Strategic Enterprise Architect - Hybrid, Azure

Guardian Financial Services; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Medical Insurance

Pension Scheme

Cycle to Work

Travel Insurance

Gym Memberships

GP access

25 days holiday

Job summary

Guardian is seeking an Enterprise Architect on a six‑month fixed term basis in Reading. You will shape and validate the architectural roadmap, drive governance and lead multi‑vendor initiatives to simplify and modernize our Azure cloud platform.

You will partner with DevOps, developers, analysts and business stakeholders, communicating at CxO level and ensuring compliance with regulations and risk requirements. This role offers hybrid working and strong growth potential.

Qualifications

• Experience in UK Financial Services, especially Life and Protection.
• Proven ability to develop and manage architectural roadmaps.
• Establish and drive architecture governance processes.
• Design and transition to evolutionary architecture supporting multiple workstreams.
• Lead complex multi‑vendor solutions with technical direction.
• Collaborate with DevOps, developers, analysts and stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively with CxO and board level teams.
• Understand regulatory requirements and risk management in architecture.
• Consider future needs: efficiency, simplicity, agility, maintainability.

Responsibilities

• Validate architectural findings and help plan next steps.
• Plan sequencing of work to simplify and modernize the architecture.
• Establish governance and maintain architecture documentation.
• Lead cross‑functional teams across vendors and platforms.
• Ensure security, continuity and disaster recovery considerations are addressed.
• Work with governance forums and senior stakeholders.

Skills

UK Financial Services

Architecture roadmaps

Architecture governance

Evolutionary architecture

Stakeholder management

Tech leadership

DevOps collaboration

CxO communication

Education

TOGAF certification

Bachelors in CS/engineering

Tools

Azure

JIRA

Confluence

Github

Job description

Guardian is seeking an Enterprise Architect on a six‑month fixed term basis in Reading. You will shape and validate the architectural roadmap, drive governance and lead multi‑vendor initiatives to simplify and modernize our Azure cloud platform.

You will partner with DevOps, developers, analysts and business stakeholders, communicating at CxO level and ensuring compliance with regulations and risk requirements. This role offers hybrid working and strong growth potential.