Solutions Architect / Platform Lead

We are looking for an experienced Solutions Architect / Platform Lead (SFIA Level 7) to provide senior technical leadership and oversee the design and build of a complex technology platform.

You will act as the technical and design authority, setting the architectural direction while working closely with engineering and delivery teams to ensure the platform is successfully built and implemented.

The environment combines modern cloud-based infrastructure with legacy on-premise technologies, so strong experience across both is essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and provide technical direction to a team of six technical specialists/engineers.
• Own the architecture, design and technical direction of the platform.
• Oversee the platform build through to implementation and transition.
• Provide technical and design assurance across engineering teams.
• Define architecture standards, principles and technical guardrails.
• Lead solutions spanning cloud, hybrid and legacy on-premise infrastructure.
• Ensure security, resilience, scalability and operational requirements are built into the solution.
• Provide senior technical leadership and influence key stakeholders and suppliers.

Essential Experience

• Strong background as a Solutions Architect, Platform Architect or Technical Lead.
• Proven experience leading and developing technical teams.
• Experience overseeing complex platform/infrastructure builds.
• Excellent architecture and solution design capability.
• Strong cloud infrastructure experience, ideally Azure and/or AWS.
• Significant legacy and on-premise infrastructure experience.
• Experience designing and delivering hybrid cloud/on-premise solutions.
• Broad technical knowledge across infrastructure, networking, security, integration and platform engineering.
• Strong understanding of Infrastructure as Code, automation, CI/CD and DevOps.
• Excellent technical leadership and senior stakeholder management skills.

This is a senior SFIA Level 7 position requiring someone who can set technical direction, make significant architectural decisions and provide authoritative leadership throughout the platform build.

Benefits

• 25 days Annual Leave (plus Bank Holidays)
• Employer Pension Contributions
• Group Life Insurance
• Dental & Health Cashback Plan
• Wellbeing Services (includes GP, Physio and Savings Benefits)
• Thorn Wellbeing Support Contribution
• Employee Referral Scheme
• Company Social Events
• Supported Training & Personal Development Opportunities

All applicants must hold the Right to Work in the UK and already possess, or be eligible to obtain, a high level of National Security Clearance.

Due to the nature of our business, your nationality, previous nationalities, and country of birth may influence the types of roles for which you are eligible. For more details, visit the GOV.UK website or click here.