Head of Digital Network Architecture

Summary

Location:

Birmingham, Leeds, London, Manchester, Peterborough, Reading

Job Family:
Digital & Technology

Job Type: Full Time

Posted Date: 09-Feb-2026

#: 71610

We have a great new role for a Head of Digital Network Architecture to join our Digital Networks Transformation team
. You will play a pivotal role responsible for driving agility, scalability, and efficiency across our product, platform, and data teams in PTP & CTO. You will be tasked with defining and implementing architectural strategies, practices, and methodologies that enable rapid development, continuous integration, and data‑driven decision‑making. You will define and implement architectural guide‑rails to enable the squads to deliver quality at source and r leadership will guide our teams in meeting the demands of the ever‑evolving telecommunications landscape.

We need a candidate with architectural breadth covering fixed and/or mobile networking technologies, modern architecture patterns, opensource initiatives, cloud technologies and data architecture.

Experience of
AI and machine learning techniques would be highly advantageous.

You will manage a team of Architects and run an Architecture as a Service (AaaS) function within CTO that will provide best‑in‑class architectural leadership, strategy and strategic plans, security and privacy guidance, lead innovation within the organisation. You will ensure the continuous improvement of products, platforms and data whilst optimising cost and minimising technical debt. This function will play a key role in the entire lifecycle of solutions from concept to commercialisation and help shape and deliver our Network End State Architecture.

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to the architecture team, ensuring the development of scalable, secure, and innovative digital products and platforms. Guide product, platform and data initiatives from “concept to commercialisation”.
• Document, define and architect current state, end state and transition state architectures for products, platforms and data estate in Insights and Performance. Own, contribute and shape VMO2’s Network End State Architecture.
• Ensure that all digital products and platforms adhere to the highest security and privacy standards and comply with relevant industry regulations. Introduce modern cybersecurity techniques and best practices to our internal data, products and platforms landscape.
• Review the architecture and design elements of products and platforms and sign off on the overall design, working in close collaboration with our Digital Principal Tech lead and Technical Enablement Managers.
• Partner with Digital Principal Tech lead and Technical Enablement Managers to analyse and identify technical solutions to understand and challenge requirements, developing efficient and resilient systems.
• Own multi‑year architectural roadmaps, provide guidance, influence and input into the A  (Annual) & Q  (quarterly) PI planning sessions.
• Create and communicate architectural blueprints and guidelines that should enable technical delivery squads, not hinder them, by providing clear guidance, rather than introducing a delay of being an approval gate.

The UK’s fastest broadband network. The nation’s best‑loved mobile brand. And, one of the UK's biggest companies too. We put our customers first, making life simpler, smoother, and more joyful. With big ambitions and a brilliant team, we’re building a more connected future for everyone.

We’re a flexible‑first organisation, because we know people do their best work when they have choice and clarity. To support meaningful collaboration, we ask everyone to spend at least eight days each month connecting in person. That doesn’t just mean time in the office, it could be team meetings, offsites, volunteering days, cross‑functional projects, or away days – anywhere meaningful collaboration happens.

What matters is making those moments purposeful, so when we come together, it really counts.

Virgin Media O2 is an equal opportunities employer and we're working hard to remove bias and barriers…