Director of Architecture
(Cloud-Native, Prototyping, Agentic AI) – UK-Based / Remote with Leadership Interaction
I am searching for a Director of Architecture for my client, a global B2B SaaS company operating in the fraud prevention and financial technology space. Their secure, high-scale platforms help financial institutions and enterprises protect against fraud, manage risk, and respond to emerging threats in real time.
This is a strategic and hands-on architecture role at the centre of their product evolution and innovation strategy. The successful candidate will work across three major platform areas:
* A mature platform used by large-scale enterprise clients in regulated environments
* A cloud-native product offering real-time fraud prevention and risk analysis
* A new machine learning platform being developed to support AI-native capabilities and data science experimentation
The role is split evenly between:
* 50%: Modernising and supporting the existing architecture estate
* 50%: Driving innovation through PoCs, technical prototyping, and exploration of LLMs and agentic AI use cases
You’ll work closely with the CTO, Chief Architect, and Product and Engineering leadership to define platform direction, build and validate new technical concepts, and help translate AI opportunities into monetizable product features. This is a highly collaborative role requiring both architectural strategy and hands-on technical experimentation.
If you're an experienced architect with a track record of prototyping complex systems, working at scale, and exploring AI-led innovation, this is an opportunity to join a well-funded, product-led company at a pivotal point in its evolution.
What You’ll Be Doing
* Define and maintain enterprise and product architecture strategy and roadmaps
* Provide architectural leadership across a diverse platform landscape (legacy, modern, and new builds)
* Build hands-on prototypes and PoCs to validate emerging technologies, particularly in the AI/LLM space
* Work on AI/LLM and agentic AI initiatives (currently 10–15% of the role) as part of broader innovation efforts
* Guide the evolution of a new cloud-native machine learning platform with a focus on model orchestration, experimentation, and scalability
* Champion modern architectural patterns - cloud-native, microservices, domain-driven design, and event-driven systems
* Influence architectural standards, governance, and decision-making across product and engineering
* Collaborate cross-functionally with stakeholders in Product, Engineering, and Security to ensure cohesive platform direction
* Mentor senior engineers and architects; optionally manage 2-3 direct reports depending on candidate profile
* Engage in client-facing conversations where prototypes or innovations are being co-created or showcased
Must-Have Experience
* 12+ years in software engineering or architecture, with 5+ years in architecture leadership
* Proven experience designing and delivering large-scale, distributed, cloud-based systems
* Hands-on ability to prototype technical solutions and lead PoC efforts (not just architectural strategy)
* Demonstrable interest or experience with agentic AI / LLMs - including personal projects, PoCs, or integrated product features
* Track record of translating prototypes into commercially adopted features or measurable business impact
* Deep knowledge of architecture patterns such as microservices, event-driven design, and API-first approaches
* Cloud-native expertise on AWS, Azure or GCP
* Background in fraud prevention, financial services, cybersecurity, or other regulated environments
* Strong stakeholder influence and communication skills - able to translate complex concepts for senior leadership
Ideal Candidate Background
* Could currently be a Director of Architecture, Principal Engineer, or Staff Architect seeking greater product/platform ownership
* Comfortable working across both legacy uplift and AI-native product innovation
* Has previously built or contributed to PoCs that were monetised or adopted commercially
* Understands how to apply agentic AI practically - e.g., using LLMs to optimise decision-making, triage, or product logic
* Pragmatic and curious — understands that real innovation must also create customer or commercial value
* UK-based preferred for in-person interaction with senior tech leadership (flexible for the right candidate)
Success in Year One Looks Like:
* Delivered 1–2 prototypes or patents aligned with commercial strategy
* Helped shape the company’s approach to AI integration and platform evolution
* Contributed directly to innovation that supports revenue growth or operational scale