Technical Strategy Lead - Principal Consultant

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. 

As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity.

Our diverse teams of experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results.

We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. And we have deep expertise in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport. 

Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands. 

Role Overview:  We are seeking an experienced a technical architect or software / data engineer who blends deep technical expertise with strategic insight. You will primarily operate at the intersection of technical strategy, data and application architecture, and large-scale software implementation. With your strong technical background, you will be comfortable working closely alongside both strategy and technical consultants to shape impactful digital strategies, particularly around data and application architecture, legacy modernisation, and enabling AI initiatives for our clients. You will also have the opportunity to take on more hands-on leadership roles in major implementation programmes, guiding teams of software engineers to deliver transformative results in large and complex mission critical environments.

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. We challenge where it matters and own the outcome. We combine strategic thinking, customer-centric service design, and agile engineering practices to accelerate innovation in a tech-driven world. 

Why consider joining our Digital & Data community? 🤔 

• Join our Digital & Data team working alongside product, design and a wide range of other experts and cross-disciplinary teams to bring ideas to life through innovative software solutions. 
• Grow a flexible and unique career within a trust-based,  inclusive environment that values excellence, innovation, and curiosity. You have the option to progress with us on a technical career track. No need to go onto the Partner career track if this doesn’t align with what you want to do. 
• Hybrid working - our approach is to be in the office or on client site a minimum of 3 days per week.  However, the actual time you spend and where you spend it will vary by role or assignment, including up to 5 days per week on a client site. 
• Work on a broad variety of projects and tech stacks for clients across seven sectors - no project is ever the same 
• Join other experts within our supportive and collaborative tech community through knowledge-sharing and peer-level support, coaching and mentoring 
• Deepen your expertise through our  a culture of learning and growth – you’ll have budget to take courses (technical and non-technical training), plus gain certifications 

Please note: Full professional proficiency in Dutch is mandatory for this role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic technical leadership across Data and Application Strategy engagements, working closely with senior stakeholders and business-focused consultants to design pragmatic yet innovative solutions.
• Help clients unlock the full potential of their data by advising on data architecture, addressing siloed data challenges, and defining strategic roadmaps that enable effective AI adoption and use-case productionisation.
• Conduct strategic reviews and technical assessments of complex application estates, leveraging Domain Driven Design (DDD) methods (event storming, identifying bounded contexts, etc.) to create clear migration strategies and architectural roadmaps.
• Deliver strategic 'build vs buy vs blend' assessments and help clients make informed, realistic decisions about their technical transitions.
• Lead and mentor delivery teams in executing large-scale system modernisation and strategic application implementation initiatives, balancing strategic advisory responsibilities with hands-on oversight where necessary.
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients, clearly articulating complex technical and architectural concepts to non-technical audiences, ensuring alignment and buy-in at every level of the organisation.
• An environment that deeply cares about its values  Values | PA Consulting

Essential requirements ✅ 

Even if you don’t meet every requirement below, feel free to still apply as we are often hiring for similar roles which your background might be better suited to. 

• Flexible mindset and genuine enthusiasm for balancing strategic advisory roles with practical, hands-on engineering project involvement.
• Full professional proficiency in Dutch.
• Deep experience as a hands-on engineer with some exposure to strategic advisory and implementation initiatives.
• Deep technical understanding of application/data architectures, technical strategies, and legacy modernisation, especially within the context of enabling scalable AI initiatives.
• Knowledge of Domain Driven Design (DDD) and/or relevant methodologies, with the ability to facilitate strategic design and technical discovery sessions (event storming, defining bounded contexts).
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex technical ideas for senior management and non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated capability in leading cross-functional teams, managing technical risks, and ensuring strategic alignment across projects.

Life at PA encompasses our peoples' experience at PA. It's about how we enrich peoples’ working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose led meaningful work. 

Our purpose guides how we work with our clients and our teams, and support our communities, to deliver insight and impact, solving the world’s most complex challenges. We're focused on building a workplace that values human difference and diverse mindsets, and a culture of inclusion and equality that unlocks the potential in our people so everyone can be their best self. 

Find out more about Life at PA  here . 

We are dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, social and financial well-being of our people. Check out some of our extensive benefits: 

• 35 holidays per year (including statutory days)
• opportunity to buy additional flex holidays (maximum of 7)
• annual performance-based bonus
• pension plan (with fixed percentage personal contribution)
• possibility to buy shares in PA
• car allowance

We’re committed to advancing equality. We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief veteran status, or other by any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups. 

Adjustments or accommodations - Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us on  [email protected]

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