Lead Solution Architect
- locations
- Stratford (2 Redman Place)
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted Today
- time left to apply
- End Date: May 16, 2026 (15 days left to apply)
- job requisition id
- R033487
Award-winning and bold innovation. Modern Tech-Stack. Impacting the future.
Lead Solution Architect
Department: Chief Operating Office
Contract: 12 month fixed-term contract
Hours: Full time 35 hours per week
Location: Stratford, London. Office-based with high flexibility (1-2 days per week in the office)
Visa sponsorship: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.
Closing date: 15 May 2026 23:55. We will be shortlisting
This vacancy may close earlier if a high volume of applications is received or once a suitable candidate is found, therefore we strongly recommend that you apply early to avoid disappointment. If you require more time to apply as part of a reasonable adjustment, please contact recruitment@cancer.org.uk as soon as possible.
Recruitment process: Telephone interview followed by two competency-based interviews with an exercise included
How do I apply? We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly, and objectively.
*Please note: we discourage the use of ChatGPT or other AI platforms when applying for this role. While AI tools can be useful, we strongly encourage applicants to ensure their applications authentically reflect their own experience. If you choose to use AI for formatting or assistance, please take care to review and personalise your application accordingly.
At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.
We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day. But we need to go much further and much faster. That’s why we’re looking for someone talented, someone who wants to develop their skills, someone like you.
Cancer Research UK has an ambitious Technology strategy and a modern technology stack, supported by a complex hybrid infrastructure spanning on‑premise and multi‑cloud environments. This extensive and interconnected technical estate is fundamental to the charity’s ability to deliver large‑scale change initiatives, enable day‑to‑day operations, and support our long‑term vision and strategy.
Our Architecture team sits at the heart of this landscape, providing leadership across enterprise, solution, and infrastructure architecture. We play a critical role in ensuring our technology ecosystem is coherent, resilient, and aligned to the diverse needs of the charity, supporting over 4,000 staff, 600+ shops, and thousands of supporters who together raised £463m for life‑saving research in 2023/24.
As our Lead Solution Architect, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future direction of Cancer Research UK’s technology. Working closely with programmes, product portfolios and delivery teams, you will provide architectural leadership and define end‑to‑end solutions that span applications, data, integration, and underpinning infrastructure. You will bring deep expertise in one or more architectural domains (such as enterprise, solution, infrastructure, data, security, platform, or service architecture), while contributing to the wider architectural strategy of the organisation.
This is an opportunity to apply your architectural expertise at enterprise scale, influencing strategic outcomes while enabling practical delivery in a purpose‑driven environment.
What will I be doing?
Developing multi-product architecture artifacts for delivery of end-to-end solutions, collaborating with Product Teams to build self-sufficiency in design and architecture.
Partnering with Heads of Delivery, Portfolios, and Product Managers to support roadmap development and provide early triage.
Providing architecture support, coaching, and solution assurance across Technology teams.
Addressing key design decisions, balancing risks, benefits, and outcomes for complex technical problems.
Collaborating with Lead Engineers and other technology teams to ensure the documented current state is maintained for change assessment and operational support.
Communicating and coordinating architecture development and technical change across portfolios and products (including those delivered by our partners).
Contributing to and building an active Architecture community across capabilities and partners.
Providing in-depth expertise within at least one specialised domain of architecture, from: business, enterprise, solution, infrastructure, data, security, platform, or service.
Leadership & Drive for Impact:
Building credible stakeholder relationships across the creating momentum, and providing challenge when required.
Balancing short-term needs with long-term strategic goals
Translating complex information and concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
Driving the direction and output on day-to-day workload and priorities while navigating ambiguity and making clear and timely decisions in changing situations
Mentor and coach colleagues, fostering a culture of continuous learning and leading through others.
Resource Management:
Reducing costs by proactively challenging to enable the optimal cost of resource ownership and delivered architecture.
Building inclusive environments and working with third parties.
What skills will I need?
Experienced Architect with extensive experience in at least one of the following architecture domains: business, enterprise, solution, infrastructure, data, security, platform, or service.
Has implemented new technologies within an integrated architecture in large, complex organisations.
Solid understanding of modern software and platform architecture approaches (e.g., microservices and cloud etc).
Experience delivering architecture through Agile Product teams.
Knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g, (TOGAF, Zachman etc), industry-wide best practices, and emerging technologies.
Modelling and documenting experience with the ability to create models and visualisations to enable others to understand the architecture.
Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do.
Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination
Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism
Human: Act to have a positive impact on people
Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively
We’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.
If you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience we’d still love to hear from you.
Internal eligibility criteria
Internal candidates should ideally have completed their 6-month ‘getting started’ period before applying for other roles. You should also advise your current line manager at the point you make an internal application, or at the latest, at the point of being invited for an interview.
All internal candidates applying for a secondment, must have:
Completed their getting started period
Discussed their intention to apply and gained approval to apply with their line manager
Been in their substantive (home) role for at least 6 months (this is only applicable if you have previously been on secondment)
If you do not confirm that you meet these requirements, we will not be able to progress your application.
For information about internal learning and development at Cancer Research UK please visit Fuse.
What will I gain?
We create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools. Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work-life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals.
You can explore our benefits by visiting our careers web page.
Additional Information
For more information about working with us please visit our website or contact us at recruitment@cancer.org.uk.
For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen. Please contact recruitment@cancer.org.uk or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible.
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- locations
- Stratford (2 Redman Place)
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted Today
- time left to apply
- End Date: May 16, 2026 (15 days left to apply)