Senior Solutions Architect - Solution Shaping

UBDS Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

UBDS Group helps organisations solve complex technology challenges across cloud, cyber security, data, AI and digital transformation. We work with clients operating in complex, secure and highly regulated environments, with a significant focus on the public sector and defence.

We're looking for a Senior Solutions Architect with broad technology experience, strong consulting skills and a commercial mindset. The role will work across all of our capabilities and solutions, with cyber security

Qualifications

• Experience as a Solutions Architect or similar in client-facing roles.
• Experience with public sector/defence in secure environments.
• Broad tech knowledge across cloud, infrastructure, networking, data, AI and cyber security.
• Fluent in creating SOWs, proposals and technical responses.
• Ability to balance client outcomes, security, commercial considerations and delivery risk.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support client discovery sessions.
• Shape opportunities into deliverable engagements.
• Develop high-quality SOWs, proposals and technical responses.
• Define scope, outcomes, deliverables, assumptions, dependencies and risks.
• Support bid teams with technical responses to RFPs, RFIs and tenders.
• Bring together architects, engineers and SMEs across cloud, infrastructure, networking, workplace, cyber security, data and AI.

Skills

Public sector

Defence clients

Solution shaping

Client-facing

Stakeholder management

Commercial awareness

Consulting skills

Proposal writing

Bid responses

Technical breadth

Job description

UBDS Group helps organisations solve complex technology challenges across cloud, cyber security, data, AI and digital transformation. We work with clients operating in complex, secure and highly regulated environments, with a significant focus on the public sector and defence. We're looking for a Senior Solutions Architect with broad technology experience, strong consulting skills and a commercial mindset. The role will work across all of our capabilities and solutions, with cyber security expected to be a significant area of focus, drawing on specialist capabilities across the wider UBDS Group, especially 3B Data Security.

The Role

As a Senior Solutions Architect, you'll work with clients, Sales, bid teams, delivery teams and SMEs to understand complex requirements and shape clear, compelling and deliverable engagements. You'll lead and support discovery, shape opportunities and develop high-quality proposals and Statements of Work (SOWs), bringing together the right expertise from across UBDS Group. This isn't necessarily about designing the complete technical solution upfront. Often, the role is to understand the challenge, define the outcomes and shape an engagement where further discovery, assessment or detailed solution design forms part of the project. You'll need to be comfortable operating with ambiguity and balancing client outcomes, technical credibility, security, commercial considerations and delivery risk.

What You'll Do

• - Lead and support client discovery sessions, workshops and technical discussions
• - Shape opportunities into clear, credible and deliverable engagements
• - Develop high-quality SOWs, proposals, technical responses and supporting bid collateral
• - Define scope, outcomes, deliverables, assumptions, dependencies, risks and exclusions
• - Support bid teams with technical responses to RFPs, RFIs, tenders and frameworks
• - Bring together architects, engineers and SMEs across cloud, infrastructure, networking, workplace, cyber security, data and AI, including specialist expertise from 3B Data Security
• - Turn specialist input into coherent client propositions and delivery approaches
• - Ensure cyber security, risk, governance and security-by-design considerations are appropriately reflected in proposed engagements
• - Develop work packages, resource requirements and estimates with delivery teams and SMEs
• - Present proposals and recommendations to senior business, technology and security stakeholders
• - Support effective transition from solution shaping into delivery

What We're Looking For

• - Strong experience as a Solutions Architect, Technical Architect, Solutions Consultant or similar client-facing technology role
• - Experience working with public sector and/or defence clients, ideally within complex, secure or regulated environments
• - Broad technology knowledge across areas such as cloud, infrastructure, networking, workplace, data, AI and cyber security
• - Strong understanding of cyber security and how it should be incorporated into wider technology solutions and transformation programmes
• - Strong consulting, discovery and solution-shaping experience
• - Demonstrable experience creating SOWs, proposals, technical responses and other client-facing documentation
• - Experience supporting bids, tenders, RFPs and complex client opportunities
• - Ability to take ambiguous requirements and determine what needs to be defined upfront versus through subsequent discovery or detailed design
• - Ability to bring together and work effectively with specialist architects, engineers and SMEs
• - Strong commercial awareness around scope, effort, assumptions, risk and deliverability
• - Excellent stakeholder management, written communication and presentation skills
• - Confidence engaging with senior clients across business, technology and security functions

What Success Looks Like

You’ll see the bigger technology and security picture without needing to be the deepest technical expert in every domain. You’ll understand the client challenge, ask the right questions and bring together the right expertise from across UBDS Group to shape engagements that are compelling, secure, commercially sound and deliverable. Most importantly, you’ll create proposals and SOWs that clients understand and trust, and that give our delivery teams the foundations they need to succeed.

Why people choose to grow their careers at UBDS Group

Professionals choose to grow their careers at UBDS Group for its reputation as a dynamic and forward-thinking organisation that is deeply committed to both innovation and employee development. At UBDS Group, employees are given unique opportunities to work on cutting-edge projects across a diverse range of industries, exposing them to new challenges and learning opportunities that are pivotal for professional growth. The Group's culture emphasises continuous improvement, offering ample training programs, mentorship, and the chance to gain certifications that enhance their skills and marketability. UBDS Group fost