Focus Platform Architect

First Central; Haywards Heath; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance company is seeking a Platform Architect to oversee the architectural and technical direction of its Focus Platform. In this role, you will define the platform's vision and strategy, collaborate with various teams to enhance efficiency, and ensure compliance with relevant standards. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in technology architecture and a deep understanding of cloud security best practices, contributing to the advancement of innovative technology solutions.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in two technology solution development disciplines.
• Experience in cloud platforms like Azure.
• Expertise in C# .Net full-stack application architecture.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architectural definition of the Focus Platform.
• Define, document, and maintain the reference platform architecture.
• Provide technical direction for software and cloud infrastructure.

Skills

Problem solving

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Cloud security knowledge

Understanding of SOLID principles

Leadership

Education

Formal architectural certification

Formal cloud certification

Job description

We’re 1st Central, a market-leading insurance company utilising smart data and technology at pace. Rapid growth has been based on giving our 1.4 million customers exactly what they want: great value insurance with an excellent service. And that’s the same for our colleagues too; we won Insurance Employer of the Year at the British Insurance Awards 2024 and our Glassdoor score is pretty mega too!

Were seeking a Platform Architect who'll beresponsible for the overall architectural and technical direction of the Focus Platform. This role involves defining and managing the platform's vision, strategy and roadmap, ensuring alignment with the organisation's objectives and prescribed Enterprise Architecture. You’ll collaborate across enterprise change teams to deliver a platform that maximises organisational value and efficiency, while governing the platform's health and compliance .

We value flexible working arrangements, so you can choose to work remotely or maybe you live within a commutable distance from one of our offices in Salford Quays, Manchester, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, or Guernsey , and want to work in the office occasionally.

Core skills were looking for to succeed in the role:

• Significant experience in at least two technology solution development disciplines, including technical or infrastructure architecture, network management, application development, middleware, database management or cloud development

• Excellent interpersonal skills in ar eas such as teamwork, facilitation and negotiation

• Formal architectural certification is preferred

• Formal cloud certification is preferred

• Good understanding of SOLID principles and common design patterns

• Excellent analytical and technical skills

• Understanding of cloud security best practices and compliance requirements

• Identification and management of risk

• Problem solving skills, with the ability to adopt a logical approach

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

What’s involved :

• You’ll l ead the architectural definition of the Focus Platform, ensuring it meets business and technical objectives

• You’ll p rovide technical direction for the platform in order to unify engineering teams, including software and cloud infrastructure, ensuring scalability, performance, and resilience .

• Horizon scans the enterprise change environment whilst monitoring the current-state Focus Platform Architecture to identify and anticipate deficiencies/opportunities through the technologies and architecture used or misalignment with business and technology strategies. Works with the Product Owner to drive platform change required to enable business and technology strategies

• You’ll d efine, document and maintain the reference platform architecture and develops a strategy for the evolution of the platform architecture from current to future state

• You’ll s upport Focus Platform Architecture standards, practices and policies

• You'll w ork closely with Architects, Principal Engineers, Business Analysts, Product Owners, to p rovide oversight and guidance for platform architecture changes, ensuring systems and services are designed with appropriate resilience , performance, and scalability, aligned to the prescribed Enterprise Architecture

• You’ll i dentify critical architecture decisions that require changes to the platform architecture, making recommendations to the Architecture Review Board

• You’ll c ontribute principles, guidelines, standards and solution patterns to the Enterprise Reference Architecture, based on feedback and lessons learned during platform development.

• You’ll i dentify opportunities to deploy new technologies and innovations that would support, enhance, improve or replace platform features in line with the business, product and technology strategies

• You’ll r egularly engage with the Exec Team and Senior Stakeholders across change disciplines and within the wider business, providing consultative and advisory services

• You’ll c omply with the requirements, and act in accordance with , the Group Code of Conduct and Fitness and Propriety policies at all times

• You’ll e nsure compliance with Company Policies, Values and guidelines and other relevant standards/ regulations at all times ,

• You’ll be responsible f or maintai ning depart ment risk registers (as applicable), providing evidence and commentary for controls, updates for Mitigation Actions and maintai ning contro l matrices and Attestations.

Experience & knowledge

• Experience of leadership of Architects and Senior Engineers

• Experience of Cloud platform architecture, particularly in Azure

• Expert in C# .Net full-stack application architecture, from SPA to SQL databases

• Experience of designing applications on cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) with an understanding of containerisation (Docker, Kubernetes) and serverless technologies

• Significant experience in the delivery of enterprise-class platforms with a strong appetite for innovation

• Experience in developing and managing a Platform vision and strategy

• Exposure to multiple, diverse technologies, platforms, and processing environments

• Good understanding of strategic and emerging technology trends, and the practical application of existing and emerging technologies to new and evolving business and operating models

• Experience of creation and maintenance of reference architecture documentation and roadmaps, ideally leveraging architectural tooling

• Experience of delivering architecture and governance services within an Agile delivery framework

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate teams and support in developing the organisation’s objective

• Experience delivering presentations to senior-level executives and technical audience

• Ability to communicate complex and abstract concepts in an easy to understand and follow manner

• Ideally an insurance or financial Services background, although other backgrounds will be considered

• Knowledge of FCA requirements (including Consumer Duty)

Skills & Qualifications

• Significant experience in at least two technology solution development disciplines, including technical or infrastructure architecture, network management, application development, middleware, database management or cloud development

• Excellent interpersonal skills in areas such as teamwork, facilitation and negotiation

• Formal architectural certification is preferred

• Formal cloud certification is preferred

• Good understanding of SOLID principles and common design patterns

• Excellent analytical and technical skills

• Understanding of cloud security best practices and compliance requirements

• Identification and management of risk

• Problem solving skills, with the ability to adopt a logical approach

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Behaviours

• Understands, advocates and augments the business and technology strategies — and, more specifically, EA development and service delivery. Is prepared to “sell” the EA process (overall, not just for enterprise technology architecture), its outcome and ongoing results, and to lead the communication or marketing activities needed to ensure enterprise success and use.

• Commercially focussed and results driven taking a pragmatic approach to delivering value

• Self-motivated and enthusiastic

• An organised and pro-active approach

• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team

• A flexible approach and positive attitude

• Emphasis on attention to detail and accuracy

• Takes initiative to make decisions

• Strives to drive business improvements to contribute to the success of the business

So, if you’re up for the challenge and would like to join our vibrant and busy team, we want to hear from you today.

What can we do for you?

People first. Always. We’re passionate about our colleagues and know the best people deserve an extraordinary working environment. We owe it to them so that’s what we offer. Our workplaces are energetic, inspirational, supportive. To get a taste of the advantages you’ll enjoy, take a look at all our perks in full here .

Intrigued? Our Talent team can tell you everything you need to know about what we want and what we’re offering, so feel free to get in touch.