Solution Architect (Contract)
Location: Hybrid 3 days onsite/week (Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester, Manchester, Blackpool, Birmingham, Newcastle)
Contract: 6 Months
Opportunity We are supporting a major UK Government programme seeking an experienced Solution Architect to lead the design and delivery of enterprise-scale solutions across business-critical functions including People, Finance, Commercial and Estates.
This is an excellent opportunity to join a high-profile transformation programme where you will shape technical strategy, design modern cloud-based solutions, and work closely with senior stakeholders, engineering teams, and delivery partners.
Key Responsibilities
Design end-to-end technical solutions that align with business requirements and enterprise architecture standards.
Lead architecture design for large-scale enterprise systems and transformation initiatives.
Evaluate, select, and implement SaaS products and services.
Design and govern solutions using microservices, APIs, event-driven architectures, and file-based integrations.
Produce architecture artefacts, solution designs, and technical documentation for a range of audiences.
Work closely with engineering and delivery teams to ensure successful implementation.
Drive the adoption of architecture best practices, patterns, and standards.
Identify and reduce technical debt while improving long-term platform sustainability.
Develop technical roadmaps and present solutions at architecture governance forums.
Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Collaborate with business and technology leaders to deliver value-for-money solutions.Essential Experience
Proven experience working as a Solution Architect within large and complex organisations.
Extensive experience selecting and implementing Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions.
Strong expertise in:
Microservices Architecture
API Design and Integration
Event-Driven Architecture
File-Based Data Transfers and Integration Patterns
Experience designing solutions within public cloud environments (AWS, Azure and/or GCP).
Strong understanding of enterprise architecture principles and governance.
Experience creating architecture diagrams, solution views, and technical documentation.
Demonstrable experience leading architecture on enterprise-scale programmes.
Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior leadership.
Excellent communication and presentation skills.Desirable Experience
Experience delivering solutions across People (HR), Finance, Commercial, or Estates domains.
Experience working within Government or highly regulated environments.
Familiarity with architecture frameworks and governance processes
