Software Architect

Core Responsibilities

1. Architecture and Design

Design enterprise network architecture across data center, WAN, cloud, and hybrid environments

Define standards, patterns, and reference architectures

Ensure scalability, resiliency, and security by design

2. Trade-off and Decision Making

Balance performance, cost, risk, and operability

Evaluate competing approaches (e.g., overlay vs underlay, vendor vs open solutions)

Make design decisions at the system level rather than the device level

This is a key differentiator compared to a technical project manager or engineer

3. Vendor and Technology Neutrality

Evaluate technologies across multiple vendors (e.g., Cisco, VMware, Juniper) and open-source.

Avoid designing around a single vendors constraints or bias

Select solutions based on best architectural fit

4. Complex Programme Delivery

Lead architecture across large, multi-domain programmes

Collaborate with infrastructure, security, cloud, and application teams

Own end-to-end design coherence rather than isolated components

Typically involves large-scale enterprise or highly regulated environments with multi-region and high-resilience requirements

5. Stakeholder Management (Conflict Handling)

Align stakeholders across security, operations, business, and vendors

Manage conflicting requirements such as:

o Security vs usability

o Cost vs resiliency

o Speed vs governance

Drive decisions to closure through effective communication

6. Governance and Standards

Define and enforce network standards

Review designs to ensure alignment with architectural principles

Provide guidance to engineering and delivery teams

Required Skills

Technical (Core Expectations)

Strong fundamentals:

o Routing and protocols: BGP (mandatory), OSPF, TCP/IP

o Data center networking and fabric design

o Network security principles (e.g., segmentation, access control)Modern enterprise stack:

o Software-defined networking (e.g., NSX)

o VXLAN and overlay networking

o Hybrid cloud networking

o Network automation (e.g., Python, APIs)Platform expertise:

Strong Linux and networking integration

Ability to troubleshoot network issues at the operating system level

Experience working with containers and infrastructure tooling

Experience

o Proven delivery of complex, enterprise-scale projects

o Preferably within financial services or similarly regulated environments

o Experience with:

High availability and disaster recovery designs

Multi-region and data center interconnects

Secure access models

Soft Skills (Critical for the Role)

o Strong ability to articulate trade-offs

o Confidence in constructively challenging stakeholders

o Clear communication across both technical and non-technical audiences

o Ability to drive decisions, not just facilitate discussions

Anti-Patterns (What This Role Is Not)

o Not a technical project manager

o Not limited to facilitating discussions

o Not focused solely on explaining architecture without making decisions

o Not driven by vendor-led solutions