IT Technical Architect

This role is in the IT Department and reports to the Technical Solutions Architect  

The Technical Architect is a key resource in the delivery of projects and programmes implemented to support the overall IT Strategy and IT Department.  This role will design and implement systems and technologies introduced into the firm, ensuring they meet the required firm standards, particularly availability, capacity, performance, security and governance.

The Technical Architect will also look for improvements to existing solutions, recommend and implement changes and ensure that all changes are documented suitably enabling the other technical teams to support and maintain the solution. Up to date knowledge of new technologies is an important aspect of any design decisions. 

Hours will be standard for the location, there may be a requirement for overtime if needed for the job and pre-approved by management.

• Provide detailed technical architecture expertise to support the delivery of new systems, services and technologies therein. 
• Ensure the business requirements are implemented in a technically sound methodology. Can expertly advise on technology decisions and the impact of choices made
• Ensure that the Firm's Standards governing infrastructure, applications and architecture is followed
• Works to ensure that IT standards and procedures for key aspects of technology architecture are in line with IT strategy and Risk & Compliance requirements
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with all IT technicians and stakeholders in business to ensure close working relationships
• Liaise with external specialists and supervise their activities to ensure required outcomes
• Ensure that the high level designs of any new technology solutions are sufficiently documented
• Working with the Business Analysts and Project Managers to better understand the business requirements so that solutions that are recommended provide the best fit against these
• Supporting the Business Analysts and Project Managers in determining technical requirements
• Ensuring that solutions delivered align to the agreed solution architecture; managing and resolving any design issues as they arise and follow the IT Change Process
• Ensure new systems and/or services are suitably documented for handover to the operational teams
• In conjunction with the 3rd line technical teams, quickly resolve any technical design issues that may arise during the development lifecycle
• Work with the relevant technical teams and/or project managers to ensure that the design is implemented as planned and commissioned into service accordingly

Experience

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with people, functions and teams across multiple sites
• Experience of providing technical expertise for the design and specification of software and hardware solutions, systems or products across an entire infrastructure
• An enthusiastic approach to change and continuous improvement
• Aptitude and confidence to challenge / change existing practices and drive the implementation of new standards & processes
• Ability to influence others and to work in a collaborative manner to solve technical and business issues
• A detailed understanding of infrastructure, application and data concepts and methodologies
• Has worked with project teams following an approved project methodology such as Prince2

Technical Knowledge

The candidate should have at least 3 year's operational and technical knowledge of the following:

• Server configuration and technical best practice
• Ideally MSCA qualified or equivalent experience
• An understanding of automated creation and distribution of applications and operating systems
• Scripting – ideally PowerShell
• Governance and best practice
• Active Directory management and design
• Networking concepts and technologies therein
• Azure / Office 365 admin, config and design experience
• Architecture and admin of messaging services – ideally Exchange & Teams
• Experience of security concepts and best practice including certificates, ciphers and key management

Skills

• ITIL foundation qualified (or above)
• Good technical investigative & triaging skills
• Strong problem solving and troubleshooting skills following a methodical approach
• Ability to form good working relationships with both technical and non-technical personnel as well as with 3rd parties
• Ability to adapt and prioritise and work under pressure to meet deadlines
• Experience of working to standard controls such as CIS and/or ISO
• Wide knowledge of business applications and underlying technologies together with general knowledge of the changing world of technology
• Ability to gather and assimilate technical information and be able to disseminate to other less technical audiences
• Ability to look over existing practices and designs from a high level and propose more beneficial solutions or designs
• Strong communications skills enabling concise summaries of technical aspects to less technical audiences, and the ability to listen to the needs of both technical and non-technical stakeholders interpreting the requirements accordingly into solutions and designs.

The Firm

Fieldfisher is a European law firm with market leading practices in many of the world's most dynamic sectors. We are an exciting, forward-thinking organisation with a particular focus on technology, finance & financial services, energy & natural resources, life sciences and media.

Our growing European network of offices supports an international client base alongside our Silicon Valley and China colleagues. We also work in a number of other jurisdictions through dedicated country teams.

Among our clients we count social media sites and high street coffee chains as well as pharmaceutical, life sciences and medical devices companies, energy suppliers, banks and technology leaders.

Clients choose to work with us because we deliver commercial, pragmatic and innovative solutions through our exceptional legal expertise and experience, on time and on budget.

Our network has more than 1000 people working across 20 offices providing highly commercial advice based on an in-depth understanding of our clients' needs.

We operate across our offices in Amsterdam, Beijing, Belfast, Birmingham, Bologna, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, London, Luxembourg, Manchester, Munich, Milan, Paris, Rome, Shanghai, Turin, Venice and Silicon Valley.

In 2017, Fieldfisher was named Law Firm of the Year in Western Germany at the Juve Awards, and Law firm of the Year at the British Legal Awards. 2018 saw Fieldfisher named Law Firm of the year at the Legal Business Awards 2018.

Fieldfisher's Condor Alternative Legal Solutions won the award for ‘New Business and Service Delivery Models’ at the FT Innovative Lawyers Europe Awards 2017.  Fieldfisher also won Personal Injury Team of the Year at the Solicitors Journal Awards 2017.

Fieldfisher aims to ensure equality of opportunity and we are actively working towards improving the diversity of our staff.  All applications will only be considered on merit and the applicant's suitability to meet the requirements of the role.