Principal Architect

Our client is seeking a Principal Architect to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of their organisation via a transformation programme. This position will be responsible for the end-to-end design, documentation, and ownership of the architecture for all systems, changes, and programmes within the scope of the programme.

As a senior technical leader, the Principal Architect will ensure that all technology solutions are robust, scalable, and aligned with organisational strategy. You will act as a key decision-maker, working closely with fellow architects, business stakeholders, technical teams, and external partners to deliver cohesive, future-proof solutions that support long-term business objectives. Communication and stakeholder engagement is paramount to this role and the post-holder will need to be confident with working through complex communication streams and be adept at presenting to all levels.

Beyond technical leadership, this role provides ongoing architectural guidance throughout the transformation, safeguarding architectural integrity, promoting best practice, and driving innovation and continuous improvement across the large-scale programme.

Responsibilities

• Build a clear picture of the existing technology environment and data models, ensuring business and technical needs are fully understood from the outset.
• Champion adherence to architectural standards and governance, making sure all proposed solutions align with organisational principles and direction.
• Lead the design and selection of resilient, scalable technical solutions that successfully meet user, operational, and performance needs.
• Develop forward-looking architectural documentation that outlines the target landscape, including system interactions, integration points, and data movement.
• Hold accountability for the overall integrity of the end-to-end architecture, ensuring the application, solution, and technical layers operate cohesively.
• Produce high-quality technical artefacts and play an active role in assessing and choosing delivery partners or technology vendors that best fit programme goals.
• Proactively surface and manage technical risks, providing expert insight to navigate challenges and keep the programme on a successful delivery path.

Skills

Essential

• Proven ability to lead and coordinate large-scale change programmes from an architectural perspective, bringing together multiple workstreams into a coherent end-to-end design.
• Strong cloud expertise across major providers (AWS preferred, but Azure or GCP also welcomed).
• Excellent communication skills, with experience navigating complex technical and stakeholder environments—able to manage clear communication flows across internal teams, external partners, and third-party suppliers.
• Skilled in producing architecture designs at varying levels of detail and presenting them confidently to diverse stakeholder groups.
• Experience acting as a Design Authority within major transformation initiatives, shaping and governing architectural direction across workstreams.

Desirable

• Background in security architecture and its integration into wider solution design.
• Experience working on government or regulatory-driven programmes.
• Knowledge of large-scale data architecture and high-level data design.
• Understanding of SaaS ecosystems and third-party integrations.
• Familiarity with broader technical landscapes such as finance systems and CRM platforms.
• Relevant cloud or architecture certifications.