Principal Architect - FTR

Closing date - 13 May 2026

Salary range: £59,031- £80,079 per annum

Rail Delivery Group (RDG) partners with Britain’s train operators to put customers at the heart of everything we do, delivering essential services and dedicated experts who keep the nation’s railway running efficiently.

What is the purpose of this job?

The Principal Architect will be responsible for the design, documentation and ownership of the architecture for all relevant systems, changes and programs across the FTR scope.

The Principal Architect will be responsible for the design, documentation and ownership of the architecture for all relevant systems, changes and programmes across the FTR scope. This role ensures that technology solutions are robust, scalable and aligned with the organisation’s strategic objectives. Acting as a key decision maker, the Principal Architect will collaborate closely with other architects, business stakeholders, technical teams and external partners to deliver cohesive, future-proofed solutions. They will provide architectural leadership throughout the transformation, safeguarding architectural integrity and best practice while supporting innovation and continuous improvement across the Fares Ticketing and Retail programme.

What can I expect to do in this job?

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but things you can expect to be involved with include:

· Provide key architectural input into business documents and support senior business stakeholders

· Develop comprehensive Architecture Definition Documents, ensuring all critical architectural domains are thoroughly addressed

· Support the capture of knowledge around the design and architecture of current and future systems within the product area

· Lead the collection, documentation, and sharing of architectural knowledge related to both current and future systems within the FTR scope

· Provide key input across design authorities and assurance groups

· Mentor and guide other architects working on the program

Job Purpose Statement

The princplal architect will be responsible for the design and documentation of the technical solution required for the project. Working in conjunction with the business stakeholders, enterprise and solution architects and external suppliers, they will ensure the solutions and data structures are fit for purpose.

Key Responsibilities

This isn’t an exhaustive list; however, you can expect to be involved in the following:

· Document the current ("as-is") solution architecture and associated data structures to ensure all business and technical requirements are fully captured and understood.

· Ensure all proposed architectural solutions are aligned with established architecture policies, principles, and governance standards.

· Take ownership of selecting and designing robust technical solutions, guaranteeing they address both functional and non-functional requirements effectively.

· Produce comprehensive documentation detailing the future technology landscape, including system interfaces and data flows, to support design clarity and stakeholder alignment.

· Act as the solution owner, maintaining responsibility for the coherence and integrity of the application, solution, and technical architecture across the entire end-to-end solution.

· Lead the preparation of technical documentation and actively participate in the evaluation and selection of delivery partners and technology suppliers, ensuring suitability for project objectives.

· Identify, assess, and manage technical risks throughout the project lifecycle, providing expert guidance to mitigate potential issues and ensure successful delivery.

Who will my key contacts be?

· Internal

o Head of architecture

o Solution architects and SME’s from across the business

o Quality Assurance, who are responsible for testing new and enhanced functionality

o Programme and Project Managers, involved in the settlement and apportionment activity.

o The security team to ensure that all solutions are in line with security policies and standards

· External

o FTR technical director, accountable for the programme technology

o FTR business stakeholders, including project managers, SME’s, product managers

o Train Operating Companies, Freight Operating Companies and Network Rail

o RDG technology service providers

o 3rd party developers

o Major technology providers (e.g. Google, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, MuleSoft)

o Cloud Hosting providers (e.g. Amazon Web Services)

·

Requirements:
What experience, skills and knowledge do I need?

· Experience of being the accountable architect on Large-scale, complex technology lead transformations

· Experience of designing utilising modern architecture

· Defining data models, mapping and flows

· Experience in communicating and influencing C-level business stakeholders

· Designing data intensive applications that feed into

· Basic understand of financial systems and the financial domain

· Experience being the lead architect across a number of domains

· Proven ability to document and articulate complex architectures

· Experience working on legacy migration programmes (mainframe to cloud)

· Proven experience designing analytical warehouses

· Ability to present and communicate to stakeholders across differing disciplines and level of seniority

Benefits:
Why Work for RDG?

We offer a highly competitive package, including:

• 75% off rail travel for personal and family use, plus international rail discounts.
• 30 Days annual leave (plus buy/sell options and additional leave for key life events)
• Season ticket loan for commuting costs.
• Enhanced family leave – 30 weeks full pay for maternity, adoption, surrogacy, and shared parental leave.
• Pension scheme – up to 11.58% employer contribution.
• Private medical insurance (Vitality PPP) including mental health and specialist care.
• Discounted gym membership and access to wellbeing programmes.

Career Development & Progression

You’ll be part of a team driving innovation at a national scale, with the opportunity to influence long-term ticketing strategy. This role provides real ownership, the chance to work with leading-edge technologies and partners, and visibility at senior levels across the rail industry. You’ll also gain wide exposure to transport and government stakeholders, opening up exciting development and progression opportunities within RDG.

Apply Now & Shape the Future of UK Rail

If you are interested in joining RDG as a Lead Solution Architect and shaping the future of digital ticketing, we’d love to hear from you!

Click Apply now to start your application and be part of a team that is leading digital innovation in the rail industry.

Please note that we are unable to consider applications from candidates who require visa sponsorship to work in the UK.