Solution Architect

Solution Architect - Defence / Secure Networks

Location: Corsham / Hybrid
Rate: Up to 700 inside IR35
Contract: 6 months initially, with a likely extension
Clearance: Active SC required, with willingness to undergo DV

We are seeking an experienced Solution Architect to join a high-profile Defence programme, providing architectural leadership across the design, integration, validation and transition of secure, mission-critical networking and interoperability capabilities.

This is a senior architecture role working across technical teams, security specialists, stakeholders and programme leadership to translate complex operational and interoperability requirements into robust, secure technical solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of High-Level Designs (HLDs), Low-Level Designs (LLDs), architectural assessments and technical roadmaps.
• Define secure solution architectures supporting information exchange, interoperability, metadata-based information handling and policy-based information control.
• Design solutions incorporating Federated Identity and Access Management (FIAM), IAM, PKI, trust frameworks and Data Centric Security.
• Ensure architectural compliance with Defence standards, security policies and interoperability requirements.
• Support technology selection, integration planning and technical design assurance.
• Provide architectural governance throughout design, build, integration, testing and transition.
• Conduct technical risk assessments and architecture reviews.
• Work closely with engineering teams to ensure designs are successfully implemented.
• Support interoperability testing, validation and stakeholder demonstrations.
• Produce and maintain architecture documentation, technical reports and reference architectures.

Essential Experience

• 5+ years' experience in Solution Architecture, ideally across complex infrastructure, networking, interoperability or secure information systems.
• Proven experience delivering enterprise-scale technical solutions from concept through implementation and transition.
• Strong HLD/LLD and architectural documentation experience.
• Experience designing secure solutions within Defence, Government, NATO or other highly regulated environments.
• Strong understanding of interoperability architectures, federation and coalition information sharing.
• Experience designing solutions across multiple security domains.
• Knowledge of Data Centric Security, policy-based information control and metadata-based handling.
• Strong experience with IAM/FIAM, RBAC and PKI.
• Experience conducting architecture assessments, technical risk assessments and technology evaluations.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Active SC clearance and willingness to undergo DV clearance.

Desirable

• Defence Digital / MOD / NATO experience.
• Experience with Federation Mission Networking (FMN) or coalition interoperability programmes.
• Knowledge of FMN Spiral 6, Data Centric Interoperability (DCI) or similar capabilities.
• Experience with secure accredited solutions.
• Knowledge of Zero Trust and Secure by Design.
• Experience with virtualised, cloud or hybrid infrastructure.
• Security accreditation experience.
• Agile/SAFe and Waterfall delivery experience.
• Jira and Confluence experience.
• TOGAF, BCS, CISSP, SABSA or equivalent certification.