Solution Architect reference: 0000059443

Discover the Solution Architect Opportunity at Barclays

Are you a seasoned Solution Architect looking to make a significant impact within a leading global financial institution? This role at Barclays offers a compelling opportunity to shape the future of payment processing, balancing innovative technology with robust governance in a dynamic environment. Based in Northampton, this position is designed for professionals who are ready to tackle complex challenges and drive strategic change.

The Opportunity Defined:

As a Solution Architect, you will be instrumental in bridging the gap between business needs and technical solutions. The role involves deep collaboration with a diverse set of stakeholders, from Product Owners and Business Analysts to Tech Leads and Operations Managers, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of requirements and operational realities. You'll be tasked with defining and implementing technology solutions that align with the CIO Technology roadmap, navigating Barclays' rigorous governance processes to secure full approval for your designs.

Your work will encompass end-to-end solution ownership, from initial technical analysis in a complex payment processing environment to designing for modern software engineering practices, automated delivery tooling, and cloud capabilities (e.g., elasticity, serverless, containerisation). A strong focus on security principles (defence in depth, reduction of blast radius) and resilience is paramount, ensuring solutions are robust and secure.

Why This Role Stands Out: Advantages for Your Career Path

• Strategic Impact & Growth: This is a replacement role offering an immediate opportunity to understand key deliverables and add value. You'll start with impactful small initiatives (Rapid Deployment, Regulatory Mandatory Changes) and progressively move towards leading larger, more complex programmes, providing a clear path for professional growth and increased responsibility.
• Exposure to Cutting-Edge Technologies: Leverage your expertise in designing solutions for the cloud, incorporating modern architectural patterns such as Microservice, Domain Driven, and Event Driven Architecture. This is an ideal environment for those looking to deepen their skills in cloud-native design and modern software engineering.
• Deep Dive into Financial Domain Expertise: Gain invaluable experience within a complex payment processing environment. Practical knowledge of the Cards & Payments domain, especially Commercial Cards, is highly valued, offering specialists a chance to apply and expand their niche expertise.
• Influence and Leadership at AVP Level: Operating at the Assistant Vice President level, you will advise and influence decision-making, contribute to policy development, and lead collaborative assignments. This role demands and develops strategic thinking, risk management acumen, and the ability to communicate complex information effectively to diverse stakeholders.
• Holistic Solution Ownership: Beyond just design, you'll be involved in impact assessments (risk, capacity, cost) and the development of crucial architecture artefacts for various governance processes (privacy, security, records management). This provides a well-rounded experience in the full lifecycle of solution architecture within a regulated industry.

Key Considerations for Potential Candidates:

• Navigating a Large Enterprise: Success in this role requires a strong understanding of and ability to navigate a large, complex organizational structure like Barclays, particularly its extensive governance processes and stakeholder landscape.
• Balancing Technical Prowess with Business Acumen: While technical analysis and solution design are core, a significant part of the role involves understanding the "What" and "Why" behind business requirements. The ability to balance technology risks against business delivery and align with enterprise principles is crucial.
• Commitment to Values and Culture: Barclays places high importance on its values (Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, Stewardship) and mindset (Empower, Challenge, Drive). Candidates should resonate with these principles and be prepared to demonstrate them in their daily work.
• Location: The role is based out of Barclays' Northampton office. Candidates should be comfortable with this location requirement.

Is This Role For You?

If you are a proactive and strategic Solution Architect with a passion for designing resilient, secure, and scalable solutions in a high-stakes financial environment, this opportunity at Barclays is tailor-made for you. It's ideal for those who thrive on collaboration, enjoy tackling intricate technical and business challenges, and are keen to grow their career by leading impactful change within a global leader.

This is more than just a technical role; it's a chance to influence, innovate, and contribute to the core operations of a major bank, shaping how it delivers services and navigates the evolving digital landscape.