Lead Software Architect

Are you enthusiastic about shaping technology that delivers impact at scale? As we continue to evolveour digital platforms to support learners, lecturers and researchers around the world, we are looking to appoint an experienced and motivated Lead Software Architect to join our Academic Technology group here at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a world-leading academic publisher and assessment organisation and a proud part of the University of Cambridge.

This is a fantastic opportunity to play a meaningful role in shaping the technical foundations of globally used digital products, ensuring they remain scalable, secure and fit for the future. About the role AsLead Software Architect, you will be accountable for owning the software architecture and engineering delivery across a product or platform vertical within our Academic Technology group. Workingat the intersection of solution architecture, product and engineering, you will translate solution designs and product priorities into well-architected, shippable software, ensuring that technical direction is sound and delivery is sustained from planning through to production and live operation.

You will provide technical leadership across the full engineering lifecycle, including backend and frontend architecture, infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines and operational readiness. While this is not primarily a hands-on coding role, it requires a strong engineering background and the ability to review code, challenge design decisions, unblock engineers and engage directly where it adds value. A core aspect of therole is leading the adoption of AI-enhanced engineering practices.

You will shape how teams use AI-assisted tooling across planning, development and quality assurance, focusing on responsible, practical use that measurably improves delivery quality, throughput and maintainability. You will work closely with Solution Architects, Product Owners and UX colleagues to ensure requirements are technically feasible, well specified and correctly decomposed, acting as the key technical bridge between solution intent and engineering execution.

Additional responsibilities and accountabilities:
Owning the software architecture for an assigned product or platform area, ensuring solutions support both current delivery and future scalability. Driving engineering delivery from planning through to production, translating solution designs into implementable engineering plans with clear scope, dependencies and sequencing. Providing technical leadership and direction to distributed engineering teams, including Far shore, near shore and contract resources. Removing technical blockers, making pragmatic trade-off decisions and keeping delivery on track.

Defining and upholding technical standards, patterns and engineering conventions. Leading the adoption of AI-assisted software development practices and tooling across engineering teams. Owning operational readiness, including infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines, monitoring and developer experience. Evaluating technology and tooling choices, including build-vs-buy decisions, with clear and defensible rationale. This position has been classified as a hybrid role, requiring the selected candidate to typically spend 40-60% of their time collaborating and connecting face-to-face at their dedicated location.

Aside from our hybrid principles, other flexible working requests will be considered from the first day of employment, including other work arrangements should yourequireadjustments due to a disability or long-term health condition. About You As a senior software architecture or engineering leader, you will have a proven record of owning complex platforms or digital products end-to-end. You will be confident operating across technical and non-technical audiences, bringing sound judgement, strong communication skills and a pragmatic approach to decision-making.

You will have experience translating product and solution designs into engineering delivery, leading distributed teams, and balancing technical quality with delivery pace in complex environments. If you meet the above minimum requirements, we encourage you to…