Principal System Architect

Sky; Wales; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media and telecommunications company in the UK is seeking a Software Engineering Lead. In this role, you will define technology strategy and engage with teams to drive innovative projects. We require someone with significant experience in technology architecture and a strong background in agile methodologies. A comprehensive benefits package is offered, including private healthcare and generous pensions. Join us to shape the future of digital services at Sky.

Benefits

Sky Q TV service

Generous pension

Private healthcare

Discounted mobile and broadband

Qualifications

• Experience working within an agile framework at scale.
• Proven experience in technology architecture and delivery lifecycles.
• Significant experience in a senior architecture or engineering role.

Responsibilities

• Define enabler features to drive the technology roadmap.
• Own the technology strategy and systems architecture.
• Engage with architecture, engineering, and product teams.

Skills

Agile methodologies

Strong communication skills

Technology architecture understanding

Collaboration skills

Team management

Systems design experience

Job description

We believe in better. And we make it happen. Better content. Better products. And better careers. Working in Tech, Product or Data at Sky is about building the next and the new. From broadband to broadcast, streaming to mobile, SkyQ to Sky Glass, we never stand still. We optimise and innovate. We turn big ideas into the products, content and services millions of people love. And we do it all right here at Sky.

This role sits within Enablement Platforms in UK&I Technology reporting into the Head of Software Engineering.

What you’ll do

• Define enabler features to drive the technology roadmap for your agile release train.
• Own the technology strategy and vision and systems architecture runway for your agile release train, informed by the wider technology strategy.
• Engage with wider architecture, engineering and product teams to gain consensus on approach. Participate in relevant technology forums and governance.
• Ensure system architecture is ready for PI planning and work closely with engineering teams to ensure understanding of the capability changes proposed.
• Work closely with solution architecture and engineering to ensure that change to shared capabilities is carefully coordinated and well communicated.
• Take accountability for strategic initiatives, shared capabilities, and cross-cutting objectives driven from the platform portfolio, while ensuring alignment and effective coordination within the respective product portfolio.
• Work closely with engineering teams throughout each PI to assist in the delivery of the work.
• Support the breakdown of capabilities into features.

What you’ll bring

• Experience working within an agile framework, at scale with demonstrable experience of how to align systems architecture considerations with agile principles and practices.
• Experience of strong and close communication, collaboration, and team skills with both technology and business stakeholders.
• A deep understanding and proven experience of technology architecture and frameworks including technology change and delivery lifecycles.
• Broad and varied technology experience across architectural domains (e.g. data, infrastructure, integration, security, customer management, digital, app).
• Significant experience in a systems and engineering design background.
• Significant experience in a senior architecture or engineering role.
• Experience of customer relationship management systems architecture including customer engagement, commerce and fulfilment domains. Line management experience or a willingness to support direct reports.
• Nice to have: Experience in media and/or telecoms industry.

Team overview

UK&I Technology – Ground‑breaking projects, innovative tech, top innovation. You’ll design, develop and deliver digital services for millions of customers across the UK, delivering technology roadmaps for Sky Glass and other core services.

The rewards

We offer a comprehensive benefits package:

• Sky Q TV service
• Exclusive Sky Glass rate
• Generous pension
• Private healthcare
• Discounted mobile and broadband
• Wide range of VIP rewards and experiences

Inclusion & how you’ll work

We are a Disability Confident Employer and welcome people of all abilities. We support reasonable adjustments and embrace hybrid working – a mix of office and remote time.

Your office space

Locations: Livingston Watermark House (shuttle bus to Livingston North station), Osterley Campus (close to Syon Lane), and Leeds tech hub (near Leeds train station).

We’d love to hear from you

Inventive, forward‑thinking minds come together to work in Tech, Product and Data at Sky. We celebrate diversity and encourage applications from all candidates. If your application is successful, we will ask you to complete a criminal record check, and we may withdraw the offer depending on the role and your criminal history.