Enterprise Architect

LGBT Jobs; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical cover

Cycle to work

Electric vehicle scheme

Job summary

Bird & Bird in London seeks an Enterprise Architect to bridge business needs and technology across the firm's core stack, including document management, cloud, security and AI. You will design scalable, secure platforms and oversee major migrations.

Embedded in the Business Solutions Team, you'll collaborate across IT, Infrastructure, Info Security and Legal Tech to deliver user‑oriented, compliant solutions that align with the firm's global operations.

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of enterprise architecture patterns and SDLC.
• Experience with microservices, APIs and large-scale solutions.
• Proficiency with Azure, AWS, Google Cloud and hybrid/migration architectures.
• Familiarity with legal sector platforms such as iManage/Intapp is a plus.
• Knowledge of data security, access controls and regulatory standards.

Responsibilities

• Craft the technical vision, architecture and specs for new systems and enhancements.
• Design end-to-end integrations ensuring interoperability and a consistent UX.
• Shape platform migrations to the cloud and ensure scalable, secure designs.
• Collaborate across IT to take solutions from concept to production.
• Guide proofs-of-concept, implementation and production roll-outs.

Skills

Enterprise architecture

SDLC

Microservices

APIs

Cloud platforms

Hybrid architectures

AI integration

Security

Stakeholder communication

Tools

Power Apps

Power Automate

Tines

iManage

Intapp Open

Intapp Time

Netskope

Job description

Design scalable, secure technology solutions

Collaborate with various IT departments

Expertise in cloud platforms and AI integration

Focus on governance, security, and compliance

Hybrid working with three days in London office

We have an exciting opportunity for an Enterprise Architect to join our IT team. In this newly created role, the Enterprise Architect will bridge the gap between business requirements and technology by expanding the firm's overarching technical architecture.

The Enterprise Architect designs and oversees the implementation of scalable, secure, and well-governed solutions and platforms across our core technology stack, spanning practice management, document management, cloud platforms, security, and emerging technology including AI.

Embedded within our Business Solutions Team, the role works across the whole of IT, collaborating closely with Infrastructure, Information Security, Business Solutions, Legal Tech, Data Architecture and Insights, Finance Systems and our Project Management Office to ensure solutions and platforms are designed from the ground up with our full estate in mind.

They will analyse requirements, evaluate infrastructure, platforms and solutions, and propose and create scalable, secure designs that integrate the firm's existing systems and meet the firm's goals. This includes major platforms such as iManage, Intapp Open, Intapp Time, Aderant, Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, endpoint devices and Netskope, alongside the responsible adoption of AI where it safely and securely delivers genuine value.

This role is for a forward-thinking technologist who is passionate about both established and emerging technology, understands how enterprise systems interoperate, embraces AI where appropriate, and has a drive to deliver a seamless user experience.

Bird & Bird's Technology Team mission is to support the strong technology focus of the Firm, provide modern technology to support the business and creative solutions for our Clients.

In London, the team comprises 50 technology staff covering a broad range of technologies and specialisms including business architecture, business solutions, project and programme management, modern infrastructure and they are all primarily focused on international projects working alongside colleagues in our 34 offices.Whether it's analysing new solutions, driving innovation, developing client solutions or providing a first class, high availability infrastructure and support we are a diverse, energised group focused on service and contributing to both the internal and external use of technologies. We work extensively across the network and seek candidates who are keen to engage internationally and make wider contributions both internally and externally than just IT service and delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Solution & Platform Design: Craft the technical vision, architecture, and specifications for new systems and enhancements across the firm's core technology stack, from document and practice management through to cloud, security, and emerging technology (AI).
• Systems Integration: Design end-to-end solutions that integrate the firm's existing enterprise systems ensuring interoperability, resilience, and a consistent user experience. You'll need to be able to work with established tools such as Power Apps, Power Automate or Tines to prototye, test and build core integrations.
• Cloud & Migration Architecture: Shape and support major platform initiatives, such as the migration of key solutions to the cloud, ensuring designs are scalable, secure, and aligned with the firm's cloud strategy across major platforms.
• Cross-Team Collaboration: Work across the whole of IT, partnering with Infrastructure, Information Security, Business Solutions, Legal Tech, Data Architecture and Insights, Finance Systems and our Project Management Office to take solutions and platforms from concept through to production.
• Business Translation: Evaluate business challenges and map out where technology, whether traditional software, integration, or AI, can yield the highest return on investment.
• Emerging Technology (AI): Design responsible AI-enabled solutions where they add value, including retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), data pipelines, and agentic workflows, ensuring they mesh smoothly with existing enterprise systems.
• Governance & Security: Ensure all designs comply with data privacy, security, responsible AI principles, and the regulatory standards specific to the legal industry.
• Technical Leadership: Guide our passionate team and analysts through proofs-of-concept, implementation, and production roll-outs.
• Stakeholder Alignment: Translate complex business requirements into actionable technical solutions and communicate them effectively to non-technical stakeholders.

What you'll bring

• Deep understanding of enterprise architecture patterns, software development lifecycles (SDLC), and the design of microservices, APIs, and large scale enterprise-grade solutions.
• Deep understanding of cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, Google Cloud), including hybrid and migration architectures.
• Experience designing and integrating solutions across enterprise line-of-business systems; familiarity with legal sector platforms such as iManage and Intapp, or comparable document, practice, and time management systems, is a strong advantage.
• Understanding of enterprise security and access platforms (e.g. Netskope, zero trust architectures) and how they shape solution design.
• Solid understanding of modern AI paradigms (Generative AI, agentic workflows, ML pipelines, MCP) and leading AI services (ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini), with a focus on how AI interoperates with existing firm systems.
• Strong analytical capabilities to evaluate technologies and determine the most cost-effective, scalable options.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication to negotiate, pitch ideas, and bridge the gap between engineers and executives.
• Knowledge of data management, risk management, and the regulatory standards specific to the legal industry.

What's in it for you

We provide comprehensive support for our colleagues' health and wellbeing, including private medical cover, life assurance, critical illness cover, and regular health assessments. In addition, we offer a range of lifestyle benefits designed to help our team live their best lives, such as a cycle to work scheme, access to online GP appointments, discounted gym memberships, and an electric vehicle scheme.

As a disability and neurodiversity inclusive employer we want to ensure that you have a barrier-free recruitment experience at Bird & Bird. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please provide details to your recruitment contact who will be in touch to discuss any details provided and understand more about your individual adjustment needs.