What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Solution Architect position at Hiscox?
Job Type
Permanent
Build a brilliant future with Hiscox
Lead Solution Architect
Hiscox US is searching for an individual to join the US Technology Leadership Team as a Lead Solution Architect.
This role reports to the US CTO and is responsible for the technology vision and architecture strategy that powers the front office and back-office systems at Hiscox US. It is pivotal in ensuring that our systems, integrations, and platform capabilities support business agility, scalability, and resilience while maintaining security and compliance. You will drive initiatives around solution design, API strategy, cloud adoption, automation, system integration, and data-driven decision-making to create a robust and future-ready platform for commercial insurance.
This is an opportunity for an experienced Solution Architect who is passionate about scalability, system interoperability, security, and cloud-based architectures. You will work across engineering, security, product, and business teams to create a high-performing, well-integrated technology ecosystem, enabling seamless pricing and underwriting operations while ensuring technical excellence and business alignment.
Key Responsibilities
Solution Design & Architecture:
Permanent
Build a brilliant future with Hiscox
Lead Solution Architect
Hiscox US is searching for an individual to join the US Technology Leadership Team as a Lead Solution Architect.
This role reports to the US CTO and is responsible for the technology vision and architecture strategy that powers the front office and back-office systems at Hiscox US. It is pivotal in ensuring that our systems, integrations, and platform capabilities support business agility, scalability, and resilience while maintaining security and compliance. You will drive initiatives around solution design, API strategy, cloud adoption, automation, system integration, and data-driven decision-making to create a robust and future-ready platform for commercial insurance.
This is an opportunity for an experienced Solution Architect who is passionate about scalability, system interoperability, security, and cloud-based architectures. You will work across engineering, security, product, and business teams to create a high-performing, well-integrated technology ecosystem, enabling seamless pricing and underwriting operations while ensuring technical excellence and business alignment.
Key Responsibilities
Solution Design & Architecture:
- Define and own the end-to-end solution architecture for Hiscox US systems, including pricing & underwriting, digital experiences, claims, contact center, and back-end operational platforms.
- Ensure that technology solutions align with business objectives, group architecture standards, and cloud-native best practices.
- Design scalable, secure, and highly available solutions leveraging cloud-based architectures (Azure preferred).
- Develop and maintain architectural blueprints, technical roadmaps, and design patterns that drive innovation and efficiency.
- Present architecture options, risks, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Lead the assessment and selection of technology platforms, tools, and vendors.
- Act as a trusted technical advisor to senior business and technology leaders, helping them make informed decisions on technology investments.
- Collaborate closely with engineering, security, and business teams to ensure technology solutions meet business needs.
- Partner with third-party vendors, technology providers, and integration partners to ensure smooth system interoperability.
- Provide technical mentorship to engineering teams, ensuring adherence to best practices in development, testing, and deployment.
- Align with the group and other Hiscox business units for architecture standards.
- Define and implement API design, management, and service-based architectures (Microservices, SOA, ESBs).
- Ensure robust data modeling, versioning, and integration strategies for pricing, underwriting, and claims processing.
- Oversee integration strategies for contact center platforms, customer experience tools, and finance/risk management systems.
- Promote the adoption of Infrastructure as Code (IaC), DevSecOps, and automated deployment practices.
- Embed security-by-design principles, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and best practices.
- Implement data protection, encryption, and access control strategies to safeguard sensitive information.
- Drive auditing, monitoring, logging, and observability initiatives to ensure system reliability and risk mitigation.
- Collaborate with cybersecurity and risk teams to proactively address threats, vulnerabilities, and compliance requirements.
- Build and mentor a high-performing Solution Architecture team using a combination of full-time employees and contractors, both on-and-near shore.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, learning, and knowledge sharing. Collaborate closely with software engineers, security, and SREs to ensure platform initiatives align with business and product goals.
- 10 years of experience in solution architecture, enterprise architecture, or technical leadership roles.
- Proven expertise in designing cloud-native architectures, microservices, and event-driven systems.
- Strong understanding of insurance technology ecosystems, including pricing, underwriting, claims, finance, and risk platforms.
- Experience working with third-party technology vendors and SaaS solutions.
- Insurance industry experience required, specifically in modern consumer interfaces, pricing, underwriting, and claims technology.
- Strong understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements in financial services or insurance.
- Knowledge of compliance frameworks (e.g., GDPR, SOC 2, ISO 27001) and security best practices.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical topics into clear business insights.
- Ability to engage with senior executives, business leaders, and technical teams to drive alignment and execution.
- Strong problem-solving mindset with a focus on collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- 401(k) with competitive company matching
- Comprehensive health insurance, vision, dental and FSA plans (medical, limited purpose, and dependent care)
- Company paid group term life, short- term disability and long-term disability coverage
- 24 Paid time off days plus 2 Hiscox days,10 paid holidays plus 1 paid floating holiday, and ability to purchase up to 5 PTO days
- Paid parental leave
- 4-week paid sabbatical after every 5 years of service
- Financial Adoption Assistance and Medical Travel Reimbursement Programs
- Annual reimbursement up to $600 for health club membership or fees associated with any fitness program
- Company paid subscription to Headspace to support employees’ mental health and wellbeing
- 2023 Gold level recipient of Cigna’s Healthy Workforce Designation for having a best-in-class health and wellness program
- Dynamic, creative, and values-driven culture
- Modern and open office spaces, complimentary drinks
- Spirit of volunteerism, social responsibility, and community involvement, including matching charitable donations for qualifying non-profits via our sister non-profit company, the Hiscox USA Foundation
- Please note that this position is hybrid and requires two (2) days in our office weekly**
