Solution Architect

Employment type: Contract. Solution Architect (Permanten Contract) About Indra Group UK & Ireland Indra is a leading global technology and consulting company, and a trusted technological partner for the core business operations of its clients worldwide. It stands at the forefront of key sectors including Transport, Defence, Air Traffic Management and Space, alongside advanced Information Technology services delivered through Minsait, and cutting-edge capabilities in Sovereign AI, Cybersecurity, and Cyberdefence via IndraMind. The company’s business model is built around a comprehensive portfolio of proprietary products, combining strong innovation with a high-value focus for customers. With more than 2,500 projects implemented across 50 countries and over 100 cities, Indra is a global benchmark in innovative transportation and mobility solutions. It is recognised as one of the world’s top three companies in public transportation management systems. Indra’s technology supports the daily journeys of over 78 million people, helping to reduce more than 10 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, and helping save nearly 3,000 lives through improved traffic management and road safety. Indra Group is paving the way to a more secure and better-connected future through innovative solutions, trusted relationships and the very best talent. Sustainability sits at the heart of its strategy and culture, driving efforts to address current and future social and environmental challenges. In the 2024 financial year, Indra achieved revenues of €5.5 billion, over 60,000 professionals, maintained a local presence in 46 countries, and operated across more than 140 countries worldwide. As the technological partner for its customers’ key operations, Indra is at the core of their business, and Indra’s four values guide everything we do: Innovation - Our capacity for innovation, cutting-edge solutions, and specialised team of professionals enables us to drive a safer, more connected future through technology. Trust - We work with strength, commitment, and reliability, delivering quality solutions to build trust with customers, employees, partners, investors, and society. Connection - We harness the power of collaboration, connect ideas and solutions, and adapt to our customers’ needs, supporting them on the path to a better future. Foresight - We anticipate future needs to make the world safer and more connected, transforming our experience and knowledge into solutions for a better tomorrow. About the Project Transport for London (TfL) has awarded Indra a long-term contract to operate, develop, enhance and expand ticketing and access control systems across London’s transport network through to 2034, with extension options to 2039. This programme covers the maintenance, operation and evolution of a large-scale, complex ecosystem, including turnstiles, validators, ticket machines, sales terminals, back-office systems, payment gateways, IT infrastructure and cybersecurity that supports over 8.6 million daily journeys. Therefore, Indra will become TfL’s strategic technology partner to guarantee the operation and evolution of the world’s largest and most sophisticated ticketing system. Following a transition period of approximately two years, Indra will serve as the sole provider across the network that includes more than 8,500 buses, nearly 400 Underground stations, around 300 rail stations (Overground, DLR, Elizabeth Line and suburban services), 4,000 Oyster Card outlets, seven customer service centres, and 24 river boat boarding points. Drawing on over 30 years of experience in urban public transport solutions, Indra will manage and evolve all aspects of the system. The project also envisages, in partnership with TfL, the implementation of new technologies to develop the system, make it more efficient and automate key processes; in short, to jointly create the next generation of the ticketing system for London. Role overview As we continue to experience an exciting period of growth in the UK, we are looking for an exceptional Solution Architect to play a pivotal role in the design and delivery of technology solutions that will shape the future of Transport for London's revenue collection systems, including Oyster and Contactless. It is a unique opportunity to define and govern complex technical solutions across one of the UK's most critical transport technology environments, ensuring that business requirements, architectural principles, operational considerations, and delivery objectives are brought together within a coherent and deliverable solution design. The Solution Architect provides technical leadership throughout the solution lifecycle, from initial requirements and architectural assessment through to design approval, implementation support, and operational transition. The role ensures that solutions are robust, supportable, secure, and aligned with TfL's architectural standards and strategic objectives. Working across organisational, supplier, engineering, and technical boundaries, the Solution Architect translates complex business and technical requirements into practical solution designs, resolves architectural challenges, and provides assurance that solutions remain aligned with approved designs throughout delivery. In addition to delivering solution architecture for individual programmes and technical changes, the Solution Architect plays a key role in establishing and maturing the Entreprise architecture practice, developing strategic architecture artefacts including system context diagrams, component maps, integration models, and end-to-end data flows that provide a holistic view of TfL's revenue collection ecosystem. Key duties include: Develop end-to-end solution architectures for complex enhancements and technical changes across TfL's Revenue Collection System, including Oyster and Contactless platforms. Produce high-quality architecture deliverables, including solution designs, high-level designs (HLDs), detailed designs (LLDs), interface specifications, and architecture decision records. Create and maintain architecture diagrams and models using industry-standard tools and methodologies. Ensure all solution designs align with TfL business objectives, contractual requirements, enterprise architecture principles, and