Solution Architect Lead

Salary for this Role:

From £71,500 with benefits, subject to skills and experience.

Job Title:

Reports to:

Closing Date:

Job Description:

Job Title: Solution Architect Lead

Details of the role:

Working pattern: This is a full-time, hybrid (3 days a week in the office) permanent position on Crick terms and conditions of employment.

Salary: From £71,537 with benefits, subject to skills and experience

Application closing date: 18th of January 2026 at 23.59

About us

The Francis Crick Institute is Europe’s largest biomedical research institute under one roof. Our world-class scientists and staff collaborate on vital research to help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative conditions. 

The Crick is a place for collaboration, innovation and exploration across many disciplines. A space where the brightest minds can pursue big and bold ideas and discover answers to crucial scientific questions. We support them in a dynamic environment which fosters excellence with state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge facilities, and a creative and curious culture. We’ve removed traditional boundaries of departments, divisions and disciplines and instead have an open approach that supports every researcher. This gives us the freedom to take risks and carry out high-quality, pioneering research. Creating a space for discovery without boundaries helps us to turn our science into benefits for human health and the economy. 

About the role

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Solution Architect Lead (known internally as Technical Design Lead) to drive the design of innovative IT services that power Crick Science and Operations.

In this pivotal role, collaboration is key. You will partner across diverse teams from research data and software engineering to high‑performance computing, ensuring that technical design reflects the needs of scientists, analysts, project managers, and stakeholders at every level.

As part of one of the world’s leading biomedical research institutes, you’ll be creating solutions that push the boundaries of what’s possible. This is a full spectrum role spanning technology, process, and people, where no two projects are the same. You’ll foster engagement, alignment, and understanding that technology is only part of the answer, while enabling end‑to‑end solutions that support ground breaking science.

A background in scientific industries such as pharma or research is a plus but above all, we’re looking for a collaborative leader with vision, adaptability, and the drive to make a real impact.

What you will be doing

As a technical design lead, you will

• Lead the technical design process, sitting within the wider project management office which owns the delivery process from idea to implementation

• Inspire and lead a small team of dedicated architects alongside subject matter experts and solution architects embedded in other teams

• Proactively seek ways to optimise and improve the technical design function.

• Foster a community of technical subject matter experts across the IT Office, providing advice and guidance on great solution design

• Creating compliant and robust solution architectures aligned with business and legal requirements, as well as IT policy.

• Supporting the handover of technical design and platform from project to operations

• Understanding of the Crick and ITO’s strategy, ensuring the technology roadmap meets current and future objectives

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About you

You will have:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience, ideally in Computer Science or related STEM subject.*

• Experience of working as a solution architect or equivalent role, leading solution design reviews across different teams*

• Experience of building strong stakeholder relationships with external business users and internal technology platform and service owners as well as subject matter experts*

• Strong understanding of the full technology stack including: infrastructure, data, integration and application and reporting layers

• Experience working on IT infrastructure, enterprise platform or Software development projects, from design and delivery through to service operation

• Experience in contributing to IT architecture policies, including infrastructure, integration, and Information Security

 *Minimum Requirements

About Working at the Crick

Our values  

Everyone who works at the Crick has a valuable role to play in advancing the Crick’s mission and shaping our culture 

• We are bold. We make space for creative, dynamic and imaginative ideas and approaches. We’re not afraid to do things differently. 

• We are open. We’re highly collaborative and interactive, and make sure our activities are visible to the outside world. 

• We are collegial. We show respect for one another, work cooperatively and support the wider community. 

At the Francis Crick Institute, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving innovation and scientific discovery. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed, regardless of their background, identity, or personal circumstances. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ethnicities, abilities, and experiences. We are a Disability Confident: Committed employer and want to ensure that everyone can apply and be part of our recruitment processes and so we'll make reasonable adjustments if you need them - just let us know when you apply. If you need assistance with applying (i.e., would like to apply by phone or post) please email: [email protected]

Find out more about life at the Crick.

What will you receive?  

At the Francis Crick Institute, we value our team members and are proud to offer an extensive range of benefits to support their well-being and development: 

• Visas: Applicants for this role will be eligible for sponsorship to work in the UK 

• Generous Leave: 28 days of annual leave, plus three additional days over Christmas and bank holidays. 

• Pension Scheme: Defined contribution pension with employer contributions of up to 16%. 

• Health & Well-being: 

• 24/7 GP consultation services. 

• Occupational health services and mental health support programs. 

• Eye care vouchers and discounted healthcare plans. 

• Work-Life Balance: 

• Back-up care for dependents. 

• Childcare support allowance. 

• Annual leave purchase options. 

• Crick Networks offering diverse groups’ support, community and inclusive social events.

• Perks: 

• Discounted gym memberships, bike-to-work scheme, and shopping discounts. 

• Subsidised on-site restaurant and social spaces for team interaction. 

Please note you must meet the essential criteria listed within the Role Profile, to have your application reviewed.  

We reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any given time due to the number of applications received.