Principal Solutions Architect (Public Sector)

Anson McCade Pty; Greater London; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Anson McCade Pty is seeking a Principal Solutions Architect to lead the design and delivery of large-scale digital services in UK public sector programmes. You will guide multi-skilled agile teams, shape architectural direction, and advise C-level stakeholders on modern approaches.

You will help build a high-performing architecture community, coach engineers, and ensure designs balance innovation with commercial realities across AWS/Azure environments.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership capability and experience advising C-level stakeholders.
• Strong architectural design and whole-solution thinking across complex systems.
• Hands-on experience with public cloud platforms (AWS, Azure).
• Ability to balance innovation with commercial reality and risk mitigation.

Responsibilities

• Take accountability for the successful delivery of high-quality, large-scale solutions that delight customers and users.
• Provide architectural assurance and hands-on guidance to agile delivery teams, helping them make confident, well-informed technical decisions.
• Agree architectural principles, strategic direction, and functional and non-functional designs with senior stakeholders.
• Lead the development of policy and technical standards across the wider capability.
• Build strong customer relationships and help shape account strategies alongside sales and account management colleagues.
• Advise clients on emerging technologies and modern approaches, balancing innovation with commercial reality.
• Manage, coach, and develop a small team of architects and engineers, supporting their performance and career progression.
• Share knowledge, mentor colleagues, and champion continuous improvement in people, process, and technology.
• A proven track record of UK public sector delivery, with a working knowledge of how government digital programmes operate.

Job description

A growing technology consultancy is looking for a Principal Solutions Architect to lead the design and delivery of large-scale digital services that make a real difference to millions of people. The role sits at the heart of complex UK public sector programmes, where architectural decisions shape how citizens experience government services.

The Principal Solutions Architect will be trusted to turn ambitious ideas into robust, scalable, secure solutions. Working alongside multi-skilled agile teams, they will make sure every design decision supports the outcomes the customer is chasing, while keeping technical complexity under control.

This is a senior leadership position with real influence. The postholder will advise C-level stakeholders, set architectural direction, and help build a high-performing architecture community.

• Take accountability for the successful delivery of high-quality, large-scale solutions that delight customers and users
• Provide architectural assurance and hands-on guidance to agile delivery teams, helping them make confident, well-informed technical decisions
• Agree architectural principles, strategic direction, and functional and non-functional designs with senior stakeholders
• Lead the development of policy and technical standards across the wider capability
• Build strong customer relationships and help shape account strategies alongside sales and account management colleagues
• Advise clients on emerging technologies and modern approaches, balancing innovation with commercial reality
• Manage, coach, and develop a small team of architects and engineers, supporting their performance and career progression
• Share knowledge, mentor colleagues, and champion continuous improvement in people, process, and technology
• A proven track record of UK public sector delivery, with a working knowledge of how government digital programmes operate
• Accountability for a range of delivery challenges, such as services projects, multi-team programmes, and packaged products
• Success in leading and delivering designs for multi-tiered, modern software applications
• Strong whole-solution architecture skills, with the ability to communicate and negotiate them with senior stakeholders
• Experience prioritising non-functional requirements and building them into application design
• An engineering background that earns credibility with development teams and supports effective leadership and assurance
• Hands-on experience with public cloud platforms such as AWS and Azure, including SaaS and PaaS offerings
• The ability to explain complex technical designs clearly, in conversation, documentation, and presentations
• Confidence in building credibility with C-level stakeholders
• An understanding of the commercial impact of design decisions, and experience of influencing the commercial success of a product
• Experience of proactively growing business within an account
• The ability to juggle several major projects at once and deliver to tight deadlines
• A genuine passion for developing people, with demonstrated success in coaching and mentoring junior colleagues
• An active voice in the technology conversation, whether through blogs, talks, or social channels
• Involvement in technology communities and meetup