Cloud API Architect — Hybrid, Lead Platform Design

Vodafone Group Plc; Newbury; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses

28 days holiday + bank holidays

Pension plan

Flexible benefits

Charity time off

Job summary

Vodafone Group Plc in Newbury is seeking an experienced API Platform Architect to define and evolve our cloud-native API strategy, architecture patterns, and technology standards, collaborating with digital, platform and enterprise teams.

You will guide solution architects, review designs for alignment with principles, promote simplicity and scalability, and partner with engineering to ensure security and reliability across enterprise-scale digital services, in a flexible hybrid setup.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience designing and delivering cloud-native, microservices‑based APIs for large‑scale customer‑facing platforms.
• Strong expertise in modern cloud architectures, including containerised and serverless solutions.
• Solid understanding of SOLID object‑oriented design principles and how to apply them to real‑world solutions.
• Knowledge of RESTful API design and experience with authentication and authorisation standards such as OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect.
• You’ll understand security best practices, including the OWASP Top 10 and approaches to mitigating common vulnerabilities.
• You’ll be a confident communicator who can translate complex technical concepts for both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• You’ll have experience working within Agile environments, using methodologies such as Scrum, Kanban, or Lean.
• You’ll be comfortable developing architecture roadmaps, business cases, and phased transformation plans that move organisations from current‑state to future‑state solutions.
• Experience with event‑driven architecture patterns will be highly valued.
• Knowledge of TM Forum‑compliant APIs will be advantageous.
• Experience with Java and the Spring framework will be beneficial.
• Exposure to AI agents, agentic frameworks, or intelligent integration patterns will be a plus.
• Cloud architecture certification, such as AWS Associate Architect or an equivalent qualification, will be welcomed.
• Most importantly, you’ll be passionate about collaboration, continuous improvement, and creating inclusive technology solutions that deliver meaningful business outcomes.

Responsibilities

• You’ll help define and evolve our API platform strategy, architecture patterns, and technology standards.
• You’ll collaborate with digital, platform, and enterprise architecture teams to shape future roadmap priorities and solution designs.
• You’ll guide and support solution architects across the business, providing expertise on complex API platform enhancements and architecture decisions.
• You’ll review solution designs to ensure alignment with architectural principles, target state architecture, and long‑term strategic goals.
• You’ll champion simplicity, scalability, and cost effectiveness by encouraging the use of existing platform capabilities wherever possible.
• You’ll work closely with engineering teams to ensure the platform continues to meet performance, security, and service availability requirements.
• You’ll enable delivery teams to succeed by providing clear direction, reference architectures, and technical guidance that supports greater autonomy and confidence.
• You’ll contribute to the creation of high‑quality digital products that serve customers at enterprise scale.

Skills

Cloud-native APIs

Microservices

REST API design

OAuth 2.0 / OpenID Connect

Java / Spring

Agile (Scrum/Kanban)

Tools

Spring Framework

OAuth 2.0

OpenID Connect

Job description

Vodafone Group Plc in Newbury is seeking an experienced API Platform Architect to define and evolve our cloud-native API strategy, architecture patterns, and technology standards, collaborating with digital, platform and enterprise teams.

You will guide solution architects, review designs for alignment with principles, promote simplicity and scalability, and partner with engineering to ensure security and reliability across enterprise-scale digital services, in a flexible hybrid setup.