Senior Technical Architect - Tech Ops

About us.

We are The Very Group and we’re here to help families get more out of life. We know that our customers work hard for their families and have a lot to balance in their busy lives. That’s why we combine amazing brands and products with flexible payment options on Very.co.uk to help them say yes to the things they love. We’re just as passionate about helping our people get more out of life too; building careers with real growth, a sense of purpose, belonging and wellbeing.

About the role

We are looking for a Senior Technical Architect to join the Tech Ops Architecture team, bringing a wealth of architecture design and technical expertise in a broad range of technologies and architecture:-

• Infrastructure – design & engineering experience in cloud & traditional infrastructure components, including HA & DR with an understanding of different operating system flavours and platforms including Unix (AIX, Solaris), Linux & Windows, database, middleware and application technologies both for traditional datacentres and cloud (AWS, Azure, Google, IBM, Oracle, SkyTap on Azure etc)
• Networking – an understanding of Network architecture & WAN/LAN technologies, including physical & logical networking, cloud to cloud networking including Equinix, AWS, Azure, Google, Oracle
• Security – an understanding of modern Security architecture & technologies, including network security, SIEMs, Access Control, IAM, Encryption, SSO MFA, PKI, MDM, Secure mobile & web application development
• End User, Devices and Management – design and deployment of End Users and Devices (Windows and Mac) including Microsoft Intune/Microsoft Entra/Entra ID

This role bridges the gap between other Senior Architecture disciplines, Senior Technical Specialist and Head of Tech – providing thought leadership, strategic solutions, governance and leadership around their areas of responsibility.

A key focus of the role will be to work with the Head of Tech for Tech Ops and other Senior Architects on the strategic roadmaps, technical solutions and Key Decisions and with the Senior Tech Specialists on the design and implementation of the Technical strategy, including the migration of legacy infrastructure to the strategic cloud solutions.

Scope of the role

• Work with the Head of Tech – Tech Ops, Senior Technical Architects and Senior Tech Specialists to design and build the shared Infrastructure Strategy & Roadmap for The Very Group.
• Provide thought leadership, guidance and governance across the Tech Ops Tribe and other Tribes across the organisation, around the Strategic Roadmaps, solution designs and implementation.
• Provide governance and assurance across all Tribes around solutions, key design decisions and patterns aligned to the Strategic Roadmaps.
• Collaborate with the Head of Tech – Tech Ops, Information Security, Service Operations, Digital Collaboration team, Tribe Heads of Tech, Tech Leads and DevOps engineers to increase efficiencies across the organization’s technical integration solutions and requirements and build these into the Shared Infrastructure Strategy & Roadmaps.
• Create and maintain the Architecture governance artefacts (ie, patterns, policies, standards, principles, current state architecture) relating to the Strategic Roadmaps.
• Develop and maintain architectural design documentation and artefacts
• Work with 3rd party suppliers to provide governance and assurance and ensure designs are aligning to strategic roadmaps and target architecture.

Key Responsibilities

Design

• Accountable for the overall end-to-end designs for the Shared Infrastructure solutions across The Very Group, ensuring alignment to business and technical requirements, Roadmaps and The Very Group Strategy.
• Creation and maintenance of a set of patterns, policies and standards for The Very Group shared infrastructure components.
• Accountable and responsible for recognizing, surfacing and documenting Key Design Decisions, risks, assumptions and constraints for the Very Group shared infrastructure components.
• Responsible for designing, reviewing and approving robust, stable, scalable and manageable designs.
• Maintenance of the Component Catalogue, Current State, Transitional and Reference Architecture for the Very Group shared infrastructure components.

Delivery & Documentation

• Create and maintain documentation of high level design documents, diagrams, KDD’s, architectural artefacts and overall initiative information (including key deliverables & outputs) for the strategic shared infrastructure roadmap.
• Responsible for the technical correctness and completeness of architectural designs and artifacts for solutions relating to the Strategic Shared Infrastructure Roadmap
• Ensure that build activities are completed as per architecture & engineering diagrams that were drafted and approved for the project/initiative
• Assist in ensuring all technical design deliverables and decisions required for the project, programme or product squad are documented and published and align with the strategic roadmaps.

