Lead Solution Architect

Lead Solution ArchitectWe're hiring a Lead Solution Architect on behalf of a financial services firm going through major technology transformation cloud migration and heavy investment in AI, including building and deploying AI agents. This is a genuinely hands-on architecture role, where you'll be expected to get into the detail. The RoleYou'll join a small, growing architecture function as the senior technical authority, owning the backlog of architecture work across business units, resourcing and demand planning. Architects are aligned to specific business units and platforms, working closely with IT Security on design assurance.You'll empower Solution Architects to make and justify technology choices themselves, writing papers that set out the option, the rationale, and how it meets requirements, rather than defaulting everything to procurement.Key responsibilities:Act as senior technical authority, reviewing designs for technical soundness and integration before they reach the review boardProduce designs and low-level detail sufficient to pass IT Security threat modelling and reviewContribute to the technical design authority (TDA) processOwn the cross-business-unit backlog of architecture work, resourcing, and demand planning across the teamBuild out and mature the architecture practice, function, and community of practiceSupport cloud migration and AI/agent-based transformation initiativesPresent and defend technical decisions clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholdersWhat We're Looking ForGenuinely hands-on background, able to build, configure, and deploy, not just design on paper (e.g. configuring SaaS platforms and integration)Strong communication skills - comfortable articulating and defending technical decisions in review forumsExperience across cloud (Azure preferred), on-premises (VMware), and hybrid environmentsExposure to enterprise SaaS platforms such as Workday, SAP, or equivalentStrong knowledge of solution design, architecture governance, threat modelling, and security-led design reviewExperience with modelling approaches such as ArchiMate or UMLCommercial awareness - cost-benefit analysis, TCO, FinOpsInterest or experience in AI/LLM-driven transformation and agent frameworksComfortable operating in an immature, evolving architecture function and helping shape itThis is a hybrid role, requiring 2-3 days onsite in the clients Central London offices.