Lead Solution Architect - Networks

Lloyds Bank plc; Wellington; Hybrid; GBP 93,000 - 109,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 15%

Annual bonus

Share schemes

Discounted shopping

30 days holiday

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

Lloyds Banking Group is seeking a Lead Solution Architect - Networks to shape the architecture behind a vast hybrid technology estate, spanning data centres, cloud, security and network services. The role focuses on designing resilient, secure network patterns and guiding major transformations while collaborating across engineering, cyber security and platform teams.

You will lead architecture activities for data centre, cloud and campus connectivity, ensuring alignment with enterprise standards

Qualifications

• Proven experience crafting network architectures for large, regulated organisations.
• Broad knowledge of data centre, cloud, campus, office, branch, WAN, internet, and partner connectivity.
• Ability to design, govern and assure network control architectures with security controls and observability mapping.
• Experience producing architecture work including target state architectures, ADRs, standards and governance submissions.

Responsibilities

• Lead solution architecture activities for the Bank network connecting data centres, hosting locations, offices, branches and external services.
• Define reusable connectivity patterns and guide migration approaches for major transformation activity.
• Collaborate across architecture, delivery and engineering to align network and security changes with enterprise standards.

Skills

Networking architecture

Cloud & multi-cloud

Security & resilience

Architecture governance

Stakeholder collaboration

People management

Network automation

Tools

Cisco

Job description

End Date Tuesday 13 October 2026

Salary Range £92,701 - £109,060

We support flexible working - click here for more information on flexible working options

Flexible Working Options Hybrid Working, Job Share

Job Description

JOB TITLE: Lead Solution Architect - Networks

SALARY: £92,701-£109,060

LOCATION(S): Leeds or Manchester

HOURS: Full-time

WORKING PATTERN: Our work style is hybrid, which involves spending at least two days per week, or 40% of our time, at one of our office sites

About this opportunity

Want to solve some of the most complex networking and connectivity challenges in UK financial services? You'll help shape the architecture behind a vast hybrid technology estate, influencing how cloud, data centre, security and network services evolve to support millions of customers and thousands of colleagues every day!

As a Lead Network Architect, you'll sit within Core Infrastructure and help design the network, security and infrastructure delivery patterns that keep our platforms connected, protected and ready for change. Our team works closely with engineering, cyber security, enterprise architecture, platform teams and suppliers to turn complex business needs into practical designs that support the Bank and its customers.

What you'll be doing:

• You'll lead solution architecture activities for the Bank network connecting data centres, hosting locations, offices, branches and external services making sure our designs are resilient, secure and aligned to enterprise standards. You'll define reusable connectivity patterns, guide migration approaches for major transformation activity and help teams reach well-grounded conclusions regarding the solutions that form the Bank's network services including routing, domain name services, load balancing, network traffic flow control and application deployment.
• You'll also bring people together across architecture, delivery and engineering, building trusted relationships and helping colleagues navigate ambiguity. That means connecting strategic architecture decisions with how network and security change is designed, assured, deployed and operated, while keeping risk, compliance and operational readiness front of mind
• You'll be joining a collaborative team that values curiosity, clear thinking and shared learning. There'll be opportunities to grow your architecture skills, work on high profile infrastructure change and help shape how network architecture capability develops across the wider function.

Why join us?

We're transforming at pace. Investing billions in our people, data and tech to change the way we meet the needs of our 28 million customers. We're growing, and we'd love you to be part of the journey.

What we're looking for:

We're looking for someone who can combine deep networking expertise with strong architectural judgement, influencing skills and a pragmatic approach to delivering secure, resilient and scalable technology solutions across a complex enterprise environment.

• Demonstrable experience crafting network architectures across large-scale, regulated organisations, with a solid focus on resilience, security, availability and operational sustainability.
• Broad knowledge of modern networking technologies spanning data centre, cloud, campus, office, branch, wide area, internet and partner connectivity domains. This should include software-defined networking, hybrid and multi-cloud networking, network automation, and contemporary connectivity and security technologies from leading vendors such as Cisco and others.
• Ability to design, govern and assure network control architectures, including traffic segmentation, access control, firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention, network detection and response, encryption, policy enforcement, Observablity and security control mapping.
• Experience producing and assuring architecture work including target state architectures, option assessments, high and low-level developments, architecture decision records, standards, patterns and governance submissions.
• Collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to bring together architecture, systems design, cyber defence, platform, delivery and service teams to make informed decisions, resolve complex challenges and drive successful outcomes.
• A track record of balancing strategic direction with practical delivery, helping organisations evolve their network capabilities whilst maintaining secure and reliable services.
• Line management skills including mentoring and management of an architecture / engineering team.

We know that great talent comes from many backgrounds. Whilst this job advert may reference specific years of experience, we recognise that skills are developed in many ways, so if you have relevant, transferable experience, we encourage you to apply.

This is a place for you

Our ambition is to be the leading UK business for diversity, equity and inclusion supporting our customers, colleagues and communities, and we're committed to creating an environment in which everyone can thrive, learn and develop.

We were one of the first major organisations to set goals on diversity in senior roles, create a menopause health package, and a dedicated Working with Cancer Initiative.

We offer reasonable workplace adjustments for colleagues with disabilities, including flexibility in office attendance, location and working patterns. And, as a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee interviews for a fair and proportionate number of applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role with a disability, long-term health or neurodivergent condition through the Disability Confident Scheme.

We provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to reduce or remove barriers. Just let us know what you need.

We also offer a wide-ranging benefits package, which includes:

• A generous pension contribution of up to 15%
• An annual performance-related bonus
• Share schemes including free shares
• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
• 30 days' holiday, with bank holidays on top
• A range of wellbeing initiatives and generous parental leave policies

At Lloyds Banking Group, we're driven by a clear purpose; to help Britain prosper. Across the Group, our colleagues are focused on making a difference to customers, businesses and communities. With us you'll have a key role to play in shaping the financial services of the future, whilst the scale and reach of our Group means you'll have many opportunities to learn, grow and develop.

We keep your data safe. So, we'll only ever ask you to provide confidential or sensitive information once you have formally been invited along to an interview or accepted a verbal offer to join us which is when we run our background checks. We'll always explain what we need and why, with any request coming from a trusted Lloyds Banking Group person.

We're focused on creating a values-led culture and are committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the customers and communities we serve. Together we're building a truly inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference.