Principal System Architect

In Cork; Belfast; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in Belfast is seeking a senior software engineer to shape technology strategies and drive innovative solutions. You will work closely with architecture and engineering teams, ensuring clear communication and alignment on initiatives. Candidates should have strong experience in agile methodologies and a proven track record in technology architecture. This role emphasizes problem-solving and collaboration, important for delivering impactful technological changes.

Benefits

Generous pension package

Private healthcare

Discounted mobile and broadband

Wide range of Sky VIP rewards

Qualifications

• Experience working within an agile framework at scale.
• Deep understanding of technology architecture.
• Significant experience in a senior architecture or engineering role.

Responsibilities

• Define enabler features to drive the technology roadmap.
• Own the technology strategy and systems architecture.
• Engage with architecture and engineering teams for consensus.

Skills

Experience in agile framework

Strong communication skills

Understanding of technology architecture

Collaboration with stakeholders

Problem-solving skills

Job description

We believe in better. And we make it happen. Better content. Better products. And better careers. Working in Tech, Product or Data at Sky is about building the next and the new. From broadband to broadcast, streaming to mobile, SkyQ to Sky Glass, we never stand still. We optimise and innovate. We turn big ideas into the products, content and services millions of people love. And we do it all right here at Sky.

This role sits within Enablement Platforms in UK&I Technology reporting into the Head of Software Engineering. We are at the heart of the Sky UK technology landscape that supports every major product and customer experience at Sky, responsible for customer management and engagement platforms powering Sky Glass, Sky Q, Mobile, Broadband & Talk, Sky Protect, and exciting future products.

You’ll work closely with the wider Architecture, Engineering and Product communities, taking ownership, bridging gaps between teams, championing our platforms, and ensuring the opportunities and benefits for technical and operational simplification are translated into clear, compelling narratives for all levels of stakeholders.

We are looking for someone who thinks strategically, thrives on solving complex problems creatively, has an eye for detail, and enjoys helping others succeed. You can balance quality, performance, and maintainability while delivering on time; you enjoy breaking down complex solutions into well‑understood, manageable technology change and you have a proven track record of orchestrating and guiding multiple disciplines and teams to deliver technology change that realises tangible business benefit.

What you’ll do

• Define enabler features to drive the technology roadmap for your agile release train.
• Own the technology strategy and vision and systems architecture runway for your agile release train, informed by the wider technology strategy.
• Engage with wider architecture, engineering and product teams to gain consensus on approach. Participate in relevant technology forums and governance.
• Ensure system architecture is ready for PI planning and work closely with engineering teams to ensure understanding of the capability changes proposed.
• Work closely with solution architecture and engineering to ensure that change to shared capabilities is carefully coordinated and well communicated.
• Take accountability for strategic initiatives, shared capabilities, and cross‑cutting objectives driven from the platform portfolio, while ensuring alignment and effective coordination within the respective product portfolio.
• Work closely with engineering teams throughout each PI to assist in the delivery of the work.
• Support the breakdown of capabilities into features.

What you’ll bring

• Experience working within an agile framework, at scale with demonstrable experience of how to align systems architecture considerations with agile principles and practices.
• Experience of strong and close communication, collaboration, and team skills with both technology and business stakeholders.
• A deep understanding and proven experience of technology architecture and frameworks including technology change and delivery lifecycles.
• Broad and varied technology experience across architectural domains (e.g. data, infrastructure, integration, security, customer management, digital, app).
• Significant experience in a systems and engineering design background.
• Significant experience in a senior architecture or engineering role.
• Experience of customer relationship management systems architecture including customer engagement, commerce and fulfilment domains. Line management experience or a willingness to support direct reports.
• Nice to have: Experience in media and/or telecoms industry.

Team overview

Ground‑breaking projects. Innovative tech. Top innovation. Join our UK&I Technology team and you’ll work across technology projects that drive our TV, broadband, mobile and Sky Connect services. You’ll be at the heart of delivering the technology roadmaps that support our UK and Ireland businesses, with a focus on customer innovations for Sky Glass. That’s not all. You’ll also design, develop and deliver digital services for millions of customers across the UK.

The rewards

• Sky Q, for the TV you love all in one place
• The magic of Sky Glass at an exclusive rate
• A generous pension package
• Private healthcare
• Discounted mobile and broadband
• A wide range of Sky VIP rewards and experiences

Inclusion & how you’ll work

We are a Disability Confident Employer, and welcome and encourage applications from all candidates. We will look to ensure a fair and consistent experience for all, and will make reasonable adjustments to support you where appropriate. Please flag any adjustments you need to your recruiter as early as you can.

We’ve embraced hybrid working and split our time between unique office spaces and the convenience of working from home. You’ll find out more about what hybrid working looks like for your role later on in the recruitment process.

Your office space

• Livingston Watermark House: Our lively campus is a free shuttle bus away from Livingston North train station and the town centre. There’s onsite parking available for cars, motorbikes and bicycles.
• Osterley: Our Osterley Campus is a 10‑minute walk from Syon Lane train station. Free shuttle buses run to and from Osterley, Gunnersbury, Ealing Broadway and South Ealing tube stations. Plenty of bike shelters and showers.
• Leeds: Our spacious tech hub is under a mile away from Leeds train station. Plenty of parking in surrounding streets and at the nearby CitiPark. Game of pool or table tennis, and subsidised gym.

We’d love to hear from you

Inventive, forward‑thinking minds come together to work in Tech, Product and Data at Sky where you can explore what if, how far, and what next. We embrace each other’s differences, support our community and contribute to a sustainable future for our business and the planet.

If you believe in better, we’ll back you all the way.

Just so you know: if your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a criminal record check. Depending on the role and the nature of any convictions you may have, we might have to withdraw the offer.