Who are we? Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart, operating in 56 countries.
Role Summary
The Solutions Architect role forms part of a distributed, global infrastructure team, responsible for the continued availability and support of an international on premises and cloud infrastructure. The role involves working on multiple projects, acting as a hands on architect, providing design support, and contributing to engineering across on prem and Microsoft cloud technologies in a fast paced environment.
Job Specific Skills
- Extensive experience in an infrastructure cloud architecture position, primarily with Microsoft Azure & Microsoft 365 technologies.
- Experience architecting solutions to meet security and governance requirements, including International Compliance and Regulatory standards.
- Ability to translate business requirements into feasible technology solutions and to design solutions that meet varied regulatory and global business needs.
- Excellent documentation and presentation skills - able to document solutions at both high and low levels and present to governing boards.
- Experience delivering solutions across multiple projects while maintaining agreed design.
- Knowledge of ITIL change management governance.
- Leadership ability to guide infrastructure engineers and collaborate with wider delivery teams, management, and business leaders.
Technical Skills Required
- Detailed Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 knowledge, including Azure architecture, server & platform architecture, security and networking principles.
- Modern Identity and Access Management (Entra ID, Entra ID Connect, Conditional Access), M365 hybrid knowledge, Office 365 client side requirements, and backend M365 service interactions.
- Experience with corporate acquisition projects involving architectural integration and application migration.
- Networking technologies: MPLS, ExpressRoute, firewalls, routing protocols, Enterprise Wi Fi, and wired LAN networking.
- Proficiency with on premises Microsoft stack (Exchange, SQL, Active Directory).
- Hypervisor experience (VMware) and fibre channel storage arrays.
- Designing backup & disaster recovery solutions.
- Automation skills (PowerShell, Terraform), Intune for device management, Apple Business Manager, Autopilot.
- Microsoft 365 Purview policy management.
Technical Skills Desired
- TOGAF certification or equivalent architecture framework experience.
- Experience in a multi forest environment.
- Citrix (XenApp & XenDesktop) experience.
- VMware, Azure or O365 certification.
- Teams messaging, telephony, Teams meeting rooms.
Core Responsibilities
- Achieve results through relationships with all parties.
- Deliver a personal performance that contributes to company objectives.
- Achieve lasting relationships with internal clients, suppliers, third parties and staff.
- Consistently deliver an excellent and comprehensive service, on time, within budget and to or exceeding quality expectations.
- Ensure all dealings are carried out with integrity and professionalism.
- Act in best faith according to company policies and protect reputation.
General Responsibilities
- Develop strong relationships with business units.
- Respond to business units' requirements as appropriate.
- Support business units with IT system usage.
- Behave fairly and ethically with all clients.
- Take ownership of issues and provide updates to users on outstanding issues.
Management Responsibilities
- Ensure team members are competent to carry out responsibilities.
- Motivate team to deliver high performance and achieve objectives.
- Maintain up to date records in group and company systems.
Compliance Responsibilities
- Ensure compliance with all applicable group and company policies, procedures and legal requirements.
- Obtain correct authorisation as required and follow processes.
- Maintain accurate records and correspondence.
- Adhere to anti bribery and corruption policy and procedures.
- Monitor and report on business unit issues and provide relevant information to senior management.
What do we offer in return?
- Career that you define with opportunities for growth and autonomy.
- Diversity and inclusion focus - no single Howden type; everyone can bring their own values.
- Reasonable adjustments, such as flexible hours and hybrid working, where available.
- Support with accommodation needs and work life balance.