Principal/Domain Architect - Modernisation & Transformation

TN United Kingdom; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative firm is seeking a Principal Architect to lead the modernization of its technology estate. This role focuses on transforming legacy platforms and aligning architectural decisions with member value and regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in enterprise architecture, particularly within financial services, and will be passionate about cloud technologies. You will guide the transition to microservices and ensure sustainable cloud adoption, enhancing interoperability through APIs and event-driven architectures. Join a forward-thinking company that values diversity and offers a fulfilling workplace.

Benefits

28 days annual leave

Up to 14% pension matching

Private medical insurance

Qualifications

• Experience in enterprise or solution architecture in regulated industries.
• Knowledge of mainframe modernization and migration strategies.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the technology estate balancing modernization with business needs.
• Develop a responsible cloud migration strategy transitioning workloads to Azure and AWS.

Skills

Enterprise Architecture

Solution Architecture

Cloud Architectures (Azure, AWS, GCP)

Microservices

API-led Integration

Mainframe Modernization

Architecture Governance

Excellent Communication Skills

Tools

TOGAF

Zachman Framework

C4 Model

Job description

Job Title: Principal/Domain Architect - Modernisation & Transformation

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: Edinburgh OR Alderley Edge

Working style: Hybrid 50% home/office based

As a Principal Architect, you will lead the transformation of our technology estate, ensuring stability and trust for our members. Your role involves modernising legacy platforms, aligning architectural decisions with long-term member value, regulatory compliance, and responsible digital transformation.

The ideal candidate will have experience establishing architectural governance, understanding of top technology vendors, and working across complex organizations. You should be eager to improve and adapt in a fast-paced environment.

You will be aligned to business areas and technology platforms across Pensions, Protection, Long Term Savings, Infrastructure, Cloud Technologies, and Operational Data.

If you are passionate about cloud technologies and want to impact the future of financial services, we want to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

1. Architecture Leadership: Define and evolve our technology estate, balancing modernisation with business needs.
2. Monolith to Microservices Transition: Decompose legacy applications using DDD, event-driven architectures, and modern patterns for microservices migration.
3. Sustainable Cloud Adoption: Develop and execute a responsible cloud migration strategy, transitioning workloads to Azure and AWS using appropriate patterns.
4. Data and Integration: Enhance interoperability through APIs, messaging, and event-driven architectures.
5. Architecture Standards & Governance: Set and enforce architectural guardrails, frameworks, and best practices.
6. Collaboration & Coaching: Work with engineering teams to implement architecture and educate stakeholders.
7. Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with business and tech leadership to align roadmaps and ensure value-driven modernization.
8. Member-Focused Architecture: Ensure resilience, compliance, and benefits for members through architectural decisions.
9. Legacy & Modern Integration: Guide the transition from monolithic to modern, API-led, event-driven architectures.

Key Skills & Experience

1. Experience in enterprise or solution architecture within regulated industries, especially financial services.
2. Knowledge of mainframe modernization and migration strategies.
3. Expertise in cloud architectures (Azure, AWS, GCP).
4. Understanding of microservices, DDD, event-driven systems, and API-led integration.
5. Familiarity with architectural frameworks (TOGAF, Zachman, C4).
6. Experience in architecture governance in complex environments.
7. Excellent communication skills for leading discussions.

About Royal London

We’re the UK’s largest mutual life, pensions, and investment company, offering protection, savings, and asset management products.

Our People Promise emphasizes an inclusive, responsible, enjoyable, and fulfilling workplace, underpinned by our values: Empowered, Trustworthy, Collaborate, Achieve.

We offer benefits like 28 days annual leave, up to 14% pension matching, and private medical insurance.

Inclusion, Diversity, and Belonging

We are an inclusive employer, valuing diverse backgrounds and perspectives, which enrich our skills and culture.