Description
ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY
We'reon the hunt for a Lead Solutions Architect who skilfully blends both a safe pair of hands and a futurist’s perspective. Someone energised by change, fluent in complexity, and motivated by the challenge of shaping a bankthat’sbuilt not just for today - but for the decades ahead.
Thisisn’ta “keep the lights on” architecture role.It’saboutsetting direction,unlocking innovation, andorchestrating complex, high impact architecturesthat define how we serve colleagues and customers through our next chapter of digital evolution.
As a Lead Solutions Architect,you’llplay a pivotal role in designing and shaping how the Colleague Lab, part of the Colleague & Customer Services Platform, delivers transformative experiences across our colleague-facing and direct‑to‑consumer channels.You’llhelp us build modern, scalable, AI‑enabled journeys that feel effortless for customers, and relevant for the business.
You’llbring the thought leadership to imaginewhat’spossible, the technical credibility to make it real, and the relationship building strength to bring others with you.
WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING
You’lloperateat the heart of the Customer & Colleague Services Platform, within the Insurance, Pensions & Investments division of Scottish Widows, partnering closely with Product Owners, EngineeringTeamsand Enterprise Architecture. Your influence will guide several multi-functional feature teams,locatedacross Edinburgh, Leeds,Bristoland Hyderabad - helping them balance delivery pace with strategic architectural vision.
Your responsibilities will include:
1. Defining Target Solution Architectures for APIs & microservices,CCaaStelephony, colleague tooling,roboticsand AI powered automation, agentic, and much more
2. Designing how AI can amplify what we do -not as hype, but as thoughtful, responsible, value creating capability (Nice to Have)
3. Simplifying and modernising our service driven architecture, so we can scale,digitiseand differentiate at pace (Key)
4. Defining and crafting the Platform’s data strategy for scaled actionable intelligence (Key)
5. Working with teams to modernise and optimise our back-office operations and efficiency
We’reevolving our technology landscape to be more resilient, more adaptive, and more human-centred.You’llbe a key architect of that journey.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
You’llexcel here if you combinearchitectural depth,strategic clarity, and an ability toexcite and inspire through storytelling. Specifically,we’relooking for:
6. Experience leading complex change across multiple interdependent systems
7. Deep knowledge of web and API architectures - microservices, CQRS, publish subscribe, and event‑subscribe, and event‑driven patterns
8. Experience designing for security,reliabilityand scale
9. Strong understanding of authentication/single sign on (OAuth) and encryption (in transit and at‑rest)
10. Hands‑on experience defining patterns,standardsand practices
Nice to have
11. Cloud platform experience (GCP preferred, Azure or AWS also valuable)
12. Telephony /CCaaSexperience (Genesys Cloud preferred, AWS, NICE also valuable)
13. Leadership of other architects
14. Ability to prototype innovative approaches using any tech stack
15. Experience with content management frameworks and tooling
Why Lloyds Banking Group
We’reon an exciting journey and therecouldn’tbe a better time to join us. The investmentswe’remaking in our people, data, and technology are leading to innovative projects, fresh possibilities, and countless new ways for our people to work, learn, and thrive.
About working for us
Our focus is to ensurewe'reinclusive every day, building an organisation that reflects modern society and celebrates diversity in all its forms. We want our people to feel that they belong and can be their best, regardless of background,identityor culture. We were one of the first major organisations to set goals on diversity in senior roles, create a menopause health package, and a dedicated Working with Cancer initiative. Andit’swhy we especially welcome applications from under-represented groups.We’redisability confident.Soifyou’dlike reasonable adjustments to be made to our recruitment processes, just let us know
We also offer a wide-ranging benefits package, which includes:
• A generous pension contribution of up to 15%
• An annual performance-related bonus
• Share schemes including free shares
• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
• 30 days’ holiday, with bank holidays on top
• A range of wellbeing initiatives and generous parental leave policies
Ready to start growing with purpose? Apply today
At Lloyds Banking Group, we're driven by a clear purpose; to help Britain prosper. Across the Group, our colleagues are focused on making a difference to customers, businesses and communities. With us you'll have a key role to play in shaping the financial services of the future, whilst the scale and reach of our Group means you'll have many opportunities to learn, grow and develop.
We keep your data safe. So, we'll only ever ask you to provide confidential or sensitive information once you have formally been invited along to an interview or accepted a verbal offer to join us which is when we run our background checks. We'll always explain what we need and why, with any request coming from a trusted Lloyds Banking Group person.
We're focused on creating a values-led culture and are committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the customers and communities we serve. Together we’re building a truly inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference.