Solution Architect (we have office locations in Cambridge, Leeds and London)

Company Description

Genomics England is a global leader in enabling genomic medicine and research, focused on creating a world where everyone benefits from genomic healthcare. Building on the 100,000 Genomes Project, we support the NHS’s world-first national whole genome sequencing service and run the growing National Genomic Research Library, alongside delivering numerous major genomics initiatives. By connecting research and clinical care at national scale, we enable immediate healthcare benefits and advances for the future.

Our mission is to provide the evidence and digital systems so that by 2035 genomics could play a role in up to half of all healthcare interactions, whilst securing the UK’s position as the best place to discover, prove and benefit from genomic innovations.

We are accelerating our impact and working with patients, doctors, scientists, government and industry to improve genomic testing, and help researchers access the health data and technology they need to make new medical discoveries and create more effective, targeted medicines for everybody.

Behind the Healthcare and Research outcomes, Genomics England delivers through designing, developing and operating complex healthcare software systems.

We're on the cusp of big changes with the real prospect of genomics becoming the fabric of everyday healthcare through the lifetime - from birth to old age.

Job Description

Solution Architect

We’re looking for an accomplished Solution Architect to join our Use Research Data team at Genomics England.

Our Use Research Data service (URD) helps researchers securely access and use genomic and associated health data, supporting research that can improve our understanding of disease and lead to better treatments and healthcare outcomes.

Working within the Technology and Product Directorate, you’ll help shape and deliver the platforms, data services and technical capabilities that underpin this work. You’ll collaborate with engineering, product, science, data, security and delivery colleagues to turn complex research and user needs into coherent, scalable and secure solutions.

This is a hands-on architecture role where you’ll balance longer-term technical direction with practical delivery. You’ll guide teams through architectural decisions, develop reusable patterns and ensure solutions align with Genomics England’s wider technology strategy, architecture standards and security requirements.

The complex nature of genomics research means we use a broad range of technologies, with AWS at the heart of our environment, supporting data ingestion and processing, workflow execution, high-performance compute, high-speed storage, advanced security, and genomics-specific capabilities on AWS.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the architecture and design of solutions within the Use Research Data service, ensuring they are secure, scalable, resilient and aligned with research and user needs.

Design solutions across application, data, infrastructure, integration and security domains.

Work with product managers, engineers, scientists, data specialists, security colleagues and delivery teams to understand problems, clarify requirements and develop effective solution options.

Shape technical roadmaps and help teams balance immediate delivery priorities with longer-term architectural direction.

Architect solutions that support the secure storage, processing, analysis and use of large-scale genomic and associated health data.

Apply proven experience designing solutions across complex AWS environments, including compute, storage, networking, identity, access management, security and integration.

Support research capabilities involving data ingestion, workflow execution, high-performance compute, high-speed storage and trusted access to sensitive data.

Develop reusable architecture patterns that improve consistency, interoperability, maintainability and delivery across research products and services.

Ensure solutions are secure by design and meet relevant data governance, privacy, regulatory and operational requirements.

Document architectures, technical options, decisions, dependencies and transition states clearly for technical and non-technical audiences.

Provide architectural oversight throughout the lifecycle, from early discovery and technical evaluation through to implementation and live service.

Contribute to architecture governance and assurance, including presenting designs and recommendations through appropriate technical forums.

Identify technical risks, constraints and dependencies early, working collaboratively with teams to address them.

Evaluate emerging AWS services and other technologies where they could improve the performance, scalability, security or cost-effectiveness of our research platforms.

Work with architects across Genomics England to create coherent end-to-end solutions and encourage appropriate reuse across services.

Contribute to architecture best practice and improving the quality of architecture across Genomics England.

Skills and Experience for Success

Substantial experience designing and delivering AWS solution architectures in complex, data-intensive environments, with strong knowledge across services relating to compute, storage, networking, identity, security, data processing and integration.

Experience architecting for the whole context, designing architectures across application, data, infrastructure and security domains.

Experience designing secure, scalable and resilient platforms that process, store or provide controlled access to large and complex datasets.

Strong understanding of architecture patterns and principles for cloud and hybrid environments.

Experience translating complex business, research or user needs into practical technical designs and delivery roadmaps.

Proven ability to balance strategic architectural direction with immediate delivery needs and constraints.

