Solution Architect reference: 0000075229

## Barclays: Shape the Future of Insurance and Pack Architecture Are you an experienced Solution Architect or a seasoned Engineering Lead looking to make a significant impact in a leading financial institution? Barclays is actively seeking a talented individual to join their Insurance and Pack (I&P) architecture team in Knutsford. This is a remarkable opportunity to contribute to the design and maintenance of robust, secure, and compliant technology solutions that are fundamental to the success of their I&P operations. This role offers the chance to be a linchpin in preserving architectural knowledge, guiding delivery teams through complex implementations, and ensuring that technology design is perfectly aligned with Barclays' strategic objectives and stringent regulatory standards. ### What Makes This Opportunity Stand Out? For ambitious candidates, this role presents several compelling advantages: * Strategic Impact: You will be directly involved in shaping the technology landscape for a critical business area. Your designs will have a tangible impact on how Barclays operates within the insurance sector. * Architectural Leadership: This position offers a platform to demonstrate and develop your expertise in modern architectural patterns such as microservices, event-driven architectures, and layered designs. You'll be at the forefront of defining best practices. * Cloud Innovation: Gaining hands-on experience with cloud platforms like Azure and AWS, exploring cloud-native services, and optimizing costs will be central to this role, offering valuable skills for your career progression. * Security & Compliance Focus: In the highly regulated financial services industry, a deep understanding of data protection, identity management, and regulatory requirements is paramount. This role provides an excellent opportunity to hone these essential skills. * Collaborative Environment: You'll be working within cross-functional teams, actively participating in agile ceremonies, and fostering strong stakeholder relationships, crucial for effective project delivery and career growth. * Problem-Solving at Scale: This role involves tackling complex business problems with technology, requiring creative solutions that balance risk and delivery – a key skill for any senior technology professional. * Continuous Learning: The emphasis on staying abreast of evolving technologies, architectural principles, and industry best practices ensures a dynamic and intellectually stimulating work environment. ### Key Considerations for Your Career Path: When evaluating this opportunity, consider the following aspects that will shape your experience and professional development: * Architectural Depth: The role demands a strong foundation in systems design and architectural fundamentals. Candidates should be comfortable articulating their understanding of various architectural styles and their trade-offs. * Technical Communication Prowess: Your ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, concise, and actionable information for diverse audiences, including technical and non-technical stakeholders, will be vital. * Integration Expertise: Experience with integrating systems using APIs, messaging queues, and cloud services is a core requirement. This highlights the need for practical, hands-on integration knowledge. * Risk Management & Controls: A significant part of the role involves assessing and mitigating risks, ensuring solutions adhere to security and regulatory frameworks. This is an excellent area to deepen your expertise in financial services compliance. * Business Acumen: While technical skills are essential, understanding the business context and aligning technology solutions with business goals is equally important. Developing this strategic perspective will be a key growth area. * Leadership & Influence: Whether you're leading a team or guiding collaborative assignments, you'll need to demonstrate strong influencing skills, the ability to advise decision-makers, and potentially contribute to policy development. * Barclays Values & Mindset: Embracing the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship, along with the Barclays Mindset of Empower, Challenge, and Drive, will be integral to your success and integration within the company culture. This position at Barclays in Knutsford offers a compelling blend of technical challenge, strategic influence, and career development. It is ideally suited for individuals who are passionate about architecture, driven by problem-solving, and eager to contribute to the success of a globally recognized financial institution.