Enterprise Architect

THE ROLE

We are seeking a pragmatic Enterprise Architect (EA) to define and govern the target architecture that underpins Next Energy Group’s transition to a data‑driven, technology‑led, and AI‑enabled business. You will set architectural direction across applications, data, integration, and security, while guiding delivery teams to land incremental value safely and reliably.

Working across our Technology & Digital Services (TDS) portfolio, you will collaborate with product, data, design, engineering, security, and vendor partners to shape standards, make “build‑buy‑partner” decisions, and ensure solutions are scalable, secure, compliant, and cost‑effective. You will balance strategic vision with hands‑on solution oversight to enable timely product delivery and measurable business outcomes.

• Define the target state architecture, principles, patterns, and standards across business, application, data, integration, and security domains.
• Maintain a living architecture roadmap that sequences modernisation, remediation, and innovation, aligned to business priorities and capacity.
• Lead build vs. buy vs. partner evaluations and ensure architectural runway supports agile delivery.

• Guide adoption of cloud data platforms (e.g., Snowflake) and self‑service analytics (Thought Spot) to enable governed, high‑quality data products.
• Establish patterns for ML/AI enablement (feature stores, MLOps, model governance) and ensure responsible, ethical AI practices.

• Champion API‑first and event‑driven architectures; standardise API design, versioning, and lifecycle (e.g., via API gateways such as Kong or equivalent).
• Define reference architectures for microservices, workflow/orchestration, and legacy remediation, ensuring observability and SLOs are built‑

• Embed zero‑trust principles, identity and access management, data protection, and auditability across solutions.
• Partner with Compliance, Legal, and Security to ensure adherence to regulatory obligations (e.g., energy sector requirements, data protection).
• Run architecture risk assessments, drive mitigations, and maintain traceability from risk to control.

• Operate and evolve Architecture Review Boards (ARBs); publish decision records and architectural standards.
• Ensure alignment with PMO and product delivery—clarify non‑functional requirements (NFRs), dependencies, and guardrails early.
• Improve reusability with design systems, integration patterns, and shared services; own the EA repository (e.g., models, diagrams, roadmaps).

• Provide hands‑on solution guidance to delivery squads, from inception to handover—review designs, PoCs, and production readiness.
• Evaluate and govern third‑party solutions and partners to ensure value, quality, and contract adherence.

• Enterprise architecture leadership with the ability to simplify complexity and influence senior stakeholders.
• Strong depth across application, data, integration, and security domains; comfortable with cloud‑native designs and platform thinking.
• Proficiency with API-first, event‑driven, microservices, and zero‑trust security concepts.
• Working knowledge of Azure services (or equivalent), containerisation (e.g., Kubernetes), CI/CD, IaC, and observability (metrics, logs, traces).
• Excellent communication—able to translate between business value and technical architecture; crisp documentation and visual communication.
• Outcome‑oriented mindset with risk‑based decision‑making and a focus on operability, performance, and cost optimisation.

• BSc in Business Information Technology or equivalent technical discipline.
• MSc in System Design, with emphasis on architectural thinking, systems engineering, or enterprise‑scale solution design.
• 10+ years’ experience in architecture, solution design, or technical leadership roles within complex, multi‑system environments.
• Professional certifications including ITIL Foundation, PRINCE2 Foundation, and Agile Scrum.
• Microsoft Azure Certified—Azure Solutions…