Role Overview :

Arch Insurance is seeking an experienced Solution Architect to join the POLARIS Underwriting Transformation Programme. This is a key contract role supporting the transformation of underwriting capabilities and the future replacement of our Policy Administration System (PAS). The successful candidate will play a leading role in defining solution architecture and supporting strategic technology decisions across the programme.

Working closely with business stakeholders, external consultancy firm and other architects, the Solution Architect will help shape the future underwriting technology landscape and ensure solutions align with business objectives and enterprise standards.

The role requires a strong understanding of the London Market insurance sector, underwriting operations, PAS platforms and large-scale transformation programmes.

Key responsibilities :

- Produce high-level and detailed solution designs, architecture decision records and supporting design documentation.

- Develop target-state, transition-state and interim-state architecture models.

- Define migration strategies and transitional architectures to support platform modernisation.

- Facilitate architecture workshops and solution design sessions.

- Translate business requirements into practical and scalable technology solutions.

- Build strong relationships across business and technology functions.

- Contribute to PAS replacement strategy, vendor assessments and solution evaluations.

- Support the definition of future underwriting operating capabilities.

- Support capability mapping, process transformation and platform roadmap activities.

- Work closely with System Integrators, implementation partners and third-party suppliers.

- Ensure suppliers adhere to Arch architecture standards, governance processes and design principles.

- Review solution designs produced by delivery partners and vendors.

- Support technology selection and proof-of-concept activities.

Skills and experience :

Essential :

- Proven experience working as a Solution Architect within the London Market Insurance sector.

- Significant experience delivering large-scale insurance transformation programmes.

- Previous experience delivering or supporting a London Market PAS implementation, replacement or migration programme.

- Strong understanding of underwriting processes and underwriting operating models.

- Experience developing migration strategies, transition architectures and modernisation roadmaps.

- Experience documenting current-state and target-state technology landscapes.

Technical skills :

- API-led architecture, REST APIs and event-driven integration patterns.

- Microservices architecture, Docker and containerisation technologies.

- Microsoft Azure architecture and cloud-native design.

- Security, identity and access management principles.

- Experience creating architecture diagrams and technical design artefacts.

- DevOps and CI/CD practices.

Desirable :

- Understanding of Reinsurance concepts, Bordereaux management and reporting.

- Experience with one or more of : Guidewire, HX, IRIS, Duck Creek, other London Market PAS platforms.

- Experience in AKS, Service bus, API management, Snowflake, SQL server