Solutions Architect

Senior Solutions Architect – Defence & Cyber Location: Bristol Contract: Until April 2027 Working Pattern: Approximately 90% onsite IR35: Inside IR35 Hours: 37 hours per week Security Clearance: Active DV required Nationality: Sole UK National required We are recruiting for an experienced Senior Solutions Architect to join a major UK defence and cyber programme based in Bristol. This is a senior technical role within a highly secure environment, providing architectural leadership across complex systems and programmes. You will act as a technical authority, shaping secure, integrated solutions across infrastructure, applications, data, networking and cloud. The role will suit an experienced Solutions Architect who has worked within UK defence, national security or another highly secure government environment and is comfortable operating across both strategic architecture and technical delivery. The Role As Senior Solutions Architect, you will:

• Act as the technical authority for solution design across large-scale and multi-project programmes
• Define and evolve architectures that balance customer requirements, enterprise architecture principles and secure-by-design standards
• Design solutions spanning infrastructure, applications, data, networking and cloud technologies
• Lead technical reviews, architecture assessments, trade-off studies and risk assessments for significant design decisions
• Contribute to technology roadmaps and identify opportunities for technology insertion, modernisation and innovation
• Ensure security principles and cyber standards are embedded throughout solution design
• Work closely with engineering, cyber security, programme and delivery teams within Agile and SAFe environments
• Mentor and coach Solutions Architects and Engineers, helping develop architectural capability across the wider technical community
• Represent the architecture function at senior customer forums, technical boards and programme reviews
• Support solution strategy, bids and proposal development where required
• Champion architectural best practice, reuse and model-based design approaches Essential Experience We are looking for demonstrable experience in:
• Senior-level Solution Architecture within complex technical environments
• Architecture across multiple technology domains including infrastructure, applications, data, networking and cloud
• UK secure environments and classified MOD systems
• Enterprise and solution architecture frameworks such as TOGAF, MODAF and NAF
• Secure system design principles and cyber security standards
• Designing solutions for highly secure or classified environments
• Shaping technical architectures within Agile or SAFe delivery environments
• Leading architectural reviews and making significant technical design decisions
• Engaging and influencing senior technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Providing technical leadership, mentoring and thought leadership to architects and engineers Desirable Experience Experience in any of the following would be advantageous:
• TOGAF, ArchiMate or equivalent architecture certifications
• High-security MOD systems
• Technology roadmaps and enterprise strategy
• Service design and operational transformation
• Digital modernisation programmes
• Cloud-native architecture
• DevSecOps
• Automation
• Model-based architecture and design
• Supporting bids and solution development
• Presenting to technical boards, customer forums or senior programme stakeholders Security Clearance Due to the highly sensitive nature of the programme, this position has strict security requirements. Candidates must:
• Be a sole UK national
• Hold the required active UK security clearance, with DV required for the programme
• Be able to work within UK Eyes Only environments
• Be comfortable working predominantly onsite in Bristol Candidates cannot commence on BPSS while awaiting the required security clearance. The Opportunity This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced defence or national security architect to take a senior technical role on a complex and highly secure programme. You will have the opportunity to influence major architectural decisions, contribute to future technology strategy and work across a broad range of infrastructure, cloud, cyber, application and data technologies. If you are an experienced Senior Solutions Architect with the required security clearance and a background in secure UK defence environments, please apply or contact me directly for a confidential discussion.