D365 Solution Architect

PA Consulting; Royston; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and lifestyle perks

25 days annual leave

Generous company pension scheme

Annual performance-based bonus

PA share ownership

Cycle to work

Job summary

A leading consulting firm is seeking a Solution Architect in Royston, UK. In this role, you will leverage your architectural skills across various domains, collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams to deliver innovative solutions while adhering to agile methodologies. You can expect a hybrid working model, a focus on continuous learning, and opportunities for professional growth. The firm values a diverse culture and supports its employees' well-being through comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience across architectural domains including Business, Data, Application, Technology, and Security.
• Understanding and practical application of established methodologies.
• Clear understanding of governance and target operating models.
• Proficient in modelling tools like UML, ArchiMate, Ardoq.

Responsibilities

• Work with cross-disciplinary teams to design and deliver architectural solutions.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to define vision and architectural standards.
• Lead solution design for low-code projects ensuring business objectives are met.
• Collaborate with Engineering teams and act as a lead SME to unblock the team.
• Influence decisions across client organizations and ensure governance compliance.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Collaboration

Architecture skills

SAFe

UML

ArchiMate

Ardoq

Leadership

Education

Experience in architecture methodologies

Experience with UML, ArchiMate, Ardoq

Tools

TOGAF

SAFe

Job description

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future.

As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity.

Our teams of interdisciplinary experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results.

We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. And we have deep expertise in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport.

Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands.

PA. Bringing Ingenuity to Life.

Job Description

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. We challenge where it matters and own the outcome. We combine strategic thinking, customer‑centric service design, and agile engineering practices to accelerate innovation in a tech‑driven world.

• Join our Digital & Data team working alongside product, design and a wide range of other experts and cross‑disciplinary teams to bring ideas to life through innovative software solutions.
• Grow a flexible and unique career within a trust‑based, inclusive environment that values excellence, innovation, and curiosity. You have the option to progress with us on a technical career track. No need to go onto the Partner career track if this doesn’t align with what you want to do.
• Hybrid working - our approach is to be in the office or on client site a minimum of 2 days per week.
• Work on a broad variety of projects and tech stacks for clients across seven sectors - no project is ever the same.
• Join other experts within our supportive and collaborative tech community through knowledge‑sharing and peer‑level support, coaching and mentoring.
• Deepen your expertise through our culture of learning and growth – you’ll have budget to take courses (technical and non‑technical training), plus gain certifications.

While we advocate for using the right tech for the right task, you can expect to work with the following technologies to ensure scalable, high‑performance applications:

• TOGAF
• SAFe
• UML, ArchiMate, Ardoq

What you can expect 🌱

• Work to agile best practices and cross‑functionally with multiple teams and stakeholders. You’ll be using your technical skills to problem solve with our clients, as well as working on internal projects.
• Live in‑person whiteboarding sessions to problem solve as a team, alongside asynchronous communication on Teams.
• Hybrid working with the team on client site or in our office a minimum of two days per week. However, the actual time you spend and where you spend it will vary by role or assignment, including up to 5 days per week on a client site.
• Design and deliver architecture solutions within governance and target operating models, using a range of ways of working and delivery methodologies: Waterfall, SAFe, Scrum, Kanban.
• Work closely with Engineering teams, often taking a lead SME role helping to define the vision, establish Architectural Guardrails, Architecture Runways and Detailed Designs as well as unblocking the team as issues arise. Whilst operating as a Solution Architect, you will likely come from a hands‑on Software Engineering or Dynamics 365 implementation background with experience leading engineering teams to deliver applications and services, enabling you to quickly build credibility.
• Lead the solution design and architecture for Low‑Code based projects and business opportunities and ensure that the solution meets the business objectives, functional requirements, and technical specifications.
• Own, create and assure key architecture artefacts such as: Key Design Decision, Technical Options Paper, High Level Design, Low Level Design, Reference Architecture and Roadmap. To do this, you’ll need to deploy a range of consulting and stakeholder management skills to inform, engage and influence colleagues and decision makers from across our client’s businesses.
• Support our client’s senior leaders to help shape their case for change, typically leading on cost estimation and supporting creation of detailed planning and benefits realisation for the technology solutions you design.
• Work closely with Engineering teams, often taking a lead SME role helping to define the vision, establish Architectural Guardrails, Architecture Runways and Detailed Designs as well as unblocking the team as issues arise. Whilst operating as a Solution Architect, you will likely come from a hands‑on Software Engineering or Dynamics 365 implementation background with experience leading engineering teams to deliver applications and services, enabling you to quickly build credibility.

Qualifications

Essential requirements ✅

Even if you don’t meet every requirement below, feel free to still apply as we are often hiring for similar roles which your background might be better suited to.

• You thrive in problem‑solving and analytical thinking.
• You enjoy collaborating with multiple stakeholders in a fast‑paced environment.
• Be confident using your architecture skills and experience across the full range of architectural domains, with a specialism in at least one: Business, Data, Application, Technology and Security.
• Bring to bear a clear understanding and practical application of architecture and delivery methodologies such as: TOGAF and SAFe.
• Use your understanding and application of architecture modelling tools and frameworks to communicate your ideas: UML, ArchiMate, Ardoq, and others.
• Design and deliver architecture solutions within governance and target operating models, using a range of ways of working and delivery methodologies: Waterfall, SAFe, Scrum, Kanban.

Please be aware that some of our UK roles at PA Consulting require a UK security clearance.

All PA people are required to undergo background checks and to achieve the Baseline Personnel Security Standard however, some UK roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting, where applicants must have at least 5 years of continuous residency in the UK.

We therefore ask that you only apply if you meet the residency requirements (i.e. you are a British citizen or have been resident in the UK for the past 5 years), as this is the prerequisite for a security clearance. If you're unsure about your eligibility, we encourage you to review the UK Government’s guidance on security vetting before applying.

Additional Information

Please note that the interview stages may be subject to change based on the specific requirements of the role.

• Quick call with one of our Tech Recruiters – to discuss your application, the role and PA.
• Round 1: Either a competency or technical interview (60 mins).
• Round 2: Either a competency or technical interview, whichever you didn’t do at first round (60 mins).
• Final round 🎉: Meeting with a PA leader – a mini case study and discussion around your client‑centricity (60 mins).

Life At PA encompasses our peoples’ experience at PA. It's about how we enrich peoples’ working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose led meaningful work.

Our purpose guides how we work with our clients and our teams, and support our communities, to deliver insight and impact, solving the world’s most complex challenges. We're focused on building a workplace that values human difference and diverse mindsets, and a culture of inclusion and equality that unlocks the potential in our people so everyone can be their best self.

We are dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, social and financial well‑being of our people. Check out some of our extensive benefits:

• Health and lifestyle perks accompanying private healthcare for you and your family.
• 25 days annual leave (plus a bonus half day on Christmas Eve) with the opportunity to buy 5 additional days.
• Generous company pension scheme.
• Opportunity to get involved with community and charity‑based initiatives.
• Annual performance‑based bonus.
• PA share ownership.
• Tax efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn).

We’re committed to advancing equality. We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief, veteran status, any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from under‑represented groups.

Adjustments or accommodations – Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us on [e-mail]