Leadership & Partnerships

• Manage effective relationships and work in partnership with leadership, team members, vendors, and contractors to deliver robust technical solutions ensuring design governance, best practice and strategic direction are maintained.
• Provide thought leadership, technical expertise and direction to team members ensuring successful solution implementation and outstanding delivery quality, mentor, coach and contribute to the development of peers and other team members as appropriate.

Project Support

• Work with squads and tribes to deliver robust, scalable, secure and resilient technical solutions against the strategic roadmap and design patterns.

Analysis & Problem Solving

• Recommend, deploy and document design strategies and solutions for networking problems, based upon comprehensive and thoughtful analysis of business goals, strategies, objectives, requirements and existing technologies.

Processes, Standards & Best Practice

• Participate and provide technical governance for solutions and design patterns, to ensure best practice, policy & principle adoption and alignment to strategic roadmaps.

Continuous Learning

• Continuously develop specialized knowledge and technical subject matter expertise by remaining apprised of industry trends, the direction of emerging technologies, and their potential value to the business.

Essential knowledge and skills

• Experience of delivering large technology change programmes or projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Proven track record of delivery in both iterative and continuous delivery approaches.
• Expert level knowledge of security, reliability, scalability, high availability and concurrency architectural patterns and their application to enterprise scale systems.
• Expert level solution design experience across the full technology stack, including on-prem, public and hybrid cloud.
• Wide ranging knowledge and experience of Legacy Infrastructures including: Windows Servers, Active Directory and associated Core Services; Windows Users and Devices – administration and configuration; Unix/AIX/Solaris Server administration and configuration; Middleware technologies – ie Oracle DB, Websphere, Weblogic, Java
• Wide ranging knowledge and experience of Cloud Infrastructures including: Amazon AWS technologies – EC2, VPC, Security Groups, Direct Connect, S3, RDS, Postgress, MongoDB, Workspaces etc.; Oracle SaaS/PaaS; Microsoft Azure technologies – Azure AD, Intune, Express Route etc.
• Wide Ranging knowledge and Networking technologies including: Data Centre networking – Cisco routers, Firewalls, Load Balancers; Office Sites – LAN/WAN/Wireless/DHCP/DNS; WAN technologies – MPLS, Firewalls; Cloud Connectivity – Equinix ECX
• Wide Ranging knowledge and Security technologies including: Network security – WAF’s, IDP/IPS, NAC; SIEMs – ie Splunk; Encryption Key management; IAM, SSO, MFA; Secure Mobile & Web application development; Secure backup solutions; Microsoft Entra Technologies; Experience in designing DR/BCs solutions for Cloud & Traditional DC’s; Expert level experience of building, integrating and migrating service / component-based architectures across modern and legacy platforms; Practical experience of successfully delivering change in a lean / agile / DevSecOps environment; Ability to lead collaboration and influence decision making with strong stakeholder and 3rd party management skills; Computer Science degree or relevant experience

Some of our benefits

• Flexible, hybrid working model
• Inclusive culture and environment, check out our Glassdoor reviews
• £6500 flexible benefits allowance to suit your needs
• 30 days holiday + bank holidays
• Udemy learning access
• Bonus potential (performance and business-related)
• Up to 25% discount on Very.co.uk
• Matched pension up to 6%
• More benefits can be found on our career site

How to apply

Please note that the talent acquisition team are managing this vacancy directly, and if successful in securing this role, you will be required to undertake a credit, CIFAS, Right to Work checks and if a specific requirement of your role a DBS (criminal records) check. Should your application progress we require you to let the team know if there is anything you need to disclose in relation to any of these checks prior to them being undertaken, including any unspent criminal convictions.

What happens next?

Our talent acquisition team will be in touch if you’re successful so keep an eye on your emails! We’ll arrange a short call to learn more about you, as well as answer any questions you have. If it feels like we’re a good match, we’ll share your CV with the hiring manager to review. Our interview process is tailored to each role and can be in-person or held remotely.

You can expect a two-stage interview process for this position:

1st stage – An informal 45-60 minute video call with the hiring team to discuss your skills and relevant experience. This is a great opportunity to find out more about the role and to ask any questions you may have.

2nd stage – A one-hour more formal technical focused interview.

3rd stage – Final Stage with the Head of Technology

As an inclusive employer please do let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments.

If you\’d like to know more about our interviews, you can find out here.

Equal opportunities

We’re an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.