At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the architecture of our digital ecosystem and design secure, scalable solutions.
- Company: Join Virgin Active, a brand redefining wellness with innovative technology.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 25 days leave, complimentary gym membership, and health insurance.
- Other info: Access to discounts across Virgin Group and support for mental health.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in wellness tech while collaborating with diverse teams.
- Qualifications: Significant software engineering experience and strong knowledge of Microsoft Azure.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
As we evolve into Social Wellness Clubs, we are creating spaces and experiences that support every aspect of our members’ physical, mental, nutritional and social wellbeing.
By bringing together expert guidance, genuine community, personalised experiences and innovative technology, we make wellness feel accessible, welcoming and easy to navigate.
Virgin Active is committed to recruiting the finest people who share our passion for creating exceptional experiences and delivering world-class service every day. We are looking for
Senior Solution Architect to join our
Digital & Technology Transformation Team.
Technology is central to this evolution.
We are building globally scalable solutions that connect our mobile applications, websites, data platforms and third-party services across multiple countries.
You will lead the architecture of our digital ecosystem, creating secure, scalable and maintainable solutions.
This is a hands‑on role, working closely with Product, Engineering, Data, Marketing and IT teams to set technical direction and solve complex challenges.
Role Type: Permanent - Full Time
The Role
- Own the target architecture and technical roadmap across Virgin Active’s digital ecosystem.
- Define architectural standards for applications, APIs, integrations, data, security and cloud infrastructure.
- Design secure, scalable solutions across mobile, web, backend services, data platforms and third‑party systems.
- Lead the design of complex features spanning multiple products and technical domains.
- Create reference implementations and work directly with engineers to solve complex technical challenges.
- Guide our transition towards a cloud‑native, API‑led and event‑driven architecture.
- Work with our Group Chief of AI to support the safe and effective introduction of AI into member experiences.
- Partner with Product, Engineering, Data, Marketing and IT teams to align technical solutions with business priorities.
- Lead architecture reviews and communicate technical decisions, risks and trade‑offs clearly.
- Provide technical guidance to engineers and help strengthen architectural capability across the team.
- Oversee Microsoft Azure architecture, including networking, identity, security and infrastructure.
- Establish standards for reliability, observability, testing, CI/CD and production readiness.
- Balance long‑term architectural goals with technical debt, cost and delivery priorities.
- Provide technical oversight for third‑party platforms, vendors and external delivery partners.
- Who We're Looking For
- Significant software engineering experience, including experience as a Solution Architect, Principal Engineer or in a similar senior technical role.
- Experience leading architecture across mobile, web, backend, integration and data platforms.
- Strong knowledge of Microsoft Azure, cloud‑native architecture, distributed systems and microservices.
- Experience designing API‑led and event‑driven solutions.
- Experience integrating third‑party platforms and services at scale.
- A good understanding of security, identity, privacy and data architecture.
- Hands‑on experience with C#, . NET, CI/CD and modern Dev Ops practices.
- Experience introducing AI or machine‑learning capabilities into digital products.
- Strong technical judgement and the ability to balance scalability, maintainability, cost and delivery.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder‑management skills, with the ability to lead through influence.
It would also be beneficial to have
- Experience with Azure Functions, API Management, Service Bus, Event Grid or Logic Apps.
- Knowledge of Azure data and AI technologies.
- Experience with Docker, Kubernetes or Azure Kubernetes Service.
- Experience supporting consumer‑facing digital products across multiple countries.
- Experience working with external technology partners and delivery teams.
- What You’ll Get
- The opportunity to be part of a brand redefining the future of wellness
- A premium environment with industry‑leading facilities
- Development and progression opportunities aligned to your level
- Access to a vibrant, engaged member community
- The platform to build your career, reputation and impact
- 25 days (excluding bank holidays) annual leave, plus a Celebration Day – and we want you take them
- Access to The Peoples Pension, with our contributions at 3%
- Complimentary Virgin Active membership for you and a buddy. You can also get free membership for your children too, ability to take advantage of our Club V.
- Private Dental and Healthcare Insurance – your physical health is important, and we want you to have the access to healthcare should you require it.
- Life Assurance 4x your salary – which we hope you will not need.
- We want you to love Virgin Active like we do, so you get discounts across Virgin active – everything from guest passes to 50% off PTsessions.
- You will join Virgin Family - where not only can you communicate with your colleagues across Virgin Group, but also many discounts (including Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Holidays and Virgin Media/O2)
- Maintaining a healthy diet while at work can be hard, so we offer all our team members 20% off food and drink at our KAUAI branches located in clubs.
- Managing finances can be difficult, so we offer access to Salary Finance. They can support you with loans and savings plans, as well as help you become a personal finance expert.
- Mental health is a cornerstone of wellbeing. Our Health Heroes employer assistance programme is there when you need a helping hand with 6 free counselling sessions.
- We know finding a new home to rent can be stressful. We partner with Dexters who offer complimentary corporate letting services – meaning no tenant charges.
- Access to e Points, offering loads of online discounts to retailers.
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Senior Solutions Architect employer: Virgin Active & KAUAI
At Virgin Active, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture. As a Zero-Hour Swim Instructor, you'll enjoy flexible working hours while being part of a team dedicated to inspiring wellness in our community. With access to industry-leading facilities, comprehensive benefits including complimentary memberships, and numerous opportunities for personal and professional growth, you'll find a rewarding environment that truly values your contributions and wellbeing.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Solutions Architect
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Virgin Active & KAUAI or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Virgin Active & KAUAI.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Virgin Active & KAUAI.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Virgin Active & KAUAI that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Solutions Architect
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Virgin Active & KAUAI.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Virgin Active & KAUAI and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Virgin Active & KAUAI
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Virgin Active & KAUAI uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.