-related services to over 50,000 staff and students of UCL and associated institutions. Our goal is to be the top IT services group in the HE sector and we are growing our team's capability in AI, experience/UX, agile development, security, cloud, service management and partnering. We are modernising our technology foundations, digitising the processes of the university to transform experience for students and staff, and partnering across the university to drive differentiation in UCL education and research.

The Solution Architecture Team is part of a wider team of Architects including Enterprise, Platform, Data, Integration and AI Architecture teams who are responsible for defining and governing architecture, driving solution design, and maintaining the repository to include current and future states.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join UCL's Information Services Division (ISD) as a Senior Solution Architect to help deliver excellence whilst continually evolving and progressing at this globally recognised top 10 university.

About the role

We are seeking a Senior Solution Architect with a proven ability to operate at the intersection of strategy, technology, and delivery, and who is motivated by shaping large-scale, meaningful change within a complex and intellectually vibrant organisation. This is a high-impact role for an experienced architect who wants to influence how UCL designs, builds, and evolves its digital services across major programmes, platforms, and product areas.

You will lead solution design in close collaboration with senior stakeholders, fellow architects, delivery teams, and external partners. Translating strategic priorities into pragmatic, resilient solutions, you will help shape architectural standards, patterns, and governance while remaining close to delivery. Acting as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, you will balance enterprise-level outcomes with hands-on architectural depth to address complex challenges with broad institutional impact.

About you

  • Proven experience working within large, complex organisations, with the ability to understand strategic drivers and translate them into practical, deliverable solution designs that meet real business and user need.
  • Strong capability in shaping end-to-end solution architectures, balancing strategic intent with delivery constraints to produce resilient, scalable, and maintainable outcomes.
  • Experience leading and influencing multidisciplinary product teams, including senior technical leads, software engineers, test engineers, user experience and accessibility practitioners, DevOps, security, operations, and external partners.
  • The ability to operate confidently at both strategic and detailed levels, providing clear direction while engaging hands-on with design decisions, trade-offs, and implementation approaches.
  • A pragmatic mindset, with strong analytical skills and the ability to navigate complexity, ambiguity, and competing priorities in a matrix environment.
  • Solid technical breadth across modern technology stacks, including cloud platforms, integration patterns, APIs, identity, and application architectures.
  • Experience translating architectural principles and standards into actionable guidance for delivery teams, supporting consistency without creating unnecessary friction.
  • Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly and build alignment among diverse stakeholders.
  • A collaborative approach and interest in contributing to architectural communities of practice, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement.
  • Experience or qualifications in TOGAF and/or SAFe (or equivalent frameworks) are advantageous.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits:

  • 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays, and 6 closure days)
  • Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
  • Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
  • Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
  • Relocation scheme for certain posts
  • On-site gym
  • Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
  • Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
  • Discounted medical insurance

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people, and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

Senior Solution Architect in City of London employer: UCL

UCL's Information Services Division (ISD) is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration among over 50,000 staff and students. With a commitment to employee growth, ISD provides extensive benefits including 41 days of holiday, a defined benefit pension scheme, and opportunities for professional development in cutting-edge technology areas. Join us at a globally recognised top 10 university where your contributions will shape the future of digital services in higher education.
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Contact Detail:

UCL Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Solution Architect in City of London

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at UCL or in similar roles on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might just lead to a referral.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for the interview by understanding UCL's mission and values. Tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in areas like AI and cloud services.

✨Tip Number 3

Show off your problem-solving skills! Be ready to discuss past projects where you tackled complex challenges. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email reiterating your enthusiasm for the role can leave a lasting impression and keep you top of mind.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Solution Architect in City of London

Solution Architecture
Strategic Thinking
Stakeholder Engagement
End-to-End Solution Design
Cloud Platforms
Integration Patterns
APIs
Identity Management
Application Architectures
Analytical Skills
Communication Skills
Influencing Skills
Agile Development
TOGAF
SAFe

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience that aligns with the role of Senior Solution Architect. We want to see how your skills can directly contribute to our mission at UCL.

Showcase Your Impact: When detailing your past experiences, focus on the impact you've made in previous roles. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead solution design and influence multidisciplinary teams, as this is key for us.

Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, so avoid jargon and ensure your technical expertise shines through without overwhelming us with unnecessary details.

Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! This helps us keep track of all applications and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at UCL.

How to prepare for a job interview at UCL

✨Know Your Architecture

Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest architectural principles and frameworks like TOGAF or SAFe. Be ready to discuss how these can be applied to UCL's digital services, showcasing your ability to translate strategic goals into practical solutions.

✨Engage with Stakeholders

Prepare to demonstrate your experience in collaborating with senior stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams. Think of examples where you've successfully influenced decisions and driven alignment among diverse groups, as this will show your capability to operate at both strategic and detailed levels.

✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills

Be ready to tackle complex challenges during the interview. Prepare a few scenarios where you navigated ambiguity and competing priorities, highlighting your analytical skills and pragmatic mindset in delivering resilient and scalable solutions.

✨Communicate Clearly

Practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms. The ability to communicate effectively with non-technical stakeholders is crucial, so think about how you can convey your ideas clearly while building rapport with the interviewers.

Senior Solution Architect in City of London
UCL
Location: City of London

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