Head of Architecture

BigHand offers technology solutions for busy legal professionals that provide data and insights to increase value and profits. Through technology, insight and experience, we deliver success for our clients future. We enable our clients to give their customers a better experience while empowering their people to be their best.

We make big happen for our customers.

We are a business driven by our values and have these at the centre of everything we do. Our BigHanders are dedicated to building a culture where we win together, we learn, we give back, we believe in each other and we find the fun. We are proud to have ranked in Great Places to Work top 50 “UK’s Best Workplaces” list for 6 years.

About The Role

This role leads the architecture function and capability at BigHand. It is responsible for the medium to long term vision of the BH technology and platforms.

This position will directly manage one or more Architects or Senior Architects and will contribute to the definition of the architecture. The position also communicates/evangelizes the architecture (principles, policies, standards, and patterns) to development groups, business groups, and customers and governs adherence to critical architectural principles, sometimes known as the “golden rules.”

What You’ll Do

• Coach other Architects to synthesize business requirements with the direction of technology to generate new ideas and inventions.
• Synthesize business requirements with the direction of technology to generate new ideas and inventions.
• Communicate complicated technology concepts in a manner that is understandable in terms of business impact so that business decisions can be made.
• Partner with other Architects as key interaction point for communication, evangelism, governance, and feedback into central architecture.
• Work with Business Leaders in order to stay up to date with business / product direction in order to anticipate long lead-time technology needs.
• Work with external vendors to understand/communicate vendor technology strategy in the context of our architecture.
• Define and implement technology strategy such that we can reduce the number of similar technologies and consolidate on standards, and leverage ability to abstract and generalize such that common patterns can be extracted from the implementation “noise.”
• Provide consultancy leadership, and promote Software Engineering best practices.
• Review and approve changes to infrastructure subsystems and components.
• Provide architecture and design for large development efforts.
• Perform technical evaluations of new technology and acquisition candidates as required.
• Assist in the development of comprehensive information security procedures and practices and deployment of a detailed security audit.
• Respond to enterprise security issues, quickly designing and implementing solutions to respond to security incidents.
• Drive technical direction and architecture evolution via reviews and on-floor leadership.
• Proactively monitor new development to discover subsystems or components that should be evolved into shared infrastructure.
• Proactively research, monitor, learn, and assess industry/technology advancements and continually build alliances to explore ways to leverage and advance our technical opportunities.
  
  
  

What We’re Looking For

• 15+ years of experience in software, network, or systems architecture.
• 5+ years of cross-entity product architecture experience with proven track record of successful enterprise impacts.
• BS Engineering/Computer Science or equivalent experience required; advanced degree preferred.
• Solid management/leadership skills including coaching, mentoring, performance management, and KPO-setting.
• Master level in architectural design.
• Master-level knowledge of architectural governance.
• Exhibit prior success extracting/translating findings into alternatives/solutions, identifying risks/impacts and schedule adjustments to facilitate management decision-making.
• Strong understanding of programming languages, code, and database.
• Proven experience of leading complex projects and customer relationships.
• Master-level knowledge in programming language .NET and .NET Framework.
• Innovative and solutions-oriented in new technologies, security, and infrastructure.
• Solid working knowledge in a plurality of the following areas: Network Design (LAN and WAN), Storage System Architectures, Service-Oriented Architecture technologies, XML and XSLT, and AI.
• Advanced organization/project planning, time management, and change management skills across multiple functional groups and departments, and advanced delegation skills involving prioritizing and reprioritizing projects and managing projects of various size and complexity.
• Excellent problem-solving experience involving leading teams in identifying, researching, and coordinating the resources necessary to effectively troubleshoot/diagnose complex project issues;
• prior success extracting/translating findings into alternatives/solutions; and identifying risks/impacts and schedule adjustments to facilitate management decision-making.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and customer service skills. Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills applicable to a wide audience including senior and executive management, customers, etc.; including diction/terminology and presenting information in a concise and effective manner to clients, management, and various departments using assorted communication mediums.
• Strong ability to develop architecturally based, financially sound business cases tied to enterprise strategy.
  
  
  

Company Benefits

• 25 days holiday (exc. bank holidays) + 3 BigHand days off between Christmas & New Year.
• Various wellbeing benefits including private medical, vision, online wellbeing programs & webinars, access to online therapy and Employee Resource Groups (ERG).
• Company-wide Wellness day, for our teams all across the globe to switch off and spend the day doing something to nourish their mental health.
• Opportunities to give back with company volunteer events and individual volunteer days.
• Career growth opportunities and study leave allowance.
• Family benefits including enhanced parental leave, secondary caregiver leave and fertility support.
• Financial benefits including pension scheme, life assurance, and salary sacrificing.
• Cycle to Work Scheme and Tech Scheme.
• Growing business with a global presence, flexible working, modern offices, and remote work options.
  
  
  

Interview Process

• 1st Stage: CTO Interview
• 2nd Stage: Technical Leadership Interview
• 3rd Stage: On-Site Interview with Architecture team.
• Final Interview: Remote interview with CPO and Product Management team.