IT Architect - Compute and Storage

Location/s: Newcastle, UK
Recruiter contact: Erinda Hazizi

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. 

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual. 

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business unit  
Mott MacDonald’s support services are the driving force behind our organisation enabling us to run efficiently and effectively. The team works collaboratively to offer specialist advice, best practice and technology to all areas of our business specifically designed for our global reach.  

Overview of the role

In a strategic capacity, the Server and Storage Architect holds a pivotal position, responsible for designing and implement transformational innovative and scalable solutions that underpin the success of our business. This includes not only the design of the security controls but also the formulation of overarching strategies. This role entails close collaboration with multiple teams including software engineers, project managers, and business stakeholders, to ensure business objectives are achieved and systems keep pace with technology trends.  

• Formulate strategy aimed at consistently deriving value from new functionality and capabilities
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate business needs into technical specifications
• Guide Business ton ensure a robust environment
• Create detailed, high-level technical designs, prioritizing scalability, security, and performance
• Select optimal technologies, frameworks, and platforms for system development
• Offer technical guidance throughout the systems lifecycle
• Enforce best practices, design standards, and architectural principles
• Identify and address risks and anomalies in system designs
• Conduct systematic audits to ensure compliance with architectural guidelines and industry standards
• Stay current with emerging technologies, trends, and best practices in systems architecture
• Collaborate with project managers and business stakeholders, providing technical insights for project planning and execution

Key duties and responsibilities include: 

• Collaborate with Subject Matter Experts, IT Managers, and Product Managers to create system strategies that effectively address current and future business requirements
• Conduct strategic assessments of IT product options, meticulously weighing architectural principles, cost-benefit analyses, and in-depth research
• Offer technical expertise to Project and Operational teams, skilfully guiding them through intricate technical decisions
• Habitually review working practices and performance with a view to improving processes, procedures and general levels of service, ultimately engendering a "continuous improvement" culture resulting in enhanced customer experience
• Leverage your technical prowess to lead and guide project and product teams, ensuring optimal outcomes
• Establish comprehensive design principles and chart strategic product roadmaps tailored to your specialized domain
• Promote a culture of technical excellence as a dedicated champion within both the IT environment and the wider business
• Maintain a cutting-edge perspective by actively tracking technological advancements, and effectively communicate notable advancements to both IT management and stakeholders
• Comprehend the distinctive strategies of diverse business areas to elevate the alignment of IT services
• Collaboratively define pivotal service metrics in partnership with key business stakeholders

Key Performance Metrics:

• Ensuring IT Services are reliable and high performing, aligned with business goals
• Architecting systems for efficient scalability, handling increased workloads without compromising performance
• Implementing robust security measures to safeguard data and comply with industry standards
• Meeting project timelines for timely system implementation and enhancements
• Generating positive feedback by delivering systems with exceptional usability and functionality
• Introducing innovative solutions while upholding industry standards and best practices
• Exemplifying effective teamwork and communication within cross-functional teams
• Skilfully resolving technical challenges during system development and implementation
• Staying current with evolving technologies and best practices through continuous learning
• Utilizing feedback to enhance system design and performance through iterative improvement

Candidate specification

Essential:

• A sound knowledge of supporting enterprise Server and Storage technologies
• Experience in implementing solutions at scale 
• Production of architecture strategy documentation
• Integration of solutions into systems and business practises
• Standards design and documentation
• Experience providing technical guidance in a complex environment
• Experience working with senior stakeholders to understand corporate strategy 

Desirable:

• Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, computer science or relation field or equivalent professional experience or combination of both
• Certification in ITIL Foundation
• Experience with Global systems
• Knowledge of business analysis techniques
• Experience working in an Agile development environment 

Personal Attributes:

• Passionate about technical excellence
• Strong technical leadership skills
• Ability and strong appetite to understand new techniques and technologies
• Able to work both at a high level, providing strategic advice, and at a low level when detailed decisions are required
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to display and communicate information to all levels of employees and management
• Strong ability to build stakeholder relationships

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working  

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

 Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.