Experience working with multidisciplinary teams and building alignment between engineering, product, data, security, delivery and domain stakeholders.

Good understanding of secure-by-design principles, data protection, governance and access controls when working with sensitive data.

Experience documenting and communicating architectures, options, risks and decisions clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Experience providing architectural governance and assurance throughout the delivery lifecycle.

Good understanding of integration patterns, APIs and interoperability across complex services and platforms.

Strong stakeholder engagement skills and a collaborative approach that builds trust and supports effective decision-making.

Demonstrable experience using innovative technology such as AI.

Ability to recognise where architecture practices could be improved, proactively suggest improvements and deliver these into regular usage.

Desirable Skills and Experience

AWS architecture certification or another relevant professional certification.

Experience working with data-intensive research, scientific, healthcare, genomics or other regulated platforms.

Postgraduate qualification in genomics, bioinformatics or a related field; or extensive equivalent experience.

Knowledge of AWS services supporting genomics or large-scale research workloads, such as AWS HealthOmics.

Experience with high-performance compute, large-scale or high-speed storage, workflow orchestration or distributed data-processing environments.

Knowledge of research workflows and the lifecycle of data, from ingestion and processing through to secure access, analysis and reuse.

Experience with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code, automation and observability.

Understanding of metadata, data lineage, data products and interoperability standards.

Knowledge of relevant genomics or research standards and technologies, such as OMOP, GA4GH, FHIR, Common Workflow Language, Nextflow or WDL.

Experience contributing to architecture governance forums such as a Technical Design Authority.

Familiarity with enterprise architecture tools such as Abacus.

Experience applying TOGAF or equivalent architecture practices.

If you’re an experienced Solution Architect with proven AWS expertise, who enjoys working on complex technology and data challenges, this is a fantastic opportunity to help shape resilient platforms that enable secure, responsible and impactful genomic research at Genomics England.

Qualifications

Candidates must be able to demonstrate substantial, hands-on experience designing and delivering solutions across complex AWS environments.

Additional Information

Salary From: £96,500

Closing Date: Monday 26th October @ 23:00 (UK time)

Being an integral part of such a meaningful mission is extremely rewarding in itself, but in order to support our people, we’re continually improving our benefits package. We pride ourselves on investing in our people and supporting them to achieve their career goals, as well as offering a benefits package including:

Generous Leave: 30 days’ holiday, plus bank holidays, plus additional leave for long service, and also the option to apply for up to 30 days of remote working abroad annually (approval required). Family-Friendly: Blended working arrangements, flexible working, enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave benefits. Pension & Financial: Defined contribution pension (Genomics England double-matches up to 10%, however you can contribute more if you wish), Life Assurance (3x salary), an Electric Vehicle salary sacrifice scheme and a Give As You Earn scheme. Learning & Development: Individual learning budgets, support for training and certifications, and reimbursement for one annual professional subscription (approval required). Recognition & Rewards: Employee recognition programme and referral scheme. Health & Wellbeing: Subsidised gym membership, a free Headspace account, and access to an Employee Assistance Programme, eye tests, flu jabs.Equal opportunities and our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace

Genomics England is actively committed to providing and supporting an inclusive environment that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion best practice both within our community and in any other area where we have influence. We are proud of our diverse community where everyone can come to work and feel welcomed and treated with respect regardless of any disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, or social background.

Genomics England’s policies of non-discrimination and equity and will be applied fairly to all people, regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, being pregnant or recently becoming a parent, race, religion or beliefs, sex or sexual orientation, length of service, whether full or part-time or employed under a permanent or a fixed-term contract or any other relevant factor.

Genomics England does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, victimisation or bullying at work. Such behaviour undermines our mission and core values and diminishes the dignity, respect and integrity of all parties. Our People policies outline our commitment to inclusivity.

We aim to remove barriers in our recruitment processes and to be flexible with our interview processes. Should you require any adjustments that may help you to fully participate in the recruitment process, we encourage you to discuss this with us.

Culture

We have four key behaviours that represent what we would like Genomics England to feel like and the culture we want to encourage, in order for us to achieve our mission. These behaviours help us all work well together, deliver on our outcomes, celebrate our successes and share feedback with each other. You can read about these and other aspects of our culture here