Lead Engineering Architect

Ordnance Survey; Eastleigh; Hybrid; GBP 79,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Competitive salary

Pension

Learning & development

Flexible working

Job summary

Ordnance Survey is seeking a Lead Engineering Architect to shape the engineering foundations and drive architecture across teams in a hybrid role based in Southampton. You will translate strategic direction into practical standards, patterns and governance to deliver scalable, resilient platforms.

You’ll lead an architecture practice, partner with Enterprise Architecture, Engineering, Product and Delivery, and build capability for future talent while balancing governance with autonomy.

Qualifications

• Experience leading engineering, solution or technology architecture in a complex environment.
• Strong architectural and technical expertise across modern engineering platforms and practices.
• The ability to turn strategic direction into practical outcomes and technology decisions.

Responsibilities

• Translating architectural direction into practical engineering standards, patterns and guidance.
• Leading engineering architecture roadmaps that support technology and business outcomes.
• Building and developing a high‑performing Engineering Architecture practice.
• Coordinating architecture priorities, demand and capacity to focus effort where it delivers greatest value.
• Promoting reuse, interoperability and simplification across the technology estate.
• Providing proportionate architecture governance and assurance that enables effective decision‑making.
• Supporting engineering teams through technical leadership, guidance and modern engineering practices.
• Building strong partnerships across Technology and the wider organisation to drive aligned outcomes.

Skills

AI Architecture

Architecture Development

Architecture Reviews

Cloud-Native Architecture

Design

Engineering Architecture

Enterprise Architecture Framework

IT Architecture

Leadership

People Performance Management

Platform Engineering

Solution Architecture

Technology Development

Technology Governance

Technology Roadmap

Job description

Lead Engineering Architect Full Time | £78,638.00 - £91,745.00 (dependent on experience) Hybrid | Southampton

Help shape the engineering foundations that enable Ordnance Survey to deliver for the future. At Ordnance Survey, technology underpins many of the products and services that customers, partners and colleagues rely on every day. As our technology landscape evolves, strong engineering architecture is essential to ensuring our platforms and services remain scalable, resilient and aligned to long‑term organisational needs. We're looking for an experienced and collaborative Lead Engineering Architect to lead our Engineering Architecture capability. Working closely with Enterprise Architecture, Engineering, Product and Delivery teams, you'll help turn architectural direction into practical outcomes, enabling teams to deliver consistently, efficiently and at scale. Acting as the delivery-focused counterpart to Enterprise Architecture, you'll help create the standards, patterns and guidance that support great technology decisions while balancing governance, autonomy and innovation.

What you'll be doing

You will be accountable for:

• Translating architectural direction into practical engineering standards, patterns and guidance.
• Leading engineering architecture roadmaps that support technology and business outcomes.
• Building and developing a high‑performing Engineering Architecture practice.
• Coordinating architecture priorities, demand and capacity to focus effort where it delivers greatest value.
• Promoting reuse, interoperability and simplification across the technology estate.
• Providing proportionate architecture governance and assurance that enables effective decision‑making.
• Supporting engineering teams through technical leadership, guidance and modern engineering practices.
• Building strong partnerships across Technology and the wider organisation to drive aligned outcomes.

As an OS Leader Operating at the Leading Other Leaders level within the OS Leadership Framework, you will lead through Engage, Grow and Deliver, creating the environment, capability and alignment needed for teams and leaders to succeed.

Engage – Build trust, alignment and shared purpose across teams, functions and stakeholders.

Grow – Develop leaders, strengthen capability and prepare the organisation for future challenges and opportunities.

Deliver – Drive joined‑up outcomes through effective decision‑making, collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.

What we're looking for

You will likely bring:

• Experience leading engineering, solution or technology architecture in a complex environment.
• Strong architectural and technical expertise across modern engineering platforms and practices.
• The ability to turn strategic direction into practical outcomes and technology decisions.
• Strong influencing skills and experience working across multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Experience developing technical capability and future talent.
• A collaborative, outcome‑focused leadership style.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to lead the continued development of Engineering Architecture at Ordnance Survey, helping ensure our technology platforms and services remain aligned, scalable and fit for the future. You'll play a key role in shaping how technology decisions are made across the organisation, enabling teams to deliver more effectively while supporting innovation and long‑term sustainability. In return, you'll have the opportunity to influence technology direction, develop capability and help build the engineering foundations that support Ordnance Survey's future success.

We know that great candidates don't always meet every requirement listed. If this opportunity excites you and you believe you can make a positive contribution, we'd love to hear from you. We value different experiences, perspectives and backgrounds, and we know that diverse teams help us make better decisions, solve problems more effectively and achieve stronger outcomes for our customers and communities.

The Rewards

We want you to love what you do and feel supported to do your best work. Our benefits include:

• Competitive salary and pension (OS contribute up to 12.07%)
• Performance‑related bonus (where applicable)
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing with service)
• Enhanced family leave, including paid partner leave
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• Learning and development support, coaching and mentoring
• Free subscription to OS Maps and access to wellbeing support
• Volunteering leave and matched fundraising

Location & Working Pattern

We embrace a hybrid working model at OS, because we believe in flexibility and balance. You'll be based at our fantastic HQ in Southampton, Hampshire, where you'll spend 50% of your working week collaborating face‑to‑face with colleagues. It's all about combining the best of both worlds: connection and autonomy to help you thrive.

Security & Eligibility

OS conducts pre‑employment checks for anyone made an offer of employment, including identity, right to work, employment history and criminal record checks (via Disclosure & Barring Services (DBS)). Some of our roles may require additional security vetting. We will advise candidates during the recruitment process if additional vetting may be required for that specific role. This role requires the right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, OS cannot provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Closing Date - Sunday 11th October 2026 at 23:59pm.

Inclusion at OS Research shows that people from underrepresented groups often hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. At Ordnance Survey, we're committed to building a diverse, inclusive and welcoming workplace. If this role excites you but your experience doesn't match every point, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right person for this role or another opportunity at OS. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that people may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any during the application process.

Skills required for this role

AI Architecture, Architecture Development, Architecture Reviews, Cloud‑Native Architecture, Design, Engineering Architecture, Enterprise Architecture Framework, IT Architecture, Leadership, People Performance Management, Platform Engineering, Solution Architecture, Technology Development, Technology Governance, Technology Roadmap

Ordnance Survey provides national mapping services for Great Britain and is the world’s most trusted geospatial partner. Our location data and expertise has helped governments make smarter decisions, businesses gain valuable data insight, and everyone experience the world outside for over 225 years. From laptops to hilltops, blue lights to street lights and congestion to relaxation – our location expertise shows the world how to get to a better place.