Cloud Architect

AXA UK; Tunbridge Wells, Redhill; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance provider is seeking a Cloud Architect to provide technical leadership and guide Cloud Platform Engineering teams. This role involves strategic direction for Cloud services, collaboration with stakeholders across AXA, and leading the development of technical roadmaps in the Azure domain. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in distributed systems and Cloud platforms, alongside strong expertise in Azure security models. The position also promotes flexible working arrangements, allowing a good balance between home and office work.

Benefits

Competitive annual salary

Performance-based bonus

Contributory pension scheme

Life Assurance

28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays

Wellbeing services

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• Experience with large-scale technical projects in an agile environment.
• Proven experience in enterprise cloud environments.
• Ability to apply Platform Engineering principles effectively.
• Knowledge of CI/CD, DevSecOps, SRE, and automation.
• Eligibility to work in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic direction and development of Cloud services.
• Develop multi-year roadmap with stakeholders.
• Contribute to Azure Platform Engineering standards.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams on cloud solutions.
• Encourage innovation and manage risks.

Skills

Hands-on expertise in distributed systems

Cloud Platform design and implementation

Understanding of Platform Engineering principles

Azure security models

Market trends awareness

Management of third-party relationships

Building investment cases

Knowledge of Agile frameworks

Understanding of Financial Services

Job description

Description

We have a new opportunity for a Cloud Architect to join us.

Reporting into the Head of Infrastructructure Architecture Guild, you’ll provide strategic technical leadership and architectural direction to the Cloud Platform Engineering teams and liaise with different stakeholders and communities to ensure alignment to strategic objectives. You’ll lead and develop a high performing, technical platform capability and be responsible for enabling and developing platform services. You’ll act as the highest technical design escalation point in the Azure Cloud Domain.

At AXA we work smart, empowering our people to balance their time between home and the office in a way that works best for them, their team and our customers. You'll work at least two days a week (40%) away from home, moving to three days a week (60%) in the future. Away from home means either attendance at one of our office locations, visiting clients or attending industry events. We’re also happy to consider flexible working arrangements, which you can discuss with Talent Acquisition.

What you’ll be doing:

• Responsibility for strategic direction and development of Cloud services in AXA UK
• Responsibility for UK Cloud Target, Current and Transition architectures and key contributor to development of multi-year roadmap in collaboration with the senior business and IT stakeholders
• Partnering with stakeholders in AXA Group to develop and maintain key metrics on Group Cloud products and services adoption
• Responsibility for the architecture, enablement standards and technical direction of the Azure Platform Engineering function
• Co-developing the product technical roadmaps; translating platform features into technology solutions using modern, industry best practices
• Working across multi-disciplinary teams of Azure Platform Engineers, Enterprise Architects and DevSecOps Engineers to collaborate on and produce high-quality, innovative, and robust cloud solutions for public release, overseeing complicated technical migrations and deployments (enable, service and operational transition)
• Partnering with stakeholders and customers to develop and inform the underlying platform capabilities that will speed up product engineering, such as automation, reuse, and consistency across software product lines
• Acting as the highest technical escalation point in the domain and structure key design decisions to unblock issues
• Encouraging innovation and mitigation of risks at the earliest responsible moment, accepting and learning from low-cost failure
• Building and maintaining a culture of responsible, engaged, self‑organised and self‑managed teams
• Providing technical mentoring support to individuals, obtaining feedback on these individuals, helping to set priorities and career direction, and encouraging continuous improvement

What you’ll bring:

• Substantial hands‑on expertise working on large‑scale (distributed systems) technical projects, including creating and deploying large‑scale online and mobile applications in an agile platform engineering environment
• Experience working with, designing and implementing Cloud Platforms in enterprise environments
• Thorough understanding of Platform Engineering principles and how to apply them to provide quick, test‑driven product engineering services to get products to customers faster
• Proven experience with Azure security models and enterprise integration patterns
• Awareness of market trends in Insurance and the IT industry, especially in Platform Engineering and Cloud
• Ability to manage third party relationships
• Experience in building investment cases and planning multi‑year roadmap
• Knowledge of various Agile frameworks and secure software development approaches and techniques (e.g. CI/CD, DevSecOps, SRE and Automation first approaches)
• Understanding of Financial Services markets and products desirable

As a precondition of employment for this role, you must be eligible and authorised to work in the United Kingdom.

What we offer:

At AXA UK, we’re appreciative of the people who work for us and our rewards package is reviewed regularly to reflect that. You can expect to receive:

• Competitive annual salary dependent on experience
• Annual company & performance‑based bonus
• Contributory pension scheme (up to 12% employer contributions)
• Life Assurance (up to 10 x annual salary)
• 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Opportunity to buy up to 5 extra days leave or sell up to 5 days leave
• Wellbeing services & resources
• AXA employee discounts

To apply, click on the ‘apply for this job’ button, you’ll then need to log in or create a profile to submit your CV. We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and don’t discriminate against employees or potential employees based on protected characteristics. If you have a long‑term condition or disability and require adjustments during the application or interview process, we’re proud to offer access to the AXA Accessibility Concierge. For our support, please send an email to [e-mail].

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Who we are:

AXA UK Support Functions power AXA’s three customer‑facing business units, providing the infrastructure, support and expertise to ensure our customers can always count on us. Whether you’ve got heaps of experience and qualifications behind you, or you’re just starting out, we’ll give you the support and opportunities to help you grow and develop with confidence.