Principal Architect

ZipRecruiter; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A renowned financial services firm is looking for multiple Principal Architects to drive their architecture-led transformation. In this hybrid role, you'll influence significant technology shifts and collaborate with senior leadership while ensuring alignment with business strategy for long-term outcomes.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in enterprise or solution architecture within regulated sectors.
• Strong expertise in cloud and modern architecture patterns.
• Proven ability to establish governance and influence senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute architectural strategy balancing modernisation with business needs.
• Guide the transition from mainframe systems to microservices.
• Establish architectural standards ensuring consistency across domains.

Skills

Cloud architecture

Enterprise architecture

Governance

Communication

Job description

Job Description

Principal Architect

La Fosse have been engaged by a renowned financial services firm to recruit multiple Principal Architects to join their growing function and be aligned to each of their value streams. There's a real opportunity to shape the future technology landscape in an organisation that is undergoing major transformation, and you'll have play a key part in the decisions that are made here.

Why Join?

• You'll have direct access to senior leadership (at CxO level), with the authority to get things done!
• High visibility and influence—architecture is seen as a critical business driver, and stakeholders are invested in making it architecture-led.
• There's a shift from project to product model—designing for long-term outcomes, not just short-term fixes.
• Time spent on meaningful work: selling ideas, negotiating, and doing the right thing, with significant impact on the future of the business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Architecture Leadership: Define and execute architectural strategy, balancing modernisation with immediate business needs.
• Legacy to Cloud Transition: Guide the shift from mainframe/monolithic systems to microservices, API-led, event-driven architectures.
• Governance: Establish architectural standards and frameworks that ensure consistency and innovation across domains.
• Collaboration: Partner with stakeholders, business leaders, and technical teams to ensure alignment with business strategy and long-term value.
• Coaching: Support engineers in delivering deployable, scalable solutions.

Required Experience:

• Extensive experience in enterprise or solution architecture within regulated sectors (e.g., financial services, insurance, pensions).
• Strong expertise in cloud and modern architecture patterns
• Proven ability to establish governance, influence senior stakeholders, and translate strategy into action.
• Excellent communication skills and a passion for delivering long-term customer value.

This is a hybrid role, requiring 50% time working onsite in the client's Edinburgh office.