Salesforce Platform Architect

About the Role

National Energy System Operator (NESO) is transforming its digital, data and technology landscape to support the delivery of a secure, resilient and net-zero energy system. Central to this transformation is a modern enterprise platform ecosystem that enables customer engagement, operational excellence, workforce productivity and data-driven decision making.

We are seeking a Salesforce Platform Architect to join NESO as a permanent Manager hire within the Strategy & Architecture team. This role will be responsible for defining, governing and assuring the architecture of Salesforce and associated applications across NESO, ensuring that all programmes and initiatives using the Salesforce platform are coherent, secure, scalable and aligned to enterprise architecture direction.

The Salesforce Platform Architect will act as the design authority for Salesforce platform architecture, working closely with product owners, delivery teams, business stakeholders, security, data, integration and supplier teams. The role will shape the Salesforce platform roadmap, establish reusable design patterns, assure solution designs and ensure Salesforce-enabled change delivers business value while protecting platform integrity, operational resilience and long-term maintainability.

This role can be based from Warwick or Wokingham, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. We are open to flexible working arrangements. 

This role is designated as requiring a National Security Vetting (NSV) clearance. The level of clearance associated with the role is Security Check (SC). You will usually need to have been a resident in the UK for the last five years to apply for an SC clearance. We would invite any applicants who do not currently meet this residency requirement to still express an interest in the role.

Key Accountabilities

Salesforce Platform Strategy

• Define and maintain the architecture vision, principles and target state for NESO’s Salesforce platform and associated applications.
• Develop and maintain the Salesforce platform roadmap, ensuring alignment with NESO’s enterprise architecture, digital strategy and business priorities.
• Ensure all programmes and initiatives fulfilled through Salesforce use the platform appropriately and consistently.
• Drive platform simplification, reuse, rationalisation and technical debt reduction across Salesforce capabilities.

Salesforce Architecture Leadership

• Act as the design authority for Salesforce platform architecture across NESO.
• Establish Salesforce reference architectures, standards, guardrails and reusable solution patterns.
• Define architecture patterns for integration, identity, security, data, automation and user experience across the Salesforce ecosystem.
• Provide pragmatic architectural direction to delivery teams, balancing strategic platform integrity with delivery priorities.
• Ensure Salesforce solutions are designed for scalability, maintainability, resilience and operational supportability.

Architecture Governance and Assurance 

• Provide architecture assurance for Salesforce designs through NESO governance forums and delivery assurance processes.
• Review and assure Salesforce solution designs, integrations, data flows and platform configuration decisions.
• Ensure Salesforce-enabled initiatives align with enterprise architecture principles, cyber security requirements, data governance and regulatory obligations.
• Identify and manage architectural risks, design issues, dependencies and technical debt associated with Salesforce and connected applications.

Platform Delivery & Transformation

• Support major programmes and initiatives that are delivered through Salesforce and associated applications.
• Shape solution options and architecture recommendations for new Salesforce capabilities, extensions and integrations.
• Work with product and delivery teams to maximise value from Salesforce while avoiding unnecessary customisation and platform complexity.
• Ensure Salesforce solutions balance user needs, business outcomes, cost, risk, security and operational resilience.

Supplier & Partner Engagement

• Provide technical and architectural direction to Salesforce delivery partners, managed service providers and suppliers.
• Support supplier engagement, estimation, option assessment and delivery planning for Salesforce-enabled change.
• Ensure suppliers apply NESO architecture standards, platform guardrails and agreed design patterns.
• Challenge supplier designs where needed to protect platform integrity, value for money and long-term maintainability.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Provide architecture leadership across Salesforce initiatives without requiring direct line management responsibility.
• Work collaboratively with enterprise, solution, data, integration, security and infrastructure architects to ensure joined-up design decisions.
• Build trusted relationships with product owners, platform teams, business stakeholders and delivery partners.
• Contribute to NESO’s architecture community of practice, sharing Salesforce architecture knowledge, standards and lessons learned.
• Support continuous improvement of architecture governance, design quality and platform maturity.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK by the start of employment. Visa sponsorship may not be available for this role and will be considered in line with business requirements.

About You

Essential 

• Experience as a Salesforce Architect, Platform Architect, Solution Architect or similar role in a complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of Salesforce platform capabilities, configuration, customisation, integration approaches and platform governance.
• Experience defining target-state architectures, solution options, roadmaps, standards and reusable patterns for Salesforce-enabled change.
• Good understanding of enterprise integration, APIs, identity and access management, cyber security, data management and reporting considerations.
• Experience assuring solution designs and working through formal architecture governance processes.
• Experience working with delivery teams, product owners, business stakeholders and third-party suppliers.
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with the ability to explain architecture decisions clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to balance strategic architecture direction with pragmatic delivery needs in a fast-moving environment.

Desirable 

• Salesforce architecture or administrator certifications, such as Salesforce Certified Application Architect, System Architect or Technical Architect.
• Experience with Salesforce industry cloud, experience cloud, customer engagement, case management or workflow automation capabilities.
• Experience within Critical National Infrastructure, utilities, energy or other highly regulated environments.
• Familiarity with enterprise architecture tooling, architecture repositories or platform governance practices.

What You'll Get

A competitive salary of £75,000 - £85,000 dependent on experience and capabilityAs well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus of up to 15% of your salary for stretch performance, 28 days annual leave as standard, and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. NESO's flexible benefits programme provides you with more flexibility around your health, lifestyle and protection benefits, here's just a few available: - Flexible Bank Holidays & Holiday Trading - Additional Birthday Day Off - Cycle to Work Scheme, Retail & Gym Discounts - Private Medical Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance & Personal Accident Insurance  

About Us

At the National Energy System Operator (NESO), we play a vital role in tackling climate change and securing Great Britain's energy future. We already operate the world's fastest decarbonising electricity system and are working towards our ambition to run it carbon-free for a short period this year - provided the market supplies electricity exclusively from renewable sources. Alongside this, we provide expert advice to government on how to deliver a clean power system by 2030.

In autumn 2024, the Electricity System Operator (ESO) transitioned to become NESO - an independent, expert public corporation with a whole-system view across electricity, gas, and hydrogen. NESO operates independently and transparently, always acting in the best interests of all energy users.

Licensed and regulated by Ofgem, we make impartial decisions that balance sustainability, affordability and security. Our organisation is fully independent from government, the regulator and all commercial interests, with a clear focus on system-wide benefit, long term thing and public value.

The time to deliver is now. Join the energy transformation and help shape the future. Your energy. Our future. Together

National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognises the potential of bright and talented individuals, and we encourage you to join us as Great Britain’s energy system undergoes an ambitious, exciting, and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

More Information

This role closes at 23:59, on the day before date shown above, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.Research shows that some people may hesitate to apply unless they meet every single requirement. At NESO, we believe potential comes in many forms and we're committed to a fair, inclusive recruitment

We're committed to building a workforce that represents the communities we serve, and a working environment in which each individual feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential. If this role sparks your interest but you're not sure you tick every box, we still want to hear from you. process where everyone has the opportunity to show their talents. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds.