Head of Architecture - Data Platform & Identity, AI/ML

iO Associates; Lancashire; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The BBC is seeking a Head of Architecture for Data Platform & Account & Identity to define architectural direction across a high-volume, event-driven ecosystem. You will lead a senior team, collaborate with Product, Data, UX and business leadership, and shape platform strategy at national and global scale.

Hybrid work with hubs in London, Manchester, Salford, Leeds, Glasgow, Cardiff or Newcastle, focusing on responsible AI, data governance, and scalable, secure architectures.

Qualifications

• Proven experience defining and delivering architecture strategy at scale.
• Strong background in data platforms, AI/ML enablement, and/or identity systems.
• Experience operating within high-availability, event-driven environments.
• Ability to drive organisational and architectural transformation.
• Confidence influencing senior stakeholders and C-level leaders.
• Experience leading and developing senior, technically strong teams.
• Broad understanding of modern architectures including cloud (AWS), microservices and data processing at scale.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve platform capabilities supporting billions of audience events per day, ensuring high availability, scalability and security.
• Lead the transition toward domain-oriented, platform-based architectures, embedding data product thinking and ownership models.
• Own and govern architectural standards across data, AI/ML and identity ecosystems (real-time & batch processing, ML enablement, customer identity).
• Enable responsible AI and ML at scale, balancing innovation with governance, risk and safety.
• Lead major technology decisions, platform strategy and vendor selection, with clear accountability for enterprise outcomes.
• Line manage and develop a senior architecture team, while influencing a wider engineering and product community.

Skills

Architecture strategy

Data platforms

AI/ML enablement

Identity systems

High-availability

Event-driven

Cloud AWS

Leadership

Job description

The BBC is seeking a Head of Architecture for Data Platform & Account & Identity to define architectural direction across a high-volume, event-driven ecosystem. You will lead a senior team, collaborate with Product, Data, UX and business leadership, and shape platform strategy at national and global scale.

Hybrid work with hubs in London, Manchester, Salford, Leeds, Glasgow, Cardiff or Newcastle, focusing on responsible AI, data governance, and scalable, secure architectures.