Associate Enterprise Architect

Network Rail; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Network Rail in Milton Keynes is seeking a skilled Architect to shape technology strategy across business, delivery and technology stakeholders. You will develop architecture roadmaps, evaluate emerging tech and ensure governance aligns with standards, guiding investment decisions and architectural outcomes.

The role requires extensive experience as a Technical or Solution Architect, cloud certification, and the ability to communicate complex ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences

Qualifications

• Extensive experience as a Technical or Solution Architect.
• Experience developing architecture blueprints, strategies and roadmaps.
• Exposure to multiple technologies, platforms and processing environments.
• Certification in Solution Architecture from AWS or Microsoft Azure.
• Strong understanding of agile principles and development methodologies.
• Knowledge of strategic and emerging technology trends and their practical application.
• Business and commercial acumen with understanding of models/ drivers.
• Ability to quickly learn and apply new technologies and concepts.
• Ability to communicate ideas to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Skilled at influencing stakeholders and guiding decisions.

Responsibilities

• Advise on technology choices to drive business value and reduce risk.
• Produce architecture standards, reference architectures and roadmaps.
• Conduct Proof Of Concept exercises to verify feasibility of new products/services.
• Create designs linking business outcomes to value.
• Identify cross-portfolio dependencies to reduce duplication and cost overruns.
• Analyze environment to identify opportunities to reduce maintenance costs and improve reliability.
• Support design assurance and governance with DDaT and stakeholders.
• Challenge commercial aspects to balance cost and benefits.
• Stay current on market trends and translate into practical future-state architectures.

Skills

Architecture expertise

Roadmaps & blueprints

Cloud certification

Agile experience

Strategic thinking

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder influence

Fast learner

Communication skills

Tools

LeanIX

AWS

Azure

Job description

Employer Network Rail Location The Quadrant:MK, Milton Keynes, South East England Salary £55,596 - £67,813 Closing date 23 Oct 2026

Who We Are

About Network Rail...

Join Network Rail - Where People and Connections Matter

At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team - you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway.

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process. You can visit Evenbreaks Career Hive for advice on accessibility support.

Plus more....

Vacancy Details

Duration: Permanent

Location: Milton Keynes

Band & Salary: Band 3C £55,596 - £67,813

About the role

What does the average day look like?

• Working with business, operational, delivery and technology stakeholders to understand their needs and provide clear, evidence-based advice on technology choices that align with strategic direction, architectural standards and desired business outcomes.
• Contributing to technology roadmaps, reference architectures and other architecture products that communicate current and future direction, support consistent decision-making and guide investment planning.
• Supporting design assurance and technology governance by reviewing proposed solutions, identifying architectural dependencies and risks, and working with specialists across DDaT to confirm alignment with business needs and Network Rail architecture standards.
• Supporting digital strategy development by documenting current-state architectures, identifying capability gaps and opportunities, and contributing to practical future-state architectures and transition options.
• Researching and evaluating current and emerging technologies, assessing their suitability, benefits, risks and strategic alignment, and making evidence‑based recommendations.
• Maintaining architecture information and products in LeanIX to improve data quality, consistency and traceability, while providing practical guidance on LeanIX, technology governance and lifecycle management.

Key Accountabilities

1. Acts as a technology consultant advising on technology choices and implementations in order to drive business outcomes and reduce risk.
2. Produce technology standards, architecture deliverables, Reference Architectures and Roadmaps in order to deliver business value and technical consistency across the investment portfolio.
3. Conduct "Proof Of Concept/Value" exercises to verify the feasibility/viability of new products/services in order to aid technology related decision making
4. Create solution designs establishing line of sight between the business outcomes to deliver maximum value for the business.
5. Identify and surface cross-portfolio and architectural dependencies to reduce the risk of duplication, overruns of cost and time
6. Analyse the business environment and recommend appropriate solutions to identify opportunities that reduce maintenance costs, complexity and improve system reliability
7. Support the delivery of projects through the Design Assurance process by engaging colleagues in other areas of Digital Data & Technology , verifying that the proposed design fits in with existing / proposed infrastructure and the business needs to maximise the compliance with Network Rail Architecture Standards.
8. Understand and challenge commercial aspects of a solution and make recommendations to strike the right balance between cost and benefits
9. Analyse the digital and EA market trends and be proficient with the relevant skills through self‑learning and/or formal training where available to enable the delivery of EA services

Your experience and skills

Who are we looking for?

Meet the essential criteria

• Extensive experience of working as a Technical or Solution Architect
• Experience developing architecture blueprints, strategies and roadmaps
• Exposure to multiple, diverse technologies, platforms and processing environments
• Certification in Solution Architecture from AWS/Microsoft Azure or other leading cloud providers
• Good understanding of product management, agile principles and development methodologies and capability of supporting agile teams by providing advice and guidance on all architectural matters
• Good understanding of strategic and new and emerging technology trends, and the practical application of these technologies
• Business and commercial acumen - understanding business models, financial drivers and competition
• Ability to rapidly learn and apply new technologies, business concepts and methodologies to solve business problems
• Ability to articulate new ideas and concepts to technical and nontechnical audiences
• Skilled at influencing, guiding and facilitating stakeholders and peers with decision making.

Desirable

• Experienced in modern development lifecycles / methodologies
• Document, Content and/or Digital Asset Management concepts and technologies
• Experience delivering presentations to senior‑level executives and non-technical audiences

Additional Information...