technology standards. Work closely with TfL architects, technical specialists, and business stakeholders to define solution requirements and agree architectural approaches. Lead architecture workshops and technical design sessions to develop robust and supportable solutions. Present solution architectures, design proposals, and technical recommendations to TfL Technical Authority and other governance forums for approval. Provide architectural leadership throughout the solution lifecycle, from requirements definition through to implementation and operational handover. Collaborate with engineering, testing, infrastructure, cybersecurity, service management, and delivery teams to ensure solutions are implemented in accordance with approved designs. Support technical investigations, root cause analysis, and solution development for complex operational and delivery challenges. Identify and manage technical risks, assumptions, constraints, dependencies, and architectural issues throughout programme delivery. Ensure solution designs consider security, resilience, performance, supportability, scalability, and operational readiness requirements. Provide technical assurance and design oversight during delivery, validating that implemented solutions remain aligned with approved architecture. Evaluate new technologies, products, and integration approaches and provide recommendations regarding their suitability within the TfL environment. Develop and maintain strategic architecture artefacts, including system context diagrams, system component maps, integration maps, application landscapes, and end-to-end system data flows. Establish and maintain architecture standards, design patterns, reference architectures, and governance processes to develop Enterprise Architecture capabilities. Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of the architecture practice, tools, methodologies, templates, and ways of working. Support knowledge transfer activities and ensure architecture documentation remains accurate, complete, and maintained throughout the service lifecycle. Act as a trusted technical advisor to programme leadership, delivery teams, and stakeholders on architecture-related matters. Promote effective collaboration between Indra, TfL suppliers, and engineering teams to ensure successful delivery of complex technical solutions. Ensure architecture practice, standards, and governance framework are successfully established and adopted. Requirements Required Skills and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience). Significant experience delivering solution architecture for complex, large-scale technology platforms and business-critical systems. Proven experience producing high-quality architecture artefacts, including solution designs, architecture diagrams, interface specifications, and technical design documentation. Strong understanding of enterprise architecture principles, solution architecture methodologies, and architectural governance frameworks. Experience designing complex system integrations across applications, infrastructure, networks, cloud services, and third-party platforms. Experience working within highly available, business-critical, and operationally sensitive environments. Strong understanding of software development lifecycles, DevOps practices, and modern engineering delivery methodologies. Experience working in complex multi-supplier environments, coordinating architectural activities across several delivery partners. Ability to translate business requirements and technical constraints into practical, supportable, and deliverable solutions. Experience presenting solution designs and technical recommendations to architecture review boards, governance forums, and senior stakeholders. Strong understanding of security, resilience, scalability, performance, supportability, and operational readiness considerations. Experience producing architecture deliverables using industry-standard architecture modelling and documentation tools. Strong knowledge of systems integration patterns, APIs, messaging technologies, and data exchange mechanisms. Experience supporting technical delivery teams throughout implementation, testing, deployment, and operational transition. Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage effectively with business, engineering, operational, and supplier organisations. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify risks, dependencies, and architectural impacts across complex systems. Experience maintaining strategic architecture artefacts, including system context diagrams, component maps, integration landscapes, and end-to-end data flows. Experience contributing to the development of architecture standards, design patterns, governance processes, and architecture best practices. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with both highly technical teams and executive stakeholders. Experience within transport, payments, ticketing, revenue collection, or other highly regulated environments would be advantageous. Brings clarity and structure to complex technical and organisational challenges. Demonstrates sound technical judgement and pragmatic decision-making. Able to balance strategic thinking with hands-on solution design. Naturally collaborates across organisational, supplier, and technical boundaries. Comfortable challenging assumptions while building consensus among stakeholders. Focuses on delivering business outcomes rather than individual technical solutions. Influences decisions through expertise, credibility, and collaboration rather than formal authority. Takes ownership of architectural quality and technical integrity throughout the delivery lifecycle Benefits Holidays: 25 days per annum + 8 days bank holidays (options to buy/sell days). Pension – 4% employee and 4% employer. Private medical insurance (including dental & optical). Life assurance. Income protection. Employee assistance programs. Flexible/remote working options. Charitable initiatives. Social events (formal & informal). Learning and development programs. Innovative & collaborative work environment. Indra is an equal employment opportunity employer. Applicants are considered without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, origin, disability or other characteristics protected by law.