Digital Solutions Architect

• Champion modern technology product development and deployment processes, following IT protocols and best practices for digital solution architecture, scalability, security, error handling, monitoring, and post-launch support
• Design robust solutions that deliver a strong member experience using hybrid-cloud and mobile-first approaches
• Maintain the digital architectural landscape within the DL IT landscape, including its overall design blueprints and relevant architectural touchpoints
• Ensure solutions support end-to-end data journeys
• Collaborate with business stakeholders, the IT Design team, vendors, the IT Design/Secure team, PODs, and project teams to meet broader solution architecture goals
• Develop technical solution designs that account for business requirements, industry practices, models, frameworks, security, and compliance
• Ensure solutions comply with data protection, information security, and PCI standards, embedding security-by-design principles
• Manage the Digital architecture work pipeline in coordination with POD Heads and Project Managers
• Work with PODs and vendor architects to produce design blueprints covering end-to-end processes, data flows, security, business processes, reporting, and operational and member impacts
• Agree the scope of POD and IT project work with PODs and the IT Programme Management team to deliver complete solutions
• Support digital requirements definition with Digital Business Analysts during and after request capture, covering functional, technical, reporting, and user experience requirements
• Work with the Digital Data Architect to assess the impact of data demands and volumes on infrastructure capacity, scale, and interfaces
• Communicate design options to business owners and seek approval
• Oversee formal technical design approvals for Digital products, including submission to Security, Legal, and Support for sign-off
• Chair the monthly Digital Architecture Review Board and attend weekly Digital/IT Architecture meetings
• Apply design principles that support consideration of multiple options
• Design end-to-end test plans, including load and performance stress points
• Validate third-party vendors development and testing against design requirements
• Contribute to solution cost estimates and accurate budgeting
• Produce, manage, and maintain Digital design, architecture, policy, and specification documentation
• Work with the Digital Data Architect and IT support team to prepare documentation and hand over support tasks
• Follow design principles and DL security standards
• Review the architecture and infrastructure landscape for fitness for purpose and optimisation opportunities, including technical debt, capacity planning, environment management, incident trends, and automation
• Assist with troubleshooting during critical P1s or major incidents when relevant
• Work with the Director of Digital Engineering to refine David Lloyd Digitals technology strategy and develop Digital architecture and technology roadmaps
• Represent Digital Architecture at the IT Change Advisory Board
• Support timely delivery of Digital pod team deliverables with minimal solution or technology barriers
• Help prevent design- and architecture-related escalations and service issues arising from design flaws
• Provide a knowledgeable point of contact for Digital IT architecture queries, taking a complete applications, data, and infrastructure perspective
• Deliver service optimisation and prepare optimisation papers for approval
• Ensure solution designs are approved within the applicable SLA
• Attend Digital/IT management meetings, the Digital Architecture Review Board, and the Change Advisory Board

Technologies:

• Architect
• Cloud
• DevOps
• Support
• Java
• Mobile
• NodeJS
• Security
• Terraform
• microservices
• Network
• Product Owner

More:

We are seeking a Digital Solutions Architect to shape and maintain David Lloyd Digitals architecture, working across Digital, IT, business teams, PODs, and third-party vendors. The role supports technology solutions and services that enhance the experience of our members, team members, and clubs.

• Ability to work in a multi-speed organisation and coordinate the moving parts involved in delivering new functionality
• Experience handling and prioritising requests from multiple stakeholders
• Experience overseeing modern development processes, including native mobile app development, back-end microservices development (Java, NodeJS), and infrastructure-as-code provisioning approaches such as Terraform and Terraform Cloud
• Systems design and architecture experience, particularly in modernisation and digital transformation projects
• Diverse solutions architecture experience covering modern cloud infrastructure, modern technology, and legacy systems
• Background in DevOps, engineering, and infrastructure as code
• Degree in Computer Science or a technology-related field
• Commercial judgement to ensure recommendations align with budgets
• Ability to document and communicate models of the enterprise, systems, applications, and networks through a series of viewpoints
• Strong influencing, engagement, presentation, communication, and facilitation skills
• Ability to collaborate across Digital and IT, broader business teams, and diverse third-party vendors
• Desirable: Agile application development experience
• Pragmatic, creative, agile, energetic, and self-motivated, with a can-do attitude, a sense of ownership, and the ability to generate options
• Ability to explain complex IT solutions and concepts in clear, accessible language
• Ability to work across multiple design requirements and balance project priorities and stakeholder needs
• Collaborative and supportive approach that contributes to a one-team culture
• Interest in staying up to date with technology innovations
• Holistic perspective on how technology and solutions affect member, team member, and club experiences