At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead solution design and shape digital services at UCL, impacting thousands of students and staff.
- Company: Join UCL's Information Services Division, a top 10 global university with a vibrant tech culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy 41 days holiday, a pension scheme, gym access, and more perks.
- Other info: We value diversity and encourage applications from underrepresented groups.
- Why this job: Make meaningful change in a complex organisation while evolving your skills in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in large organisations, strong analytical skills, and a collaborative mindset are essential.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ 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 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 Solution Architect with a proven ability to operate at the intersection of strategy, technology, and delivery, and who is motivated by shaping meaningful change within a complex and intellectually vibrant organisation. This is a high-impact role for an experienced architect or similar who wants to influence how UCL designs, builds, and evolves its digital services across programmes, platforms, and product areas. You will lead solution design in close collaboration with 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 product owners, you will balance enterprise-level outcomes with hands‑on architectural depth to address complex challenges with broad institutional impact.
About you
What you'll bring:
- 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 needs.
- The capability to shape end‑to‑end solution architectures, balancing strategic intent with delivery constraints to produce resilient, scalable, and maintainable outcomes.
- Experience within multidisciplinary product teams, including product owners, business analysts, technical leads, software engineers, test engineers, user experience and accessibility practitioners, DevOps, security, operations, and external partners.
- The ability to operate 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, but not essential.
What we offer:
- 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays, and 6 closure days).
- 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.
Solution Architect 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 and enhance the educational experience.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Solution Architect
✨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 get your application noticed.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding UCL's mission and values. Show us how your skills align with their goals, especially in areas like AI and cloud services. Tailor your examples to demonstrate your impact!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your problem-solving skills! Be ready to tackle real-world scenarios during interviews. We love candidates who can think on their feet and provide practical solutions to complex challenges.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at UCL.
We think you need these skills to ace Solution Architect
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Solution Architect. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to our team at UCL!
Showcase Your Experience:When detailing your past roles, focus on specific projects where you've successfully shaped solution architectures. We love seeing real examples of how you've tackled complex challenges in large organisations.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to explain your technical expertise and how it relates to the strategic goals of UCL. We appreciate clarity as much as complexity!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at UCL
✨Know Your Architecture
Make sure you understand the key architectural principles and frameworks relevant to the role, like TOGAF or SAFe. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in past projects, especially in complex environments.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience working with multidisciplinary teams. Discuss how you've engaged with product owners, engineers, and other stakeholders to deliver successful solutions.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms. The interviewers will want to see how well you can align diverse stakeholders around a shared vision, so clarity is key!
✨Demonstrate Pragmatism
Be ready to talk about how you've navigated ambiguity and competing priorities in previous roles. Share specific instances where you balanced strategic goals with practical delivery constraints to achieve resilient outcomes.
