Solution Architect

Role overview

Key duties include

• Develop end-to-end solution architectures for complex enhancements and technical changes across TfL's Revenue Collection System, including Oyster and Contactless platforms.
• Produce high-quality architecture deliverables, including solution designs, high-level designs (HLDs), detailed designs (LLDs), interface specifications, and architecture decision records.
• Create and maintain architecture diagrams and models using industry-standard tools and methodologies.
• Ensure all solution designs align with TfL business objectives, contractual requirements, enterprise architecture principles, and technology standards.
• Work closely with TfL architects, technical specialists, and business stakeholders to define solution requirements and agree architectural approaches.
• Lead architecture workshops and technical design sessions to develop robust and supportable solutions.
• Present solution architectures, design proposals, and technical recommendations to TfL Technical Authority and other governance forums for approval.
• Provide architectural leadership throughout the solution lifecycle, from requirements definition through to implementation and operational handover.
• Collaborate with engineering, testing, infrastructure, cybersecurity, service management, and delivery teams to ensure solutions are implemented in accordance with approved designs.
• Support technical investigations, root cause analysis, and solution development for complex operational and delivery challenges.
• Identify and manage technical risks, assumptions, constraints, dependencies, and architectural issues throughout programme delivery.
• Ensure solution designs consider security, resilience, performance, supportability, scalability, and operational readiness requirements.
• Provide technical assurance and design oversight during delivery, validating that implemented solutions remain aligned with approved architecture.
• Evaluate new technologies, products, and integration approaches and provide recommendations regarding their suitability within the TfL environment.
• Develop and maintain strategic architecture artefacts, including system context diagrams, system component maps, integration maps, application landscapes, and end-to-end system data flows.
• Establish and maintain architecture standards, design patterns, reference architectures, and governance processes to develop Enterprise Architecture capabilities.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of the architecture practice, tools, methodologies, templates, and ways of working.
• Support knowledge transfer activities and ensure architecture documentation remains accurate, complete, and maintained throughout the service lifecycle.
• Act as a trusted technical advisor to programme leadership, delivery teams, and stakeholders on architecture-related matters.
• Promote effective collaboration between Indra, TfL suppliers, and engineering teams to ensure successful delivery of complex technical solutions.
• Ensure architecture practice, standards, and governance framework are successfully established and adopted.

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• Significant experience delivering solution architecture for complex, large-scale technology platforms and business-critical systems.
• Proven experience producing high-quality architecture artefacts, including solution designs, architecture diagrams, interface specifications, and technical design documentation.
• Strong understanding of enterprise architecture principles, solution architecture methodologies, and architectural governance frameworks.
• Experience designing complex system integrations across applications, infrastructure, networks, cloud services, and third-party platforms.
• Experience working within highly available, business-critical, and operationally sensitive environments.
• Strong understanding of software development lifecycles, DevOps practices, and modern engineering delivery methodologies.
• Experience working in complex multi-supplier environments, coordinating architectural activities across several delivery partners.
• Ability to translate business requirements and technical constraints into practical, supportable, and deliverable solutions.
• Experience presenting solution designs and technical recommendations to architecture review boards, governance forums, and senior stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of security, resilience, scalability, performance, supportability, and operational readiness considerations.
• Experience producing architecture deliverables using industry-standard architecture modelling and documentation tools.
• Strong knowledge of systems integration patterns, APIs, messaging technologies, and data exchange mechanisms.
• Experience supporting technical delivery teams throughout implementation, testing, deployment, and operational transition.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage effectively with business, engineering, operational, and supplier organisations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify risks, dependencies, and architectural impacts across complex systems.
• Experience maintaining strategic architecture artefacts, including system context diagrams, component maps, integration landscapes, and end-to-end data flows.
• Experience contributing to the development of architecture standards, design patterns, governance processes, and architecture best practices.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with both highly technical teams and executive stakeholders.
• Experience within transport, payments, ticketing, revenue collection, or other highly regulated environments would be advantageous.
• Brings clarity and structure to complex technical and organisational challenges.
• Demonstrates sound technical judgement and pragmatic decision-making.
• Able to balance strategic thinking with hands-on solution design.
• Naturally collaborates across organisational, supplier, and technical boundaries.
• Comfortable challenging assumptions while building consensus among stakeholders.
• Focuses on delivering business outcomes rather than individual technical solutions.
• Influences decisions through expertise, credibility, and collaboration rather than formal authority.
• Takes ownership of architectural quality and technical integrity throughout the delivery lifecycle

Benefits

• Holidays: 25 days per annum + 8 days bank holidays (options to buy/sell days).
• Pension – 4% employee and 4% employer.
• Private medical insurance (including dental & optical).
• Life assurance.
• Income protection.
• Employee assistance programs.
• Flexible/remote working options.
• Charitable initiatives.
• Social events (formal & informal).
• Learning and development programs.
• Innovative & collaborative work environment.
• Indra is an equal employment opportunity employer. Applicants are considered without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, origin, disability or other characteristics protected by law.