Role Summary

The Lead Product Architect is responsible for leading the architecture direction, design, and implementation for a specific product or sets of products. To be successful in this role, you will have proven experience of leading architecture coherence across multiple delivery workstreams, gathering requirements, analysing existing and potential options, and designing and implementing integrated solutions that deliver business value.  In addition, you should be able to demonstrate an ability to develop and coach others. This role requires building excellent working relationships with stakeholders and providing technical leadership across Information Technology and other business areas.

The Lead Product Architect role is matrix managed and supports global teams.  Therefore, some flexibility regarding travel, working style, and working hours is expected.

Function Overview

The legal sector is transforming rapidly and Freshfields needs to transform its technology capability to retain its position as a market leader and to leverage new opportunities. The Architecture practice plays a pivotal role driving the change agenda; working proactively with key stakeholders to deeply understand Client and Firm needs in order to identify, design and deliver responsive, reliable and fit-for-purpose technology solutions. We ensure our clients and colleagues, globally, have the right technology capabilities to achieve or exceed their objectives, deliver the Firm’s growth, and reduce risk.
    
Location overview: Manchester

The Freshfields Global Centre provides both business and legal services to the firm. Our services are delivered in a way which supports the global nature of our firm and our clients, enables our fee earners to deliver exceptional service to our clients and to do that in a way which is efficient and effective.

Key responsibilities

• Guides product / platform strategy decisions and influences the prioritisation of investment

• Thinks creatively to develop roadmaps; aligned to the overall product / platform strategy

• Influences the strategic direction of firmwide technology investments

• Pragmatically creates architecture artefacts that support the delivery of the product / platform roadmap

• Collaborates with colleagues to resolve complex technical challenges through high-performing, reliable solutions, that deliver tangible business outcomes

• Uses their expertise to assure end-to-end technical integrity and quality of solutions and product releases

• Empowers delivery teams, subject matter experts, and other architects through technical leadership 

• Develops and nurtures other architects through coaching and mentoring

• Communicates architectures and designs in relatable ways 

• Proactively communicates with and influences senior stakeholders 

• Collaborates with the Architecture Community of Practice to ensure technology changes align with firmwide architecture standards

• Seeks opportunities for continuous improvement in both the practice of architecture and elsewhere in the business, and drives the delivery of these initiatives 

Key Requirements

 Essential – Innovation 

• Proven experience in designing cloud-first solutions on enterprise platforms such as Azure, AWS, and GCP, with a solid foundation in data engineering, data pipelines, and seamless integrations 

• Comprehensive expertise across the full software development lifecycle, from requirements analysis through to deployment and BAU operations, with a strong grasp of DevOps, CI/CD, and Agile methodologies 

• Skilled in designing and implementing AI and machine learning solutions, ensuring appropriate models, datasets, and integration patterns are utilised, while adhering to global compliance requirements 

• Demonstrated ability to leverage technology to optimise the end-to-end customer / client journey, including personalised, omni-channel experiences, and real-time data insights to drive customer / client satisfaction

Freshfields Overview

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a major international law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality. We want to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it most matters, wherever in the world that may be. The Firm has over 2,400 lawyers in 28 offices around the world, providing a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions, and governments.

Our people make our firm - we are a people business and want to create a welcoming and supportive environment where all can flourish. We see diversity as a strength which creates fresh perspectives and generates new ideas. We enjoy our work and are determined to do an outstanding job. We deliver best when working in teams. Our culture is a product of the combined mindsets and behaviours of our people which is through the Being Freshfields principles, outlined below:

• we show respect to everyone

• we are there for one another

• we are open with each other

• we are positive role models

We think and work globally - we do not just say we are one firm; we act like one firm right across the world. We work wherever our clients need us. This is how we define ourselves, not by reference to where we have offices. Cross-border work is not just what we do, it is what we excel at. We understand what it really takes to work across different legal systems and commercial environments and to bridge language and cultural gaps.

We aim to add value in everything we do - we are passionate about helping our clients succeed. We use our experience and creativity to help clients make judgements and achieve their goals. In everything we do, we seek to make a real difference to the communities in which we operate.

Freshfields is committed to promoting equality and diversity and to developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds make important and positive contributions to our business and how we service our clients.

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered based on their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case-by-case basis and take a number of factors into account (e.g. the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.