Lead Solution Architect

Become part of a mission-driven team building secure, resilient platforms that safeguard the nation's financial system. The Bank of England, in partnership with Inspire People, is seeking a Lead Solution Architect with Azure expertise (ADLS, Databricks, App Services, Purview), knowledge on data-collection platforms and the ability to produce clear, high-quality architectural artefacts. Based in Leeds on a 21-month FTC (to start with) with a base salary of up to 81,360 plus an 8% cash benefits allowance, 10-25% discretionary annual bonus and a non-contributory pension.

Shape the Future of Technology at the UK's Central Bank

The Bank of England plays a vital role in maintaining the nation's monetary and financial stability. As a Lead Solution Architect, you will drive the strategic architectural direction for major data collection, regulatory and enterprise technology initiatives that underpin the financial system.

As a Lead Solution Architect you will:

• Develop technology strategies, roadmaps and architectural artefacts (HLDs, blueprints, target states) that guide enterprise and regulatory platforms.

• Lead architectural governance, presenting at design forums and ensuring alignment with Bank-wide standards.

• Shape secure data architectures across Azure services, including ingestion, validation, modelling and metadata design.

• Partner with stakeholders across Technology, Data, Policy and Delivery to influence decisions and provide thought leadership.

• Support procurement processes, vendor assessments and technical requirements across key programmes.

• Strong Azure capability across ADLS, Databricks, App Services, Purview, identity and integration patterns.

• Proven experience shaping enterprise architecture artefacts including HLDs, blueprints, options and phased roadmaps.

• Advanced data-collection and modelling capability, including regulatory standards such as XBRL and XML.

• Ability to drive architectural governance, influence senior stakeholders and ensure alignment to strategic direction.

• Experience designing cloud-native platforms, high-volume ingestion pipelines and workflow orchestration.

Desirable skills for the Lead Solution Architect include:

• Experience within regulated environments or large-scale financial services architecture.

• Familiarity with EA frameworks including TOGAF, SAFe or Zachman.

• Exposure to UX, service design or user-facing workflow optimisation.

• Background in operational resilience, service continuity or hybrid architecture patterns.

• Integration with enterprise data platforms, analytics tooling or data-governance systems.

In return, you can expect a flexible working culture, including:

• Hybrid working with 40-50% office attendance monthly.

• Flexible start and finish times, adaptable working patterns and working-from-abroad policy (subject to approval).

• Non-contributory career-average pension.
• 10% - 25% annual discretionary performance award based on a current award pool
• 8% benefits allowance with the option to take as salary or purchase a wide range of flexible benefits.
• 25 days annual leave with option to buy up to 13 additional days through flexible benefits.
• Flexible start and finish times plus adaptable working patterns.
• Working-from-abroad policy (subject to approval).
• Inclusive culture that values diversity, wellbeing and development.
• Private medical insurance and income protection.
• Dental cover
• Interest-free season ticket loan