Senior Solution Architect

Serco Group Plc; Metropolitan Borough of Solihull; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading public services company in the UK is seeking an experienced Senior Solution Architect to design innovative IT solutions for Defence bids. This role demands leadership in creating scalable architectures that align with operational requirements, ensuring compliance with MOD standards. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in Defence IT systems and will demonstrate excellent communication skills. Join a dynamic company committed to diversity and inclusion while shaping the future of public services.

Benefits

Company car

Private healthcare

Bonus scheme of up to 10%

Flexible working

Pension - 6%

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Proven track record in architecting IT solutions within Defence or similar secure government environments.
• Strong understanding of IT infrastructure, applications, data architecture, and cloud technologies.
• Eligible to achieve BPSS/SC Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the IT design and architecture for Defence bids and programmes, ensuring alignment with MOD standards.
• Act as the Technical Design Authority for projects, maintaining compliance with security and architectural standards.
• Capture and translate customer, security, and operational requirements into technology solutions.

Skills

IT solutions architecture

Defence experience

Cloud technologies

Excellent communication skills

Technical design authority

Job description

At Serco, we deliver essential services that make a positive difference to people's lives, from supporting our Armed Forces to delivering critical public services. We are now looking for an experienced Senior Solution Architect (Defence) to help shape the future of our technology solutions and strengthen our success in major Defence bids. As a Senior Solution Architect at Serco, you'll lead the design of innovative, secure, and high-value IT solutions that underpin our Defence bids and programmes. You'll translate complex customer, security, and operational requirements into scalable architectures that deliver real mission impact while strengthening Serco's competitive edge. Working closely with bid and project teams, you'll take ownership of the IT design - covering infrastructure, applications, data, and integration - to create efficient, resilient, and compliant solutions. With experience across Defence IT systems, from Asset and Task Management to CRM and ITSM, you'll ensure every solution not only meets technical needs but also drives Serco's win probability and long-term profitability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the IT design and architecture for Defence bids and programmes, ensuring alignment with MOD standards and Serco's enterprise architecture principles.
• Act as the Technical Design Authority for proposals and delivery projects, maintaining compliance with security, quality, and architectural standards.
• Capture and translate customer, security, and operational requirements into compelling, deliverable technology solutions.
• Produce high-level designs, use cases, and technical documentation that define system interactions, data exchanges, and service integrations.
• Work closely with bid teams to assess the commercial and operational impact of technical decisions, ensuring your designs contribute directly to Serco's win probability and margin optimisation.
• Engage suppliers and partners to evaluate proposals, ensuring quality, feasibility, and alignment to Serco's Defence technology roadmap.
• Provide design assurance through transition and delivery, maintaining solution integrity from bid through to operational service.

Qualifications

To succeed in this role, you'll need to be an experienced and confident Solution Architect who thrives in a fast-paced bid environment. You'll have:

• Proven track record in architecting IT solutions within Defence or similar secure government environments.
• Extensive bidding experience, including ownership of technical solutions within complex, multi-partner proposals.
• Strong understanding of IT infrastructure, applications, data architecture, and cloud technologies.
• Experience acting as a Design Authority, applying systems engineering principles.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills - able to explain complex ideas clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritise effectively, and meet deadlines in competitive bid environments.
• Eligible to achieve BPSS/SC Clearance.

About Serco

At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone. By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks - SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Benefits

• Company car
• Private healthcare
• Bonus scheme of up to 10%
• Flexible working
• Pension - 6%
• Chance to contribute to innovation in the public services
• A company passionate about diversity and inclusion
• Serco discounts which include cinema, merlin entertainment and online shopping discounts, and discounts on mobile phone plans and leisure centre memberships.
• A range of benefits to support the health and wellbeing of you and your family such as Employee Assistance Programme, Simply Health Cash Plans, and more.
• A wealth of career development training to suit your future aspirations. These range from role specific training, leadership coaching, formal study and much more to support you to build your career with Serco.
• A safe and supportive culture.