Application/Solutions Architect - VP

Who we are

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers – to be a trusted partner for the long-term – and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.

Role Summary

We are seeking an Application / Solution Architect to play a key role in designing scalable, resilient, and secure application frameworks that support key business applications and platforms in a complex regulatory reporting environment.

The Architect is responsible for defining and governing the architecture of business applications across the organisation. The role ensures that applications are scalable, secure, resilient, maintainable, and aligned to business strategy, enterprise standards, and target architecture principles.

Position Description

The Application Architect will work closely with business stakeholders, engineering teams, infrastructure, security, data, and delivery functions to shape technology solutions and guide delivery teams through the solutions design authority process and to implementation.
This role plays a key part in modernisation initiatives including cloud adoption, API-first integration, microservices, event-driven architecture, and legacy transformation.
The successful candidate will work with teams to drive the implementation of hybrid multi-cloud solutions, establish architectural standards, and ensure alignment with business goals, regulatory requirements, and global principles. This role requires close collaboration with senior stakeholders, external partners, and global teams to deliver scalable, secure, and future-ready technology platforms.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture & Solution Design
• Define end-to-end application architecture for strategic initiatives and enterprise platforms.
• Produce high-level and low-level solution designs aligned to enterprise standards.
• Ensure project solution designs align with target state architecture, technology strategy, and roadmaps.
• Drive adoption of modern architectural patterns including:

Cloud-native architectures
Microservices
Event-driven design
API-first integration
Domain-Driven Design (DDD)
Containerisation and orchestration

• Support legacy transformation and application rationalisation and modernisation initiatives.

Governance & Standards
• Establish and enforce architecture standards, principles, and design patterns.
• Participate in the appropriate Architecture Governance Forums and Design Authorities.
• Manage technical debt and architectural risks.

Stakeholder Management
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand strategic objectives and translate them into technology capabilities.
• Work closely with engineering, infrastructure, security, data, and operations teams.
• Provide architectural leadership to delivery teams throughout the project lifecycle.
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Technology Strategy & Innovation
• Contribute to technology strategy and target operating model development.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend appropriate adoption.
• Support cloud transformation and platform modernisation programmes.
• Identify opportunities for simplification, standardisation, and reuse.

Delivery Support
• Support Agile and DevOps delivery models.
• Guide teams through architecture implementation and design decisions.
• Review technical solutions, code structures, APIs, and integration approaches where required.
• Ensure operational readiness and non-functional requirements are addressed.

Education & Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent working experience
• Certifications in architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF, Zachman)
• Cloud platform certifications (e.g., Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform)
• AI Certifications

Knowledge & Experience:
• Proven experience as an Applications Architect, Solution Architect, or similar role within financial services.

Competencies

What we offer

For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-bring and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.

As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:

• Hybrid and flexible working
• Competitive paid leave days
• Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance
• Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services
• Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities
• Ambitious remuneration package

So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team, apply today!!