Solution Architect

AQA; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension contribution

BUPA healthcare

Wellbeing programmes

Volunteering opportunities

Hybrid working

25 days annual leave rising to 30

Job summary

AQA seeks a Solution Architect to shape enterprise-wide technology decisions, guiding solution delivery and balancing innovation with governance. You’ll collaborate with business and technology stakeholders to design scalable, secure solutions that deliver real value.

Hybrid working is supported with a minimum of two days in the office each week. The role spans cloud platforms, integration patterns and modern frameworks across applications, data and infrastructure to drive strategic outcomes.

Qualifications

• Design and guide technology solutions meeting business requirements while aligning with architectural standards.
• Provide expert architectural leadership to stakeholders and project teams, ensuring solutions are scalable and secure.
• Drive architecture governance, roadmaps, and compliance with enterprise principles.

Responsibilities

• Designing and guiding technology solutions that meet business requirements while aligning with architectural standards, strategic objectives and delivery priorities.
• Providing expert architectural leadership to stakeholders, project teams and technology colleagues, ensuring solutions are scalable, secure and fit for purpose.
• Driving architecture governance and continuous improvement, including technology roadmaps, horizon scanning, standards development and compliance with enterprise architecture principles.

Job description

Hybrid working - a minimum of 2 days per week in the office

Introduction

Are you a solution architect who enjoys turning complex business needs into practical, scalable technology solutions? This is an opportunity to shape enterprise-wide technology decisions, influence strategy and work across a varied technology landscape while helping AQA deliver services that support learners and education.

Purpose of the Role

As a Solution Architect, you'll play a key role within the Enterprise Architecture team, working closely with business and technology stakeholders to design solutions that deliver real business value. You'll provide architectural leadership across enterprise technologies, guide solution delivery and help ensure technology investments align with long-term strategic goals. You'll also contribute to the evolution of AQA's technology landscape by balancing innovation, governance and practical delivery.

In this role, you'll be responsible for:

• Designing and guiding technology solutions that meet business requirements while aligning with architectural standards, strategic objectives and delivery priorities.
• Providing expert architectural advice and leadership to stakeholders, project teams and technology colleagues, ensuring solutions are scalable, secure and fit for purpose.
• Driving architecture governance and continuous improvement, including technology roadmaps, horizon scanning, standards development and compliance with enterprise architecture principles.

What's in it for you?

You'll have the opportunity to influence technology decisions at an enterprise level while continuing to develop your expertise across a broad and evolving technology environment.

• Shape strategic technology direction and influence major business and transformation initiatives.
• Work with a wide range of stakeholders, gaining exposure to enterprise, assessment and group technology teams.
• Develop your professional capability through complex architecture challenges and emerging technology opportunities.
• A 35-hour working week with flexible, hybrid working.
• 25 days' annual leave rising to 30, plus Christmas closure days.
• A benefits package including up to 11.5 percent pension contribution, BUPA healthcare support, wellbeing programmes and volunteering opportunities.

You’ll thrive in this role if you have:

• Proven experience as a Solution Architect with a strong track record of delivering technology solutions within complex enterprise environments.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise architecture, cloud platforms, integration approaches and modern technology frameworks, including experience working across applications, infrastructure and data environments.
• The ability to communicate and influence effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience balancing strategic thinking with practical delivery, helping organisations modernise technology while managing legacy environments and operational realities.
• A collaborative, pragmatic mindset with a focus on solving problems, improving ways of working and delivering positive outcomes.

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone-regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background-is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes, and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.