Lead Solutions Architect - Martech & Customer Platforms (Manchester)

Job Description

hackajob is collaborating with Vanguard to connect them with exceptional professionals for this role.

\n

Project Contractor

\n

Project Contractor

\n

We’re looking for a Lead Solutions Architect to drive the architecture and evolution of our Marketing Technology (Martech) ecosystem. This is a high-impact role where you’ll shape the future of customer engagement, working at the intersection of digital experience, AI, and scalable cloud platforms. You’ll partner closely with Product, Engineering, and Business teams to define innovative, scalable, and future-ready solutions that support our strategic growth.

\n

What You’ll Be Doing\n

\n
• \nOwn and evolve Martech architecture and product roadmaps, aligning with business strategy and enterprise architecture\n

\n

• \nLead the design of scalable, integrated solutions across customer experience platforms, conversational AI, and automation\n

\n

• \nCollaborate with product teams, engineers, and business stakeholders to deliver seamless, customer-centric solutions\n

\n

• \nDrive alignment with enterprise architecture standards, governance, and technology roadmaps\n

\n

• \nAct as the technical authority, guiding teams through complex design decisions, risk mitigation, and solution optimisation\n

\n

• \nEvaluate new technologies, vendors, and platforms, contributing to build vs. buy decisions and long-term strategy\n

\n

• \nSupport and enhance architecture governance and best practices across the organisation\n

\n

• \nStay ahead of emerging Martech, AI, and cloud trends, bringing innovation into the business\n

\n

• \nMentor engineers and architects, helping to build a high-performing, forward-thinking technology team\n

\n\n

What it takes\n

\n
• \nSignificant experience in technology roles, including 3+ years as a Solutions/Technical Architect\n

\n

• \nProven experience designing and delivering enterprise-scale Martech or customer experience platforms\n

\n

• \nStrong knowledge of:\n
  \n
  • \nCloud platforms (AWS, Azure or GCP)\n

  \n

  • \nMicroservices, APIs, and modern integration patterns\n

  \n

  • \nDevOps and Agile/SAFe delivery models\n

\n\n\n

• \nExperience with Adobe ecosystem (e.g. Adobe Experience Cloud)\n

\n

• \nHands-on expertise in conversational AI (e.g. Kore.ai) and intelligent automation\n

\n

• \nStrong understanding of architecture governance, risk management, and compliance\n

\n

• \nExperience in vendor selection, build vs. buy analysis, and ROI/TCO evaluation\n

\n

• \nExcellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence across both technical and business audiences\n

\n\n

Why Join Us?\n

\n
• \nWork on cutting-edge Martech and AI-driven customer platforms\n

\n

• \nPlay a key role in shaping enterprise-wide digital and customer experience strategy\n

\n

• \nCollaborate with high-performing product and engineering teams\n

\n

• \nOpportunity to lead architectural direction and influence senior stakeholders\n

\n

• \nCompetitive salary + benefits + flexible working\n

\n\n

Special Factors

\n

\n
• \nVanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position\n

\n

• \nThis position is hybrid and would require you to be in our office 3 days per week.\n

\n\n

Why Vanguard?

\n

Vanguard is a different kind of investment company. It was founded in the United States in 1975 on a simple but revolutionary idea: that an investment company should manage its funds solely in the interests of its clients.

\n

This is a philosophy that has helped millions of people around the world to achieve their goals with low-cost, uncomplicated investments.

\n

It's what we stand for: value to investors.

\n

Inclusion Statement

\n

Vanguard’s continued commitment to diversity and inclusion is firmly rooted in our culture. Every decision we make to best serve our clients, crew (internally employees are referred to as crew), and communities is guided by one simple statement: “Do the right thing.”

\n

We believe that a critical aspect of doing the right thing requires building diverse, inclusive, and highly effective teams of individuals who are as unique as the clients they serve. We empower our crew to contribute their distinct strengths to achieving Vanguard’s core purpose through our values.

\n

When all crew members feel valued and included, our ability to collaborate and innovate is amplified, and we are united in delivering on Vanguard's core purpose: to take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success.

\n

How We Work

\n

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.