Agentic Automation Architect

The purpose of the Automation Architecture Lead is to provide hands-on technical, architectural and solution engineering leadership for the GBRX industry automation function. The role is responsible for defining the automation architecture, leading the design of automation solutions, establishing technical standards, and ensuring secure, scalable and reusable automation products by design.

Working closely with other technical leads and delivery pods, the postholder will ensure that solution architecture and engineering excellence enable successful delivery of automation solutions while creating strategic technology assets that strengthen industry capability through the design and development of technically robust and operationally sustainable solutions capable of being reused across the rail industry.

What You’ll Be Doing

. Lead the design and governance of end-to-end Intelligent Automation and Agentic AI solutions. . Define scalable, secure and reusable architecture patterns aligned to enterprise architecture principles and technology strategy. . Develop architecture standards, reference architectures and integration frameworks for industry-wide adoption. . Design low-code and pro-code automation solutions using modern Microsoft and cloud-native technologies. . Create reusable architecture capability products, implementation blueprints and technical design standards. . Review and assure solution designs, providing architectural governance and technical leadership across delivery teams and partners. . Assess emerging technologies and lead proof-of-concepts to support the adoption of innovative automation and AI capabilities. . Drive architecture consistency, technical quality and long-term sustainability across the automation portfolio. . Coach and mentor architects and engineers, helping build a mature and enduring Intelligent Automation capability. . Collaborate with industry partners, suppliers and multidisciplinary delivery teams to accelerate automation at scale., Azure AI Foundry . Azure OpenAI Service . Copilot Studio . Azure Integration Services . Azure Logic Apps . Azure Functions . Microsoft Fabric . Microsoft Graph . Azure DevOps . GitHub . Docker . Kubernetes . Terraform . Python . C# . JavaScript/TypeScript . LangChain . LangGraph . CrewAI

Significant experience designing enterprise-scale Intelligent Automation, AI Automation or Solution Architectures. . Strong experience designing hybrid low-code and pro-code solutions. . Experience building and integrating operational copilots, AI agents and automation platforms. . Strong knowledge of API-led, event-driven and integration architecture patterns. . Experience applying architecture governance, design assurance and enterprise architecture principles. . Experience working within Agile multidisciplinary delivery environments. . Strong stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills. . Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology or equivalent experience.

Technical Expertise, Experience within rail, transport, infrastructure or other regulated environments. . Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification. . Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Associate certification. . TOGAF certification. . Experience working across federated organisations and large-scale transformation programmes.

Network Rail is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. They welcome applications from everyone.

Disability Confident

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, Network Rail guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant

Network Rail guarantees to interview veterans or spouses/partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates/military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following “this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different”.

On behalf of Network Rail, we are looking for an Automation Architecture Lead for a 6-12 month contract based 3 days per week in the London, Waterloo office.

Network Rail is at the heart of revitalising Britain’s railway. From Crossrail - Europe’s largest civil engineering project - to investment in world-class stations and major programmes of electrification, we are involved in some of the most ambitious and diverse ventures that this country has ever seen. We at Network Rail are dedicated to becoming one of Britain’s best employers and believe this starts with placing the candidate at the heart of everything we do!