Enterprise Solution Architecture Recruitment · Case study
How a major rail and bus operator hired a permanent Enterprise Solution Architect in 7.5 weeks
A major rail and bus operator's Head of Architecture asked Konvergent for a Solution Architect. Through an engaged search, we showed the role needed to be far bigger, uncovered a stakeholder whose priorities reshaped the shortlist, and placed an Enterprise Architect with Data Fabric experience. The client interviewed just three people.
Client
Major rail and bus operator
Sector
Transport
Duration
7.5 weeks, start to finish (2026)
Architecture resource
Permanent Enterprise Solution Architect
The challenge
An overstretched team, and a role profile that undersold the job
Konvergent has worked with this operator's architecture practice since 2023, from providing an interim architecture team while the practice was being built in mid 2023 through to this retained engaged search in 2026. That history meant we understood the work, the pressures and the culture before the search began.
The new Head of Architecture had a significant capacity problem. He and his team were hugely overstretched, balancing BAU enterprise and solution architecture work with a major HR transformation programme which, as large programmes tend to, was running well beyond its original timeline.
He came to Konvergent asking for a Solution Architect. Knowing the organisation, our view was that this role profile was significantly underpowered for what the operator actually needed.
- What does this architect need to deliver beyond project-level solution design?
- Who, beyond the hiring manager, has a real stake in the hire?
- How does a Head of Architecture with no spare time make a key permanent hire without weeks of interviews?
Our approach
An engaged search that found the stakeholder nobody had mentioned
The search began with a diagnostic meeting in the summer. It quickly became clear that the operator needed far more than a Solution Architect. The conversation centred on someone who could create reference architecture, set up an architecture review board and oversee several large programmes, which pointed much closer to an Enterprise Solution Architect.
The real breakthrough came when we met a business unit CIO in one of the operator's divisions. He spoke about needing someone to oversee and guide a Data Fabric project, if the funding was approved. His division would provide a significant share of the role's cost through a chargeback mechanism, so although he would not be the line manager, his views had to be considered. Without an engaged search that made time for these conversations, this requirement would have stayed hidden and the shortlist would have been built against the wrong criteria.
Konvergent ran the search against both role profiles: the Head of Architecture's original requirement, and the Data Fabric experience the business unit needed. Over three weeks we mapped the transport and franchise market:
59architects identified who could potentially do the role
37responded to our approach
10face-to-face interviews conducted by Konvergent
3candidates presented to the client
2reached the final stage
1permanent Enterprise Solution Architect hired
Most of those who responded were ruled out on salary, a lack of real motivation to move, or fit with the organisation. That screening happened on our side, so the Head of Architecture only spent his limited time with people who could do the job.
The result
A coin toss between two strong finalists
Two candidates made it through the final stage. In the words of the Head of Architecture, choosing between them was a coin toss, and the client would have offered either.
The successful candidate was an Enterprise Architect who, in their previous role at a large shipping company, had overseen the implementation of Data Fabric. Had we not known about the Data Fabric requirement from the business unit CIO, that candidate may not have made the shortlist at all.
Konvergent did what it said it would. The client spoke to only three people, had a genuine choice at the final stage, and completed the hire in 7.5 weeks from start to finish. The Head of Architecture gained the senior capacity his team needed, and the business unit gained an architect ready to guide its Data Fabric ambitions.
from start to finish, for a permanent Enterprise Solution Architect
candidates interviewed by the client, with two finalists it would have hired
Hiring a permanent Enterprise Architect?
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Ben Clark · bclark@konvergent.co.uk