Solution Architect

Solution Architect, SC Security Cleared

Contract Term: 6 Months, Inside IR35    

Contracting Authority: Bank of England

Location: London or Leeds, Hybrid Working

Description:

We are recruiting for Solution Architects within the Technology team of the Bank of England’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Unit who are Security Cleared to SC Level. This is a high-profile, varied, and exciting area within the Bank. The role offers the opportunity to help shape the potential future of money itself!

We welcome applications from a range of backgrounds. The nature of the project means that candidates should be flexible, adaptable and willing to take on a variety of problems with enthusiasm. The role would suit innovative, versatile candidates from a range of technical backgrounds who are critical thinkers with the potential to develop into a solution architect.

The Role

We are looking for diverse, creative, and technically minded individuals to join a team of technology specialists, working alongside a wider team of economics and policy focused colleagues.

The responsibility of the job holder will be to explore the technology design and architecture options for a potential retail CBDC. This will involve evaluating the technology choices which might deliver the functional and non-functional requirements and developing a deep understanding of a (range of) potential architectural model(s) for CBDC and its underlying design features.

The successful applicant will:

• Be Security Cleared to SC Level Provide technical guidance, direction, and collaborative leadership to our CBDC technology work, including advising and influencing senior stakeholders. Understand and interpret strategic and policy drivers around CBDC, in order to proactively engage in critical thinking about technology challenges and opportunities. Devise technical solutions to difficult and unique problems independently, with team members or with external authorities as required. Establish relationships and nurture small project teams in a collaborative way to validate & prototype technical solutions. Identify gaps and investigate new technologies as required for their application for CBDC. Recommend solutions to problems, and explain and rationalise design choices, especially when multiple options are available. The role will also involve interaction with senior internal colleagues, technical experts, external expertise across the industry and academia, and counterparts at other central banks. Therefore, the ability to build relationships and promote inclusive thinking is essential.

Role Requirements

Essential

• An innovative approach to problem solving and the ability to think creatively and critically about solutions. Experience in conceiving and guiding the design of technology solutions. The ability to set the strategic direction for pieces of technical work. A willingness to advocate strategies and solutions, and conduct innovative research, providing summarised results and recommendations. The ability to justify design choices based on research where multiple options might exist. Collaborative stakeholder management skills, and the capability to synthesise and present technical information to a non-technical audience. Strong interpersonal skills, and a collaborative and inclusive working style, with experience of effective liaison with a diverse set of partners.

Desirable (we are seeking a mix of technical skills, but would not necessarily expect all of the below)

• Knowledge and understanding of existing payment systems in the UK. Exposure to software development projects, ideally within a financial or regulatory environment. Product management experience, or related expertise in areas such as Agile methodology, design thinking, user experience design. Software development experience, including in areas such as API development, database structures, blockchain technology etc. Knowledge of data architecture and different data structures including Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT). Awareness and curiosity about trends across wider technology e.g. fintech, blockchain, cloud, predictive analytics, Big Data, cyber security etc. An interest in CBDC or the future of money.