> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/3059275-lead-software-architect](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/3059275-lead-software-architect). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Lead Software Architect - **Company:** Jacobs - **Location:** Bristol, UK - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** £62,086.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Computer-Aided Design, Artificial Intelligence, Architectural Patterns, Software as a Service, Continuous Integration, DevOps, Software Architecture, Systems Integration, Enterprise Software Applications, Software Version Control - **Published:** September 25, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.adzuna.co.uk/jobs/details/5897879707 ## About the Role * Strong knowledge of software architecture, system design, architectural patterns and technical trade-offs. * Experience designing software that is scalable, maintainable, secure and extensible. * Evidence of leading technical initiatives across more than one engineering or product team. * The judgement to balance strategic architecture with practical delivery constraints. * Experience working with cloud-based software platforms. * A good understanding of modern software delivery practices, including CI/CD, DevOps and source control. * The ability to explain complex technical decisions clearly to engineering, product and non-technical stakeholders. https://careers.jacobs.com/en_US/careers/JobDetail/45744 London|Greater London|United Kingdom Reading|Berkshire|United Kingdom Bristol|Bristol City|United Kingdom Birmingham|West Midlands|United Kingdom Manchester|Greater Manchester|United Kingdom Leeds|West Yorkshire|United Kingdom Bristol|Bristol City|United Kingdom Digital and Data Transportation ## Description Lead Software Architect You will shape how a global product organisation designs, builds and evolves its software. Your expertise will help engineering and product teams move away from isolated or overly complex solutions and towards an architecture that is scalable, secure, reusable and easier to change. You will give teams the technical direction and practical frameworks they need to deliver high-quality products more consistently. This is an opportunity to influence more than an individual platform or project. You will establish architectural principles and patterns that can be applied across products, helping the organisation make better technical decisions and create greater long-term value from its technology. You will also help determine where artificial intelligence and agent-based capabilities can solve meaningful problems. This includes ensuring that platforms, data, integrations and engineering practices are ready to support more intelligent and connected digital products. About the opportunity You will help shape how a global product organisation designs, builds and evolves its software. Working across product and engineering teams in all our markets, you will define an architecture strategy that enables products to become more scalable, secure, integrated and easier to change. You will introduce practical architectural principles, reusable patterns and technical standards that help teams make better decisions, reduce unnecessary complexity and deliver high-quality software more consistently., This is a broad and influential role where you will remain connected to delivery while setting the longer-term technical direction. You will lead architecture and design discussions, guide the development of complex enterprise software and identify opportunities to improve platforms, integrations and engineering practices. You will also explore where AI and agent-based capabilities can create genuine value, helping ensure the organisation's technology, data and delivery approach are ready to support more intelligent and connected digital products. Success will mean creating an architecture that works in practice, earns the confidence of engineering teams and supports sustainable product growth. * Significant experience designing and delivering complex enterprise software systems. ## Related Videos - [We (don't) need a software architect!?!](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/663-we-don-t-need-a-software-architect) - [AI Agents & Agentic AI](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2017-ai-agents-agentic-ai) - [From DevOps to Scaled DevOps: How We’re Rebuilding Continuous Delivery as a Platform](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100018-from-devops-to-scaled-devops-how-we-re-rebuilding-continuous-delivery-as-a-platform) - [Why you shouldn’t build a microservice architecture ](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/261-why-you-shouldn-t-build-a-microservice-architecture) - [Physical AI: The Era of Intelligent Machines](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100141-physical-ai-the-era-of-intelligent-machines) - [DevOps Maturity Check – a way to balance autonomy and alignment](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/58-devops-maturity-check-a-way-to-balance-autonomy-and-alignment) ## Related Articles - [The 12 Best Jobs for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/401-the-12-best-jobs-for-software-engineers) - [Software Engineer Salary London](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/252-software-engineer-salary-london) - [Where To Find Software Engineering Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/396-where-to-find-software-engineering-jobs) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [Top-Paying Tech Jobs (with Salaries)](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/372-top-paying-tech-jobs-with-salaries) - [The Most Popular IT Jobs on the Market](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/376-the-most-popular-it-jobs-on-the-market)