Senior Architect - API

Proactive Appointments; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm in the United Kingdom is looking for a Senior Architect specializing in API-led transformations. The role involves shaping architectural strategies, guiding API-centric solution designs, and collaborating with stakeholders. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in enterprise architecture and strong technical skills in Java, .NET, and middleware technologies. The position offers a flexible hybrid working model and a comprehensive rewards package.

Benefits

Flexible hybrid working model

Comprehensive rewards package

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in enterprise and solution architecture.
• Proven track record designing API-centric solutions (REST, SOAP, GraphQL).
• Strong understanding of integration architectures, microservices, and services-based delivery models.
• Solid knowledge of Java, .NET, SQL, and SOA environments.
• Hands-on experience with middleware technologies and cloud-native platforms.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Insurance or financial services experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Shape and execute architectural strategies and roadmaps.
• Champion an API-first design approach.
• Define and evolve event-driven architectures.
• Provide technical leadership for large-scale applications.
• Influence strategic decisions across cloud-native, SaaS, and on-premises environments.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders and delivery teams.

Skills

Enterprise architecture experience

API-centric solutions design

Integration architectures knowledge

Microservices understanding

Middleware technologies experience

Stakeholder management skills

Tools

Java

.NET

SQL

Spring

Hibernate

WebSphere

JBoss

Datapower

Job description

Senior Architect - API

Hybrid.

This is a career-defining role for an architect who wants to make a real impact. You'll join an innovative architecture team at the forefront of AI adoption, platform modernisation, and API-led transformation within the insurance industry.

As Senior Architect, you'll provide technical leadership on complex, business-critical systems - guiding the design and delivery of scalable, secure, and future-ready solutions. Your expertise will be key to driving a shift towards services-based architectures, automation through APIs, and asynchronous, event-driven integration models.

What You'll Do

• Shape and execute architectural strategies and roadmaps aligned to a major enterprise transformation programme.
• Champion an API-first design approach, guiding the development and governance of services-based architectures and reusable integration patterns.
• Define and evolve event-driven architectures and messaging strategies to power automation and connectivity across the enterprise.
• Provide technical leadership for large-scale, complex applications - from conceptual design to performance optimisation.
• Influence strategic decisions across cloud-native, SaaS, on-premises environments.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders, delivery teams, and other architects to ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Support proof-of-concepts, vendor evaluations, and the introduction of new technologies into the architecture landscape.

What We’re Looking For

• Extensive experience in enterprise and solution architecture, ideally within large-scale, regulated environments.
• Proven track record designing API-centric solutions (REST, SOAP, GraphQL) and implementing event-driven patterns.
• Strong understanding of integration architectures, microservices, and services-based delivery models.
• Solid knowledge of Java, .NET, SQL, and SOA environments, plus experience with modern frameworks (Spring, Hibernate, etc.).
• Hands‑on experience with middleware technologies (WebSphere, JBoss, Datapower) and cloud-native platforms.
• Familiarity with SaaS platforms and asynchronous messaging solutions.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Insurance or financial services experience (including London Market) is a plus.

Why Join?

• Shape the architectural direction of a major digital transformation programme.
• Work with the latest AI, automation, and API technologies in a global business.
• Collaborate with a forward-thinking, supportive architecture community.
• Enjoy a flexible hybrid working model and a comprehensive rewards package.

Due to the volume of applications received for positions, it will not be possible to respond to all applications and only applicants who are considered suitable for interview will be contacted.