Lead Domain Architect - Infrastructure

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

IT Services at the University of Sheffield provides a comprehensive range of technology and digital services that underpin teaching, learning, research and professional services across the University.

This role supports delivery across our three strategic product areas: Education, Research and Innovation, and One University. These product areas utilise modern product-based and agile delivery approaches to improve services, simplify processes and accelerate digital transformation.

The Lead Domain Architect – Infrastructure is a senior leadership role within the Architecture Practice. The role is responsible for defining and governing the University’s infrastructure architecture, ensuring technology platforms are secure, resilient, scalable and aligned to the University’s strategic direction.

The post holder will provide technical leadership across infrastructure architecture, including networking, cloud, end user computing, hosting, data centres, storage, virtualisation and core infrastructure services. They will lead a small team of domain architects, establish architectural standards and roadmaps, and work closely with product, project and engineering teams to ensure technology investments support long-term business outcomes.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Lead and develop the University’s Infrastructure Architecture capability within the Architecture Practice.
• Provide day-to-day leadership, mentoring and professional development for the Cloud Architect and End User Compute Architect.
• Build a collaborative architecture culture focused on innovation, consistency and continual improvement.
• Support the Lead Architect in developing the overall Architecture Practice, governance processes and standards.
• Lead the architectural design of major infrastructure initiatives including cloud adoption, networking, hosting, identity, end user technologies, data centre modernisation and technology refresh programmes.
• Work with Solution Architects to ensure infrastructure requirements are appropriately incorporated into project architectures.
• Support engineering teams in developing detailed technical designs while maintaining architectural integrity.
• Ensure infrastructure solutions deliver appropriate levels of resilience, performance, availability, security and operational supportability.
• Build strong relationships with senior technical leaders, product teams, project managers and suppliers.
• Lead the organisation in exploiting technology, using knowledge of IT solutions to support innovative and high-impact business capabilities.
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies that might benefit the University, identifying and mitigating business and architectural risks.
• Provide architectural guidance and technical support to project teams, assisting with business cases and reviewing vendor proposals for architectural alignment and cost-effectiveness.
• Support engineers in developing engineering level designs and embed the University's sustainability principles in all activities.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Further Information

Next steps in the recruitment process

We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage within two weeks of the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact it-services-recruitment@sheffield.ac.uk

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date : 19/10/2026

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.