At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and deliver innovative Azure solutions for major transformation projects in the financial sector.
- Company: Join a leading company driving change in the Insurance and Financial Services industry.
- Benefits: Flexible working with 50% remote options, competitive salary, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with excellent leadership engagement and growth potential.
- Why this job: Shape the future of cloud-native platforms and make a real impact on business success.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in Solution Architecture with strong Azure and API integration experience.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Cheshire - onsite 50% of the time, the rest remote. We're looking for an experienced Azure Solutions Architect to join a major transformation programme within the Insurance / Financial Services sector. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the architecture of large-scale, cloud-native platforms, working across multiple business-critical initiatives in a highly collaborative environment. You’ll play a key role in defining solution architecture, influencing technical strategy, and ensuring solutions align with enterprise standards while delivering scalable, secure, and resilient platforms.
The Role: As the Senior Solutions Architect, you'll work closely with engineering teams, product owners, enterprise architects, and senior stakeholders to design modern cloud solutions that support long-term business objectives.
We're looking for someone with 8+ years' experience in Solution Architecture, Application Architecture, or Software Engineering, with a proven track record of delivering enterprise-scale solutions. You should have strong experience with:
- Azure Solution Architecture – Extensive experience designing and delivering scalable Azure-native solutions using Azure PaaS services, API Management, Azure Functions, Containers, AKS, and cloud governance best practices.
- API & Integration Architecture – Strong background in designing API-first solutions, RESTful services, enterprise integration patterns, service orchestration, and reusable integration capabilities.
- Event-Driven Solutions – Proven experience delivering event-driven architectures using Kafka, Confluent, messaging technologies, asynchronous processing, and event streaming platforms.
- Cloud-Native Development – Solid understanding of containerisation, microservices, Docker, Kubernetes, and modern cloud-native application architectures.
- DevOps & Platform Automation – Experience implementing CI/CD pipelines, Infrastructure as Code (Terraform/Bicep), automated testing, monitoring, and operational best practices.
- Secure Solution Design – Strong knowledge of security-by-design principles, including Zero Trust, identity and access management, API security, encryption, and regulatory compliance.
- Architecture Governance – Experience producing High and Low-Level Designs (HLDs/HLDs), leading architecture reviews, contributing to Architecture Approval Boards (AABs), and ensuring compliance with enterprise architecture standards.
- Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement – Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage technical teams, business stakeholders, delivery partners, and senior leadership to drive successful outcomes.
- Enterprise Architecture – Strong understanding of enterprise architecture frameworks, strategic technology roadmaps, reusable platform capabilities, and architectural best practices.
- Customer-Focused Solution Design – Demonstrated ability to design resilient, scalable, and business-focused solutions that enhance customer experience, improve operational efficiency, and support long-term organisational goals.
You'll also be an excellent communicator with the ability to engage senior stakeholders, influence technical direction, and lead architectural discussions across large delivery teams. Experience within the Insurance or Financial Services sector is preferred.
If you're a Senior Solutions Architect with a passion for designing modern Azure-based enterprise solutions and have experience delivering within regulated environments, we'd love to hear from you.
Senior Solutions Architect in Manchester employer: X4 Technology
X4 Technology is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide opportunities for professional development and skill enhancement, particularly in cutting-edge technologies like encryption and cloud security. Our inclusive culture and commitment to work-life balance make this an ideal place for talented individuals looking to make a meaningful impact in the tech industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Solutions Architect in Manchester
✨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 X4 Technology 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 X4 Technology.
✨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 X4 Technology.
✨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 X4 Technology 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 in Manchester
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 X4 Technology.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at X4 Technology 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 X4 Technology
✨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 X4 Technology 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.
