Application Architect - Java & Web Technologies (Public Sector)

IBM; Manchester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm in Manchester is seeking an experienced Senior Application Architect to lead the design and development of scalable enterprise applications. This role requires expertise in Java, AWS, and web technologies. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in software architecture and communication skills. The company offers numerous benefits and promotes a diverse work environment, making it a great place for career development.

Benefits

Training opportunities

Promotion opportunities

Flexible working approaches

Health and dental coverage

Retirement plan with company contributions

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of experience with AWS (Lambda, S3, etc.) and JavaScript.
• Experience in designing large-scale applications with Java and frameworks.
• Strong understanding of software architecture principles.
• Ability to analyze complex systems and propose solutions.
• Proven track record of articulating technical concepts.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement scalable, secure application architectures.
• Work with cross-functional teams to fulfill business requirements.
• Provide mentorship to junior architects and developers.
• Drive innovation in application development practices.
• Communicate technical concepts to stakeholders.

Skills

AWS and JavaScript Expertise

Java and Web Technologies Proficiency

Software Architecture Acumen

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Tools

Cypress

Terraform

Hadoop

Jenkins

Job description

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Application Architect specializing in Java and web technologies to lead the design and development of robust, scalable, and secure enterprise applications. This role presents an excellent opportunity for a seasoned professional to contribute to our cutting‑edge software development initiatives and play a pivotal role in our organization’s digital transformation journey.

Responsibilities

• Architecture Design and Implementation: Design and implement scalable, secure, and maintainable enterprise application architectures using Java and web technologies.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Work closely with cross‑functional teams to comprehend business and technical requirements, translating them into effective application designs.
• Technical Leadership and Mentorship: Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior architects and developers, fostering a culture of excellence and knowledge sharing.
• Technology Innovation and Improvement: Stay current with Java, web technologies, and emerging trends, driving innovation and continuous improvement in our application development practices.
• Problem Solving: Apply strong problem‑solving skills to analyze complex systems, identify areas for optimisation and improvement, and drive solutions.
• Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: Articulate technical concepts effectively to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders, ensuring alignment and understanding of project objectives and progress.

Essential Qualifications

• AWS and JavaScript Expertise: At least 3 years of hands‑on experience with AWS (Lambda, S3, DynamoDB, etc.), CloudFormation, and JavaScript.
• Java and Web Technologies Proficiency: Proven experience in designing and implementing large‑scale enterprise applications using Java and web technologies. In‑depth knowledge of Java frameworks such as Spring and Hibernate, and web technologies such as HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and frameworks like React or Angular.
• Software Architecture Acumen: Strong understanding of software architecture principles and patterns, with practical experience in microservices, event‑driven architectures, and cloud‑native development.
• Analytical Skills: Exceptional problem‑solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex systems and propose solutions.
• Communication Skills: Outstanding communication and collaboration skills, with a proven track record of articulating technical concepts to diverse audiences.

Preferred Experience

• Testing and DevOps: Experience with Cypress testing and familiarity with OpenShift containers (Docker) and orchestration tools (Kubernetes).
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Familiarity with IaC tools such as Terraform or CloudFormation.
• Data Engineering: Knowledge of data engineering and experience with big data technologies like Hadoop, Spark, or Kafka.
• CI/CD and Automation: Experience with CI/CD pipelines and automation, using tools such as Jenkins, GitLab, or CircleCI.

Legal and Work Conditions

As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds. However, for you to be eligible for this role, you must have the valid right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we do not offer visa sponsorship and have no future plans to do so. You must be a resident in the UK and have been living continuously in the UK for the last 10 years. You must be able to hold or gain a UK government security clearance.

IBM is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, caste, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, veteran status or other characteristics. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

Benefits

• Many training opportunities from classroom to e‑learning, mentoring and coaching programs and the chance to gain industry‑recognised certifications.
• Regular and frequent promotion opportunities to ensure you can drive and develop your career with us.
• Feedback and checkpoints throughout the year.
• Diversity & Inclusion as an essential and authentic component of our culture through our policies and process as well as our Employee Champion teams and support networks.
• A culture where your ideas for growth and innovation are always welcome.
• Internal recognition programmes for peer‑to‑peer appreciation as well as from manager to employees.
• Tools and policies to support your work‑life balance from flexible working approaches, sabbatical programmes, paid paternity leave, maternity leave and an innovative maternity returner scheme.
• More traditional benefits, such as 25 days holiday (in addition to public holidays), private medical, dental & optical cover, online shopping discounts, an Employee Assistance Programme, life assurance and a group personal pension plan of an additional 5% of your base salary paid by us monthly to save for your future.

Company Overview

At IBM CIC, we provide technical and industry expertise to a wide range of public and private sector clients in the UK. A career in IBM CIC means you'll have the opportunity to work with leading professionals across multiple industries to improve the hybrid cloud and AI journey for the most innovative and valuable companies in the world. You will get the chance to deliver effective solutions, driving meaningful business change for our clients, using some of the latest technology platforms. Curiosity and a constant quest for knowledge serve as the foundation to success here. You'll be encouraged and supported to constantly reinvent yourself, focusing on skills in demand in an ever‑changing market. You'll be working with diverse teams, coming up with creative solutions which impact a wide network of clients, who may be at their site or one of our CIC or IBM locations. Our culture of evolution centres on long‑term career growth and development opportunities in an environment that embraces your unique skills and experience.