Solution Architect

QinetiQ; Farnborough; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm is seeking a Solutions Architect to join their team. The role requires hands-on software engineering experience and the ability to design complex solutions while communicating effectively with non-technical stakeholders. The firm offers a hybrid working model based in various locations including Farnborough and London. Benefits include a competitive salary, company performance bonuses, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

Matched pension contributions

Company performance-related bonus

Medical cover

Personal training and development

Flexible working options

Holiday buy-back scheme

Qualifications

• Must have hands-on software engineering experience to write production-ready code.
• Proven track record of designing complex software solutions.
• Prior experience within public sector contexts is highly favorable.
• Strong understanding of Secure by Design principles.
• Ability to communicate complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience in assessing emerging technologies and strategies.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary bridge between customer needs and engineering teams.
• Define and maintain technical roadmaps and solution architectures.
• Build and prototype complex solutions to prove concepts.
• Challenge design choices and ensure adherence to security principles.
• Mentor team members and support their professional growth.
• Identify and manage technical risks, securing system design.

Skills

Software engineering experience

Architectural design

Public sector experience

Security principles (SbD)

User Centered Design knowledge

Strong communication skills

Tools

Java

Typescript

React

Postgres

ElasticSearch

Kubernetes

Docker

GitLab CI

Flux CD

Job description

Job Title: Naimuri - Solution Architect

Job Type: Full-time, permanent

Location: Farnborough, Manchester, London, Bristol or Portsmouth

Job ID: SF19513

About Us:

We’ve been around for about ten years and grown from being a little-known tech start-up to creating our own community at the heart of the thriving and diverse tech and digital ecosystem of Greater Manchester.

Our name Naimuri is Japanese and simply means…

‘nai’ meaning ‘not’

‘muri’ meaning ‘overburden’

These principles apply to every aspect of an organisation from technology, process and infrastructure, through to people, culture and leadership. This means that we empower our teams to do what they think is the right thing, giving them the skills and confidence to explore new ways of working, and to create a bias-free environment, where all our people feel comfortable collaborating to deliver the finest ideas and solutions in an agile environment.

Our business is focused on 4 cornerstones, which shape and underpin the way in which we go about work and treat each other. Wellbeing, Empowerment, Perpetual Edge, and Delivery. People and culture are at the heart of Naimuri, so that collectively, we can realise our mission of ‘making the UK a safer place to be’.

About The Role:

We are looking for a Solutions Architect who knows the traps of an ivory tower and takes the initiative to get out and be part of the engineering team.

You will be joining a high-impact delivery team, likely based out of our London or Manchester hubs, to lead the technical vision for large-scale, critical national infrastructure. You will work on upgrading existing applications, developing new applications from scratch, and creating solutions that will become the backbone of the customer’s software for years to come.

While you will own the high-level architecture and technical strategy, you must be comfortable rolling up your sleeves. You will get hands-on with code, prototype complex solutions, and work directly alongside engineering teams to solve real-world problems.

Key Role Accountabilities:

• Bridge the Gap: Act as the primary technical bridge between the customer’s complex business problems and our engineering teams, translating user needs into robust technical designs.
• Technical Strategy: Define and maintain the solution architecture and longer-term technical roadmaps, ensuring choices reduce risk and improve project outcomes.
• Hands-On Leadership: You will not just document; you will build. You will be expected to undertake hands-on coding to prove concepts, break down complex blockers, and set the standard for quality.
• Governance & Quality: Challenge detailed design choices within the team and lead reviews on code and designs to ensure adherence to standards and security principles.
• Mentorship: Be seen as a role model and mentor by the team, supporting Technical Leads and Developers in their professional growth.
• Risk Management: Identify, escalate, and manage technical risks, ensuring the system is Secure by Design (SbD).

The Tech Stack:

You will be working closely with development teams who are responsible for the following technologies. You should be proficient in architecting for, and coding within, this environment:

• Core: Full stack development using Java, Typescript and Front End technologies such as React.
• Data: Complex data handling using Postgres or ElasticSearch.
• Infrastructure: Kubernetes and Docker in a DevOps environment.
• CI/CD: Automated delivery pipelines using GitLab CI and Flux CD.

About You:

We’re looking for an experienced leader in software solution development. To succeed at this level, you should have:

• Engineering Heritage: A strong background in software engineering with a working knowledge of what is required to write production ready code.
• Architectural Expertise: Proven experience in designing complex solutions and working with engineers to deliver that solution into production.
• Public Sector Context: Prior experience working in the public sector (e.g., central government or law enforcement) is highly advantageous.
• Security Focus: Understanding and practical experience of working within Secure by Design (SbD) principles (e.g., JSP 440/604).
• Communication: The ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and support the customer in their decision-making.
• Forward Thinking: Experience and understanding of how to see emerging issues, strategies, roadmaps, patterns and technologies to assess opportunities and risks within your delivery and the wider business.
• User Centered Design: Users are the most important stakeholders when creating useful and engaging systems. Knowledge of UCD, service standards (GDS) and accessible requirements (WCAG) are important to Naimuri and our customers.

Location & Flexibility:

• Base (one of):
  • Farnborough,
  • London (Vauxhall).
  • Portsmouth
  • Bristol
• Hybrid Working: We offer hybrid working. This would normally be a maximum of one or two days per week in the office, but you are welcome to spend more time on-site if preferred.
• Travel: Occasional visits to customer sites (typically London) or the Naimuri Head Office may be required.

Pay and Benefits:

Naimuri pays competitively within the industry based on your role's base location rates.

• Pension: Matched 1.5x up to 10.5%.
• Bonus: Company performance-related bonus.
• Health: AXA group 1 medical cover.
• Growth: Personal training & development time.
• Lifestyle: Flexible/Hybrid working options and a holiday buy-back scheme.

Diversity & Inclusion:

We strongly encourage candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive, safe, and supportive environment that allows everyone to do their best work. We are happy to support any accessibility or neurodiversity requirements that you may need during the recruitment process.