Senior Solution Architect / Senior Delivery Architect

at  Transport for London

ABOUT US:

This is a great opportunity to join an expanding team which will continue to grow and help shape the future of Revenue Collection in TfL.
TfL collects the majority of its fares (circa £5 billion) through its Revenue Collection system. This includes all the Front Office technologies such as gates, readers, retailing devices, and computers through to the Back Office processing of payments, fares calculations, and concessions. A large part of this System is outsourced and TfL are going through a tender exercise at the moment.

JOB OVERVIEW:

We are looking for a Solutions Architect / Technical Delivery Architect who can come in and support the handback process of this system between contracts. Key responsibilities in the first year will include (50% of the time):

• Reviewing the Handback Plan from the Former Supplier on how they intend to hand back the System and Services to the new Contractor; Making sure it is technically feasible
• Auditing Contractors compliance to the Revenue Collection Contract including reviewing assets, interfaces, and tools used by the Contractor and how they will be handed back to support the new contract
• Supporting the identification and resolution of non-compliances including incorrectly recorded software, hardware, and tools
• Making sure that any planned Change to the Architecture is fully understood including the impact to TfL and the future Contractor

Alongside this, this role is also expected to work on the design and delivery of a document management system that will provide TfL a single place to manage its documentation for the Revenue Collection System. TfL intend to use an existing on-premise implementation of Opentext ECM to provide this but some interfaces needs to be designed and implemented.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Designing an API gateway solution for document exchange, utilising an existing Azure Architecture pattern
• Working with the implementation team so that it is delivered to both functional and non-functional requirements
• Updating the existing architecture design and taking it through TfLs architecture review process
• Leading upon documentation migration strategy

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• You will design solution architectures that deliver against TfL’s needs, are fit for purpose, and meet the objectives of the department
• You will support your own Technology Development projects, ensuring that architecture concepts are accepted and evolve over the course of delivery
• You will build architecture deliverables such as the documentation for own projects, warranting that they are of an appropriate standard and their content is approved by relevant partners
• You will communicate and represent your own projects at the Architecture Review Body seeking approval/guidance/feedback as required
• You will craft project budgets, conduct options analysis, build business cases and inform build-vs-buy decisions
• You will improve the solution architecture discipline by supplying to our own standards, taking pragmatic decisions considering project pressures and TfL’s complex technology landscape, working with the wider technology community
• You will work closely with internal teams to understand, refine, & estimate requirements; Making sure these estimates are appropriate, robust, and accurate.
• You will support the selection and procurement of technology and contractor services to meet the objectives of your own projects
• You will build strong relationships with key stakeholders and subject matter experts as the main technical point of contact to solicit complex requirements

KNOWLEDGE:

• Understanding of common solution design patterns for example, integration patterns, high transaction/low latency back offices, microservices
• Understanding of solution architecture deliverables and their contribution to the overall software development process
• Understanding of agile software development methodologies in multi-disciplinary environments
• Knowledge of UML including functional decomposition, use cases, activity diagrams, sequence diagrams, and components
• Qualification in a relevant subject area is desirable (e.g., Solution Architecture, TOGAF)
• Understanding of non-functional requirements when designing Architecture including resilience, disaster recovery, availability, service levels, and continuity if services

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• You will analyse complex business/technical problems, synthesise solutions, and communicate options to a wide group of partners
• You will investigate and account for dependencies between active projects; collaborate on designing solutions for transitioning live services that minimise impact on TfL colleagues and customers
• You will translate a set of approved business requirements and build a structured conceptual architecture, gaining consensus for own and other ideas
• You will map elements of own concept and detailed solution architectures to business and non-functional requirements
• You will collaborate with development community directly, ensuring concepts and architectures remain practical and that feedback is acted on

UNDERSTANDING OF IT SYSTEMS WITH SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE DESIGNING SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS ACROSS SOME OF THE FOLLOWING:

• Payments processing systems including front/middle/back office functions
• Document Management Systems
• Cloud Computing e.g., AWS and Azure
• Procurement of IT systems and services
• API design and integration patterns
  We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair.

APPLICATION PROCESS & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please note that you must apply by using your CV (Word.docx format) and a covering letter (no more than two pages). Please think carefully about the skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description and ensure your CV reflects the requirements of the role.
We will endeavour to give candidates as much notice as possible however some interviews/assessments will be organised at short notice and will require a degree of flexibility.

We are looking for a Solutions Architect / Technical Delivery Architect who can come in and support the handback process of this system between contracts. Key responsibilities in the first year will include (50% of the time):

• Reviewing the Handback Plan from the Former Supplier on how they intend to hand back the System and Services to the new Contractor; Making sure it is technically feasible
• Auditing Contractors compliance to the Revenue Collection Contract including reviewing assets, interfaces, and tools used by the Contractor and how they will be handed back to support the new contract
• Supporting the identification and resolution of non-compliances including incorrectly recorded software, hardware, and tools
• Making sure that any planned Change to the Architecture is fully understood including the impact to TfL and the future Contracto

In return for your dedication and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow. Rewards vary according to the business area and role, but typically include:

• Final salary pension scheme
• Free travel for you on the TfL network
• A 75% discount on National Rail Season Ticket and interest free loan
• 30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays
• Private healthcare discounted scheme (optional)
• Tax-efficient childcare payments
• Tax-efficient cycle-to-work scheme
• Retail, health, leisure, and travel offers
• Discounted Eurostar trave