Enterprise Architect

At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education and we’re committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it’s our people who make this happen.

Enterprise Architect

Permanent

Manchester: £73,600 - £85,700

Milton Keynes: £76,600 - £89,300

Hybrid – 2x days a week in the office

Introduction

You’ll join AQA at a pivotal moment as we modernise and evolve the technology that underpins assessment delivery. This is a role where you’ll truly shape the architectural vision that supports fair, trusted, and future‑ready assessment for learners across the country. You’ll work at the heart of our transformation agenda, bringing clarity and direction to complex technology landscapes, and helping senior leaders make confident, well‑informed decisions. You’ll collaborate with experts across data, product, engineering, and operations to create coherent, scalable, and resilient architectures that enable innovation while reducing complexity. If you’re motivated by high‑impact work, strategic problem‑solving, and influencing how technology evolves at an organisational level, this is a brilliant opportunity to make a significant contribution.

Purpose of the role

You’ll lead the enterprise architecture function for Assessment Technology, defining and governing the architecture that underpins all assessment products and services. You’ll ensure architectural coherence across business, data, application, and technology domains, while shaping future‑focused roadmaps that support transformation and long‑term value. Working closely with product, technology, and business teams, you’ll reduce complexity, embed strong architectural principles, and guide decision‑making at all levels.

Key responsibilities

In this role, you'll be responsible for:

• Defining, maintaining, and evolving enterprise architecture standards and principles.

• Developing and communicating enterprise‑level architectural roadmaps.

• Providing governance, oversight, and alignment across programmes and initiatives.

• Engaging senior stakeholders to influence architectural direction and drive alignment.

What we are looking for

You’ll thrive in this role if you:

• Have experience working in enterprise or solution architecture.

• Understand modern architecture practices and technology landscapes.

• Can articulate complex concepts simply and influence senior stakeholders.

• Are strategic, analytical, and comfortable working across multiple domains.

• Have experience guiding technology decisions and driving change.

What’s in it for you

You’ll have the chance to:

• Shape the future of technology that underpins national assessment delivery.

•25 days’ annual leave, rising to 30 with service, plus bank holidays and extra closure days at Christmas

•a 35-hour working week with flexible working arrangements

•an excellent contributory pension scheme (6%–11.5% depending on your contribution)

•life assurance, BUPA PMI, and health cash plan

At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone—regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background—is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

Application process

To apply, submit your CV and complete the application form. Closing date for applications will be Thursday 9th April. The advert may close early, so please apply as soon as possible. Interviews will be a two stage process and will include an initial MS Teams call and followed by an in person interview at either our Manchester or Milton Keynes office.

Recruitment Agencies

We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.

Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.

Full Job Description

Summary

Purpose:
As the Enterprise Architect for Assessment Technology, you will play a central role in defining, governing, and evolving the enterprise wide architecture that underpins the organisation’s assessment products and services. Working closely with the Lead Data Architect, Business Architect, and other Enterprise Architects, you will help shape a coherent architectural vision that supports strategic goals, drives transformation, and ensures technology investments deliver long term value.
You will provide thought leadership across business, data, application, and technology architecture domains, ensuring that architectural decisions are aligned, future proof, and grounded in well structured analysis. This role requires a strong strategic mindset, broad technical understanding, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders across the organisation.Landscape:
The Architecture and Innovation Department supports the Chief Assessment Technology Officer in shaping the future of assessment delivery.
As the Enterprise Architect, you will work across all portfolio areas to define the architectural direction and technology roadmaps for each portfolio whilst also ensuring alignment with the overall technology strategy. You will collaborate across product, technology, and business teams to ensure architectural coherence, reduce complexity, and enable transformation through clear architectural principles, whilst also providing a business impact and value view to leaders at all levels including divisional heads and executive directors.
Activities:
Lead the enterprise architecture function for Assessment Technology
Define, maintain, and evolve enterprise architecture standards, principles, and frameworks across Assessment Technology.
Develop and communicate enterprise‑level architectural roadmaps that guide long‑term investment and transformation.
Work across business and technology domains to understand strategic objectives and translate them into coherent architectural direction.
Evaluate solution and technology options to ensure alignment with enterprise architecture, data strategy, and security policies.
Provide enterprise level architectural governance and oversight across programmes, projects, and initiatives.
Collaborate with Solution Architecture, Product Teams, and Technical Architecture to ensure solutions align with enterprise‑level direction.
Lead architectural assessments, identifying risks, opportunities, and areas for simplification or optimisation.
Represent Enterprise Architecture in strategic forums and contribute to enterprise‑wide planning and decision‑making.
Promote reuse, standardisation, and alignment with architectural patterns and principles.
Drive innovation by exploring emerging technologies and assessing their relevance to organisational strategy.
Engage proactively with senior stakeholders, including divisional heads and executives, to communicate architectural vision, influence decision‑making, and ensure alignment.
Facilitate workshops, discussions, and presentations to build shared understanding of architectural direction and trade‑offs.
Act as a trusted advisor to all levels of leadership, translating complex architectural concepts into business‑relevant insights and values.
To be successful in this role, you will need to:
Demonstrate a strong technical foundation and broad understanding of modern enterprise architecture practices
Guide architectural decisions across multiple domains without requiring deep specialism in each.
Communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively to technical and non‑technical audiences.
Lead with a strategic mindset, ensuring architecture supports business outcomes and long‑term value.
Be proactive, adaptable, and effective in a fast‑paced, evolving environment.
Exhibit strong leadership, influencing, and relationship‑building capabilities.
Be curious, open to new technologies, and committed to continuous learning.
Show a strong sense of ownership, accountability, and professional integrity.
Qualifications
Degree in Computing or equivalent business technology delivery experience.
Professional accreditation (e.g., BCS, TOGAF) is desirable.
Experience in managing, understanding, and articulating logical and domain‑level data models.
Skills
Strategic and analytical thinking.
Able to quickly grasp the key differences in technology choices and design patterns
Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
Ability to influence and guide technical and business teams, easily transitioning between each domain
Good understanding of problem definition and with ability to switch between problem and solution domain
Commercial awareness and ability to balance strategic, business and technical priorities.
Experience
Significant experience in enterprise or solution architecture within complex, multi‑domain environments.
Proven track record of developing architectural frameworks, roadmaps, and governance models.
Experience influencing senior stakeholders and contributing to strategic planning.
Familiarity with agile delivery models and product‑based architectures.