Solutions Architect

Join Barclays as a Solution Architect , where you will play a key role in designing, developing, and implementing innovative solutions to complex business challenges. You will collaborate closely with architects and stakeholders across Business Banking and BUK to understand their needs, translating requirements into effective, scalable solutions. Additionally, you will drive technology consistency, balancing risks with business objectives to ensure seamless delivery and optimal performance. To excel in this role, you will need: Proficiency in architecting solutions across disparate technologies to solve complex business challenges, while collaborating with various stakeholder groups and influencing their perspectives on technology-driven innovation. Practical experience with one or more SDLC methodologies with the ability to exhibit deep technical understanding conveyed through crisp solution design artefacts and walkthroughs. Strong communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical concepts (both written and verbal) to an extensive and varied set of stakeholders, anticipate objections, and effectively persuade others to adopt the most suitable approach — supported by excellent troubleshooting and analytical abilities. Additional highly valued skills: Application, Infrastructure, or Enterprise Architecture training and certification, such as TOGAF. Extensive experience in system integration, API design, and API management, including architecting enterprise-wide, end-to-end solutions with a strong focus on cloud-based technologies — particularly AWS, though experience with Azure and Google Cloud is also beneficial. Experience in Financial Services or working in a highly regulated environment, particularly within the Cards & Payments domain, as well as familiarity with Scaled Agile frameworks. You may be assessed on the key critical skills relevant for success in role, such as risk and controls, change and transformation, business acumen, strategic thinking and digital and technology, as well as job-specific technical skills. The successful candidate will be based in Radbroke Hall, Knutsford . Purpose of the role To design, develop, and implement solutions to complex business problems, collaborating with stakeholders to understand their needs and requirements, and design and implement solutions that meet those needs and create solutions that balance technology risks against business delivery, driving consistency. Accountabilities Design and development of solutions as products that can evolve, meeting business requirements that align with modern software engineering practices and automated delivery tooling. This includes identification and implementation of the technologies and platforms. Targeted design activities that apply an appropriate workload placement strategy and maximise the benefit of cloud capabilities such as elasticity, serverless, containerisation, etc. Best practice designs incorporating security principles (such as defence in depth and reduction of blast radius) that meet the Bank’s resiliency expectations. Solutions that appropriately balance risks and controls to deliver the agreed business and technology value. Adoption of standardised solutions where they fit. If no standard solutions fit, feed into their ongoing evolution where appropriate. Fault finding and performance issues support to operational support teams, leveraging available tooling. Solution design impact assessment in terms of risk, capacity and cost impact, inc. estimation of project change and ongoing run costs. Development of the requisite architecture inputs required to comply with the banks governance processes, including design artefacts required for architecture, privacy, security and records management governance processes. Vice President Expectations Advise key stakeholders, including functional leadership teams and senior management on functional and cross functional areas of impact and alignment. Manage and mitigate risks through assessment, in support of the control and governance agenda. Demonstrate leadership and accountability for managing risk and strengthening controls in relation to the work your team does. Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the organisation functions to contribute to achieving the goals of the business. Collaborate with other areas of work, for business aligned support areas to keep up to speed with business activity and the business strategies. Create solutions based on sophisticated analytical thought comparing and selecting complex alternatives. In-depth analysis with interpretative thinking will be required to define problems and develop innovative solutions. Adopt and include the outcomes of extensive research in problem solving processes. Seek out, build and maintain trusting relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders in order to accomplish key business objectives, using influencing and negotiating skills to achieve outcomes. All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.