Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Architect

Dianaduggan; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 74,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Big Four seeks an experienced Google Cloud Platform Architect to join a cloud programme for a Tier 1 bank in Glasgow. The role is on-site, 5 days a week, initially 6 months with potential extension, and starts immediately.

You will design complex cloud-native solutions, set architectural direction, drive CI/CD maturity, and lead cross-team collaboration with a focus on reliability, security, and cost optimization. Umbrella-style engagement and IR35 considerations apply.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of production software development experience
• Advanced Kubernetes platform engineering expertise
• In-depth Google Cloud development experience with core GCP services
• Strong experience designing cloud-native architectures and CI/CD pipelines

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural design for cloud-native systems and services across teams
• Establish coding standards and support teams with code reviews and debugging
• Own operational excellence by identifying patterns in failures and improving reliability, performance, and observability
• Evaluate vendor/technology options and drive outcomes-oriented architectural assessments
• Mentor and grow engineers through design collaboration and knowledge sharing

Skills

GCP Architecture

GoLang

Python

Kubernetes

CI/CD

Cloud security

Architectural design

Vendor management

Tools

Kubebuilder

Operator SDK

Kubernetes

GCP services

Job description

We are supporting our client, one of the Big Four, with an experienced Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Architect role, to join a cloud programme for a Tier 1 bank, based in Glasgow.

• Location: Glasgow / On-site 5 days


• Duration: 6 months initially (with potential extension)


• Contract Start Date: Immediate

We are supporting our client, one of the Big Four, with an experienced Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Architect role, to join a cloud programme for a Tier 1 bank, based in Glasgow.

• Role: Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Architect role


• Day rate: £400 – 450 per day (inside IR35)


• Pay framework: Umbrella Company


• Location: Glasgow / On-site 5 days


• Duration: 6 months initially (with potential extension)


• Contract Start Date: Immediate

Key Responsibilities

• Design and create complex, creative software solutions with ability to think strategically beyond routine or conventional approaches - breaking down ambiguous technical problems and influencing architectural decisions across teams


• Establish coding standards across the project by creating coding that actively reviews, debugs, and help support team members with their coding


• Lead architectural design for cloud-native systems and services, producing comprehensive design artifacts (RFCs, ADRs, architecture diagrams) that are reviewed and adopted across multiple teams


• Own operational excellence by proactively identifying patterns in system failures, operational metrics, and data; designing and implementing systematic improvements to system reliability, performance, and observability


• Evaluate and lead vendor/technology assessments - leading sessions with external vendors, startups, and internal teams to drive outcomes-oriented evaluation of architectural designs, technical credentials, and applicability to the firm's technology strategy


• Lead and grow engineering communities of practice across Software Engineering.


• You will drive awareness, adoption, and standards for emerging cloud-native technologies and best practices


• Mentor and develop junior and mid-level engineers through code review, design collaboration, and knowledge-sharing activities


• Contribute to strategic initiatives that shape the firm's cloud platform standards, CI/CD maturity, and infrastructure-as-code practices


• Build and operate resilient, highly-scalable services deployed to AWS in line with firm-wide public cloud standards and security/compliance requirements

Essential Skills & Experience

• Formal training or certification on software engineering concepts and 5+ years applied experience in production software development


• Advanced hands-on practical experience delivering system design, application development, testing, and operational stability at scale


• Advanced proficiency in one or more modern programming languages with demonstrated ability to optimize for performance, maintainability, and security with GoLang or Python being preferred including performance optimization and concurrency patterns


• Advanced Kubernetes platform engineering expertise, including hands-on experience designing, developing, and operating custom Kubernetes Operators and Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) using frameworks such as Kubebuilder, Operator SDK, or equivalent. Demonstrated ability to extend Kubernetes APIs to automate complex platform, infrastructure, security, or application lifecycle workflows at enterprise scale.


• Proven experience building cloud-native control planes and automation


• Frameworks on Kubernetes, including authoring reconciliation loops, admission controllers, webhooks, and custom controllers; strong understanding of Kubernetes internals, API machinery, RBAC, multi-tenancy, observability, and operational best practices for production environments.


• In-depth Google Cloud development experience -architecting, building, deploying, and operating production cloud-native workloads using core GCP services; understanding cost optimization and security best practices


• Proficiency in automation and continuous delivery -designing and implementing CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure automation, and deployment strategies


• Advanced understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle - ability to influence and improve SDLC practices across teams


• Advanced knowledge of agile methodologies -CI/CD, Application Resiliency, Security, and capacity planning


• Demonstrated expertise in a technical discipline (e.g., cloud architecture, artificial intelligence/machine learning, mobile, distributed systems, security, DevOps/platform engineering)


• In-depth knowledge of financial services industry and their IT systems, regulatory constraints, and operational requirements


• Practical experience with Al-assisted developer tools and Al agents (Copilot, Claude Code, or equivalent) to improve engineering productivity, code quality, and knowledge acquisition


• Strong communication and influence skills - ability to articulate technical decisions, trade-offs, and recommendations to both technical and non- technical stakeholders