Solution Architect

Solution Architect (16487)

Job Description

Company

When it comes to innovation and achievement there are few organisations with a better track record. Join us and you'll be able to play a big part in the success of our highly successful, fast paced business that opens up Europe so people can exercise their get up and go. With over 250 aircraft flying over 800 routes to more than 30 countries, we're the UK's largest airline, the fourth largest in Europe and the tenth largest in the world. Flying over 70 million passengers a year, we employ over 12,000 people. Its big scale stuff and we're still growing.

Team

IT Architecture incorporates the Enterprise Architecture, Solution Architecture, Technical Architecture, Data Architecture, Cyber Security Architecture plus oversight of Principle Software Engineers working within our Technology & Product delivery teams. We own the overall direction of easyJet's IT landscape across all domains, working in close collaboration with colleagues across IT and the broader business. We also play a leading role in developing complex IT solutions which have cross functional impact, implement new technology / architecture approaches etc.

We're looking for a Solution Architect to join our growing Solution Architecture team. Aligned to the Airline Operations domain, you'll be at the forefront of innovation, guiding our product and engineering teams. This role is crucial for translating strategic vision into practical, scalable solutions that directly impact our business. You will work closely with fellow architects, business stakeholders, and product delivery teams to define IT solutions that align with our broader strategy, enterprise Architecture and ambitious goals.

Job Purpose

As the Solution Lead for a product mission team, you will partner with the Head of Products, Principal Software Engineers, and Product Managers to define the architectural runway for future requirements and delivers key business outcomes.

Assess our technology landscape to identify deficiencies and technical debts, while staying ahead of emerging trends to ensure our solutions are modern and well aligned with business needs.

Support product managers in making key product architecture decisions and consult on development initiatives to ensure all systems fit the defined architecture.

Produce high quality high level designs and end to end architectures that align with our IT strategy, mitigate risk, and are optimised for performance, scalability, and efficiency.

Provide architectural guidance and oversight to ensure that delivered solutions align with the defined blueprints and our broader IT strategy. You will be responsible for reviewing designs, holding vendors accountable, and ensuring the technical integrity of our products and platforms.

Lead the solution architecture definition for a broader scope of products, working with Technical Architects/Principal Software Engineers covering each solution component, and Enterprise Architects driving the long term architectural direction.

Acts as Architecture Change Owner and provide solution assurance through implementation of the new products and solutions.

Job Accountabilities Owning & defining solution architectures

You will lead the solution architecture for products, collaborating closely with Product teams to ensure technical excellence and strategic alignment. Your work will focus on designing solutions that address critical business challenges in areas such as crew management, network scheduling, and roster optimisation.

Work closely with the product owners and product managers to ensure a robust architectural runway that can support future business requirements throughout the product lifecycle.

Understand business drivers and business capabilities (future and current state) and determines corresponding enterprise solution designs and architectural change requirements to drive the organisation's targeted business outcomes.

• Identify key areas of technical risk or complexity, proposing appropriate Proofs of Concepts (POCs) and spikes, working with stakeholders to curate a story backlog, and leading a team to gain hard evidence to influence the end architecture design.
• Engage with technical architects and other solution architects to understand and define the end to end solution architecture, outlining appropriate component responsibilities and boundaries, producing interaction diagrams explaining how the solution hangs together.
• Clear communication of the defined solution to the delivery and service teams (both in house and third party).
• Ensure key factors such as total cost of ownership, ongoing maintenance, a broad understanding of architectural risk etc. are considered in the definition of the solution.

Assuring component design alignment & solution delivery

Design and direct the architecture governance activities associated with ensuring solutions architecture assurance and compliance.

Provide consulting support to agile product teams to ensure the project or product is aligned with the overall enterprise architecture.

Define the principles, guidelines, standards, and solution patterns to ensure solution decisions are aligned with the enterprise's future state architecture vision.

• Gain an appropriately deep understanding of the technical solution for each component, steering key technology and design decisions, aligned to the relevant solution assurance processes.
• Hold vendors to account to ensure documentation meets easyJet's architecture standards, aligns to the defined end to end solution, and meets its business functional and non functional requirements.
• Collaborate with the Service Delivery team to define the support model for platforms, products and components in the end to end architecture.
• Review and assess aspects of detailed design that deviate from the proposed solution architecture, published technical strategies, policies, standards etc.

Requirements of the Role Skills & Experience Required

• Product Centric Background: A strong track record of architecting within a product centric organisation, collaborating effectively with product teams to deliver solutions that solve business problems.
• Architectural Acumen: Demonstrable experience in designing large, complex, and multi vendor SaaS solutions with multi technology landscapes.
• Skilled at defining end to end architectures and ensuring their successful delivery. This includes expertise in SOA, API design, and distributed architectures.
• Agile and Technical Leadership: A solid understanding of agile principles and development methodologies. You can provide guidance and advice to agile teams on opportunities, architectural impacts, and architectural risks, while proactively managing technical and architectural debt.
• Proven experience applying and implementing advanced optimisation techniques. Hands on experience with Gurobi and Cplex is highly desirable.
• Good understanding of strategic and emerging technology trends, and the practical application of existing and emerging technologies to new and evolving business and operating models.
• Architectural & Methodological Expertise: You have an excellent grasp of application development methodologies, including Agile and DevOps, as well as infrastructure and network architecture.
• Familiar with modelling languages like UML and ArchiMate, diagrammatic tools such as LucidChart and have a good understanding of IT service management (ITSM) and ITIL principles.
• Certifications: Must hold a TOGAF certification and an AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate certification.

Ideal Experience

Domain Expertise: as a Solution Architect within the Airline Operations domain. This includes a strong understanding of any systems that include Crew Management, Network Planning, Roster Optimisation, and Disruption Management.

Other Industries/Sectors

What you'll get in return

• Competitive base salary
• 20% bonus potential.
• 25 days holiday, pension scheme, life assurance, and a flexible benefits package.
• Discounted staff travel scheme for friends and family
• Annual credit for discount on easyJet holidays
• 'Work Away' scheme, allowing you to work abroad for 30 days a year
• Electric vehicle lease salary sacrifice scheme

Location & Hours of Work

We operate a hybrid working policy of 60% of the month spent with colleagues.

Application Process

Interested candidates should apply through our careers portal.

Reasonable Adjustments

At easyJet, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace that reflects the diverse customers we serve across Europe. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds. If you require specific adjustments or support during the application or recruitment process, such as extra time for assessments or accessible interview locations, please contact us at . We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to ensure accessibility and accommodation.