Solutions Architect reference: 90392019

Unlock Your Potential as a Solutions Architect at Barclays: A Strategic Career Opportunity

Barclays is offering a compelling opportunity for experienced professionals to join their team as a Solutions Architect. This role is not just about technical design; it's about being at the forefront of digital transformation, shaping the future of financial services, and driving innovation. If you're looking to make a significant impact within a leading global institution, this position warrants a closer look.

Key Advantages for Candidates:

• Drive Digital Innovation: As a Solutions Architect, you'll be instrumental in "spearheading the evolution of our digital landscape," directly influencing customer experiences and the bank's digital offerings. This is a chance to leave a tangible mark on cutting-edge financial technology.
• Exposure to Cutting-Edge Technologies & Paradigms: The role explicitly mentions harnessing "cutting-edge technology" and requires a "broad knowledge of technologies and architecture paradigms." Candidates will work with and apply modern cloud capabilities such as elasticity, serverless, and containerisation, with experience in AWS, Azure, and GCP being highly valued. This ensures continuous learning and a robust technical skillset.
• Strategic Impact & Influence: Beyond technical design, you'll be involved in high-level strategic activities, including defining workload placement strategies, performing solution design impact assessments (risk, capacity, cost), and driving consistency across solutions. At the Assistant Vice President level, you'll consult on complex issues, identify ways to mitigate risk, and influence stakeholders, offering significant leadership exposure.
• Holistic Skill Development: The role demands a diverse skill set, from designing evolving products aligned with modern software engineering practices to embedding stringent security principles ("defence in depth," "reduction of blast radius") and supporting operational teams with fault finding. This ensures a well-rounded professional development path.
• Agile Working Environment: Experience in an Agile environment is a key assessment criterion, indicating a dynamic and collaborative work culture focused on iterative delivery and continuous improvement.
• Structured Governance & Best Practices: You will work within established governance processes, developing architecture inputs required for architecture, privacy, security, and records management governance. This fosters a deep understanding of regulated environments and robust design practices.
• Strong Values & Mindset: Barclays emphasizes its core values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Stewardship, alongside a mindset to Empower, Challenge, and Drive. This indicates a culture focused on ethical conduct, personal growth, and proactive contribution.

Key Considerations for Candidates:

• Location: This role is based in Knutsford. Prospective candidates should consider their ability and willingness to commute or relocate to this area.
• Technical Depth and Continuous Learning: While broad knowledge is key, the role also demands "job-specific technical skills." Familiarity with frameworks like TOGAF and specific cloud certifications (AWS, Azure, GCP) are highly valued, suggesting a need for deep technical acumen and a commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Financial Services Domain Experience: Functional/Domain experience in financial services (Banking/Cards/Loans) is "highly valued." While not strictly stated as mandatory, candidates without this background should be prepared for a steep learning curve to understand the specific regulatory, risk, and business nuances of the banking sector.
• Balancing Act: A crucial aspect of this role is "creating solutions that balance technology risks against business delivery." Candidates must demonstrate strong judgment and the ability to navigate complex trade-offs, ensuring both innovation and stability.
• Complex Problem Solving & Collaboration: You will be tasked with designing and implementing solutions to "complex business problems" and "collaborating with stakeholders." Strong analytical, communication, and negotiation skills are essential.
• Legal Right to Work & Sponsorship: Barclays explicitly states the legal requirement to confirm your right to work. If you require sponsorship or currently hold a Barclays-sponsored visa, accurate disclosure is critical for your application to proceed.

This Solutions Architect role at Barclays is ideal for a proactive, technically proficient, and strategically minded individual who is eager to contribute to the digital transformation of a major financial institution. It offers a challenging yet rewarding path for career growth, deep technical engagement, and significant influence.