Lead Architect

Up to £115,000 + bonus and benefits | Manchester

Five days onsite | SC eligibility required

This is a genuinely senior architecture leadership role—not a single-domain or purely project-focused position.

You’ll act as the technical authority for a large, complex managed-services account, taking ownership of its end-to-end architecture and helping shape its future technology direction.

Working closely with the account leadership team, you’ll govern technical change, protect architectural integrity and provide trusted advice to senior client stakeholders. You’ll also lead and support Domain Architects and Engineers working across cloud, infrastructure, security, networks, workplace and other core technology services.

Due to the secure nature of the environment, this role requires you to work onsite in Manchester, five days per week.

Responsibilities

• Owning the end-to-end architecture of the managed-services estate
• Governing technical change and key architecture decisions
• Defining technology strategy, roadmaps and future-state architecture
• Leading Domain Architects and providing direction to engineering teams
• Building trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders
• Balancing technical quality with contractual, commercial and operational requirements
• Driving resilience, modernisation and continuous service improvement
• Ensuring architectural decisions support the stability and development of live services

Experience you will bring includes:

You’ll be an established Lead, Chief or Enterprise Architect with:

• Experience governing large, complex technology estates
• Broad knowledge across multiple infrastructure and technology domains
• Strong architecture governance and technical leadership credentials
• Experience leading architects and influencing engineering teams
• Excellent senior stakeholder and customer-engagement skills
• Commercial awareness gained within managed services or similarly complex live-service environments
• A technical or engineering background before progressing into architecture leadership

Previous managed-services account leadership is highly desirable, although we’ll also consider senior architecture leaders from complex enterprise environments who can demonstrate broad estate ownership, governance and strong commercial judgement.

Clearance and location requirements

You must be a sole UK National, eligible to obtain SC clearance and able to work onsite in Manchester, five days per week
.

Salary:
Up to £115,000 + bonus and benefits

If you’ve moved beyond individual projects or technology towers and are ready to take technical ownership of an entire client estate, get in touch for a confidential conversation.