Software Architect

Matchtech; West of England; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus

Pension

Flexible working

Enhanced parental leave

Site facilities

Healthcare cash plan

Job summary

Matchtech is seeking an experienced Software Architect to own the full software architecture of complex, safety-critical systems. You will work with delivery teams to define, govern and evolve the architecture, including interfaces, ensuring the product meets demanding requirements.

You will identify design drivers such as real-time performance, safety, security and reusability, document architectural decisions, mentor engineers, and influence the technology strategy across software teams.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Software Architect or in a senior technical design role.
• Strong knowledge of modern and established software architecture techniques and design patterns.
• Experience with model-based engineering.
• Ability to define, communicate, and defend architectural solutions at multiple levels.
• Experience mentoring engineers and collaborating with software delivery teams.
• Clear communication skills to influence technical stakeholders and internal customers.
• Advocacy for sound software engineering practices such as good design principles and CI.
• The ability to assess and explain architectural trade-offs with focus on design rationale.
• A solid understanding of software abstraction layers and the full software stack.
• Experience defining and influencing tools, frameworks, and technologies.
• A strong programming background, ideally with experience in more than one programming language.

Responsibilities

• Design activities and formal design reviews
• Cross-disciplinary technical alignment
• Mentoring and technical guidance across software teams
• Shape the future of software engineering within the organisation
• Spearhead adoption of new technologies, methods, and tools
• Contribute to long-term architectural planning and obsolescence management

Skills

Software architecture

Mentoring engineers

Communication skills

Design patterns

Model-based engineering

Multiple programming languages

Job description

Software Architect

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Software Architect to take ownership of the full software architecture of complex, safety‑critical systems. In this role, you will work closely with software delivery teams to define, govern, and evolve the structural and temporal architecture, including all internal and external interfaces, ensuring the product fully meets demanding requirements.

You will identify, document, and own the key design drivers for the software solution‑such as real‑time performance, safety, security, user experience, simplicity, reusability, and flexibility-balancing technical trade‑offs with clear design rationale.

A core part of the role is producing derived and emergent requirements, explicitly capturing architectural assumptions and decision rationale. You will define the architecture to a level of detail where implementation choices do not compromise architectural integrity.

Collaboration & Influence

Collaboration is critical to success in this role. You will work closely with other Architects, Technical Specialists, and key engineering stakeholders, contributing to and supporting:

• Design activities and formal design reviews
• Cross‑disciplinary technical alignment
• Mentoring and technical guidance across software teams

You will also have the opportunity to shape the future of software engineering within the organisation by influencing:

• Software engineering technology strategy
• Software product lines and reuse strategies
• Adoption of new technologies, methods, and tools
• Obsolescence management and long‑term architectural planning

This includes participation in special interest groups and communities of interest, helping drive continuous improvement and technical excellence.

Why Join Us?

You will work with technology at the forefront of complex and safety‑critical system design, contributing to the development of safe, secure, and highly reliable products that customers can depend upon. This role offers the chance to apply your architectural expertise to challenging, real‑world engineering problems where quality, robustness, and innovation truly matter.

What We're Looking For

You will be a strong technical practitioner with the confidence and experience to make critical architectural decisions, alongside the communication skills to influence and align technical teams.

Essential skills and experience include:

• Proven experience as a Software Architect or in a senior technical design role
• Strong knowledge of modern and established software architecture techniques and design patterns
• Experience with model‑based engineering
• Ability to define, communicate, and defend architectural solutions at multiple levels
• Experience mentoring engineers and collaborating closely with software delivery teams
• Clear and accurate communication skills, with the ability to influence technical stakeholders and internal customers
• Advocacy for sound software engineering practices such as good design principles and continuous integration
• The ability to assess and clearly explain architectural trade‑offs, with a strong focus on design rationale
• A solid understanding of software abstraction layers and the full software stack
• Experience defining and influencing tools, frameworks, and technologies
• A strong programming background, ideally with experience in more than one programming language

Employee benefits that we can offer you:

• Company bonus

• Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%

• Flexible working: We welcome applicants who are looking for flexible working arrangements

• Enhanced parental leave

• Facilities: Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more…

• Healthcare Cash Plan: The Healthcare Cash Plan benefit provides the option to claim cash back on everyday healthcare expenses such as optical, dental, health and wellbeing and more.