Leading UK Mobile Network Operator with ambitious growth plans is looking for a Mobile Solutions Architect to join a team of experienced Solution Architects responsible for the end-to-end architecture, design and delivery of category leading communication and data services.

Working alongside internal business functions and interfacing with the Managed Service Partner and 3rd party vendors, you will be a design authority; owning and defining solutions, their technical roadmap and architecture strategy, supporting these throughout the development lifecycle through to successful implementation.

You will achieve the highest levels of customer experience and work cross functionally to ensure performance of these solutions are optimised and meet operational KPIs.
Scope:

You will provide technical expertise and leadership in subject matters and set the strategy and direction for a breadth of solutions, associated tools, technologies and processes to support current and future business requirements.

Working closely with the managed service partner, you will champion the design and delivery of high quality, scalable and cost effective solutions in support of business initiatives whilst maintaining high levels of customer experience and network perception.

You will manage the technical relationship with key technology suppliers to understand and influence their product roadmap to support business goals of delivering best in class end-to-end customer solutions.
Responsibilities:

Architectural Governance - Provide architectural guidance and produce designs of high quality by applying best design practices; ensuring solutions are simple, cost effective, performant and scalable whilst proactively mitigating potential risks

Design Authority - Author end-to-end design documents & high level process flows, vendor assessment & selection, package evaluation & roadmap definitions and reviewing & approving design documents in the capacity of a design authority

Cross Functional Engagement - Engage with key stakeholders across the business to understand requirements, analyse and translate into technical requirements

Effective Solution Delivery - Work alongside cross-functional delivery teams, Managed Service Partner and 3rd party vendors to support delivery throughout the development lifecycle and ensure solutions are delivered into the production network on time and meet operational acceptance criteria

Operational Assurance - Provide ongoing support to cross-functional operational teams to ensure capacity and in-life performance of solutions is optimised and meet operational KPIs

Technology Strategy - Keep abreast of new technical developments; generate new and innovative ideas and concepts for services to support business roadmap and strategy. Being the Technical Subject Matter Expert, responsible for setting the architecture strategy and direction on communication and data services

Vendor Management - Develop effective and mutually-beneficial relationships with key platform and application vendors aimed at influencing product roadmaps to ensure that key technical requirements are supported by suppliers

Budget Preparation - Build annual budgets with clear justifications and business benefits to deliver capabilities and solutions with a keen eye on minimizing capital and operational expenditure in support of company plan objectives
Knowledge and experience:

Technical

Experience of architecting high availability systems and delivering end-to-end solution designs with a mobile or fixed line operator/vendor

Experience of solving end-to-end design challenges that have significant interaction between multiple systems and domains

Demonstrable experience and/or expert knowledge of two or more of the following:

3G Mobile Packet Core architecture

3G Circuit Switched Core architecture

CS Voice, messaging or popular internet communication service architecture

Mobile Service Control architecture

Billing Integration, Real time rating and charging

Internet architecture including IP Networks, IP routing and IP Security Principles

Good working knowledge of Mobile Service Platforms, Smartphones, Mobile Broadband devices (modems, routers) and related applications

Operational experience of mobile communications networks and business support systems

Experience of technical Vendor Management

Experience of programme and project management principles

Qualified in a Computer Science, Engineering or Telecommunications discipline, preferably to degree level

Business Skills / Personality

Experience of working cross-functionally across a diverse range of business functions

Articulate and good at explaining technical detail in simple non-technical terms to stakeholders

Effective and persuasive communicator with confidence to communicate at all levels

Experience of proactively managing risk and engaging at the appropriate level to resolve complex issues and bottlenecks whilst owning the solution

Manage own time effectively and prioritise several activities simultaneously to deliver to agreed timescales

Self motivated, delivery focused individual who takes responsibility and willing to go into the details of needed

Sees the bigger picture and distinguish the important and urgent

Understanding of key business drivers, including marketing and financial objectives