Cloud & Infrastructure Architect

Xcede; Royal Borough of Greenwich; Remote; GBP 111,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Xcede is seeking an experienced Cloud & Infrastructure Architect for a fully remote, 6-month contract with a energy sector client in the UK. The role focuses on leading cloud, network connectivity, and cyber resilience initiatives within a major infrastructure modernisation programme.

You will drive PoC activities for Cato Networks, translate findings into recommendations, and produce high-level designs and roadmaps for wider adoption, communicating clearly to technical and business stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in enterprise cloud and infrastructure architecture.
• Proven ability to design cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-datacentre connectivity.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management to guide PoCs and roadmaps.
• Experience with security resilience and compliance in large environments.
• Excellent communication of complex concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Provide architectural direction across cloud, network, and cyber resilience initiatives.
• Lead Cato Networks connectivity PoCs, defining scope, success criteria and outcomes.
• Assess connectivity options, identify risks, costs and opportunities.
• Develop high-level designs, roadmaps, and implementation plans.
• Document architecture decisions and stakeholder recommendations.

Skills

Infrastructure Architecture

Cloud Architecture

Network Architecture

Security & Resilience

Stakeholder Management

Communication skills

Tools

Cato Networks

Azure

AWS

SASE

SD-WAN

ZTNA

Job description

Cloud & Infrastructure Architect

Fully Remote | 6-Month Initial Contract | Inside IR35 | £600–675 per day

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Cloud & Infrastructure Architect to support a major infrastructure modernisation programme for a leading UK energy provider, working through an established technology and IT services partner. This is an opportunity to take a leading architectural role across cloud, network connectivity, infrastructure modernisation and cyber resilience, helping shape the future of a complex enterprise IT environment.

A key initial focus will be a Cato Networks Proof of Concept (PoC), exploring cloud-to-cloud (C2C) and cloud-to-datacentre (C2DC) connectivity. You will assess technical options, guide testing, evaluate outcomes and help translate successful PoC activity into recommendations and plans for wider adoption.

The role will suit an architect who combines broad infrastructure knowledge with strong technical leadership and the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide architectural direction across cloud, infrastructure, networking, connectivity and cyber resilience initiatives.
• Lead the architecture workstream for Cato Networks connectivity PoCs, including scope, dependencies, success criteria and recommendations.
• Assess cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-datacentre connectivity options, identifying technical risks, constraints, costs and opportunities.
• Develop high-level architecture designs, technical roadmaps, solution options and implementation plans.
• Ensure proposed solutions align with enterprise architecture principles, security standards, operational requirements and resilience objectives.
• Work closely with project managers, technical analysts, engineers, security teams and external suppliers to drive technical decisions.
• Identify architectural risks, assumptions, issues and dependencies, escalating concerns and providing constructive challenge where required.
• Support the transition from PoC and pilot activity into detailed design, implementation, testing and operational acceptance.
• Produce clear architecture documentation, decision papers, diagrams and stakeholder recommendations.
• Contribute to the wider modernisation strategy, including hybrid cloud, secure connectivity, infrastructure resilience and data protection.

Required Experience

• Strong experience in Infrastructure Architecture, Cloud Architecture, Network Architecture or Infrastructure Solutions Architecture.
• Broad understanding of enterprise infrastructure across hybrid cloud, on-premises environments, networking, security and connectivity.
• Experience designing and assessing infrastructure solutions within complex enterprise environments.
• Proven experience supporting major infrastructure transformation or modernisation programmes.
• Understanding of cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-datacentre connectivity patterns.
• Experience defining architecture designs, technical requirements, PoC scope, test criteria and delivery roadmaps.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to advise project leadership and challenge technical teams constructively.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical information into clear, actionable recommendations.

Desirable Experience

• Hands-on or architectural experience with Cato Networks.
• Knowledge of SASE, SD-WAN and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA).
• Experience with Microsoft Azure and/or AWS.
• Background in cyber resilience, backup, disaster recovery or infrastructure security.
• Experience working with enterprise architecture governance and technical assurance processes.
• Experience within energy, utilities or another large, regulated enterprise environment.

Contract Details

• Location: Fully remote
• Duration: Initial 6-month contract
• Rate: £600–675 per day
• IR35: Inside IR35
• Engagement: Through a leading technology and IT services partner, supporting a major UK energy provider

If you have a strong infrastructure architecture background and experience shaping cloud connectivity or infrastructure modernisation initiatives, we'd be keen to hear from you.