Solution Architect (Junior)

RNLI; Poole; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Junior Solution Architect to join their Enterprise Architecture team. This role is vital in ensuring that technology solutions align with the organization’s mission to save lives at sea. You will collaborate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, helping to design and implement effective architectures. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects and develop your career in a supportive environment. If you are a self-starter eager to make a difference, this role is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Experience in a Solution Architect role or equivalent activities.
• Ability to collaborate with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Produce and lead solution architecture for RNLI systems.
• Develop interim solution roadmaps to support transitions.

Skills

Solution Architecture

Stakeholder Collaboration

Technical Debt Management

Roadmap Development

Education

Relevant Degree or Equivalent Experience

Job description

About us

We are looking for a Solution Architect to join our Enterprise Architecture team. The role contributes to saving lives at sea by ensuring that information technology solutions and programmes across the organisation are suitably architected, designed, and coordinated to deliver the RNLI’s core purpose through education, influence, supervision, and rescue. You will help create a vision for specific projects and support the project in achieving that vision.

Your role

As a Junior Solution Architect, you will support the architecture and design of end-to-end solutions, ensuring alignment with strategic enterprise and business architectures. This specialist role involves defining solutions for change within the wider enterprise architecture and developing supporting roadmaps.

Under guidance from the Lead Solution Architect, you will:

1. Produce and lead solution architecture for RNLI systems in response to technology and business demand, creating Solution Concepts or High-Level Designs that provide a high-level view of the target solution across business, data, application, and technology domains, serving as a foundation for subsequent design and development. Engage from the beginning of change initiatives to gather requirements, formulate high-level designs, and ensure detailed designs conform to these concepts, managing changes as necessary. Follow through to implementation to verify the solution conforms to the design.
2. Ensure that Solution Concepts or High-Level Designs adhere to High-Level Architecture Principles, providing valid justifications for any deviations or compromises.
3. Develop interim solution roadmaps to support phased transitions to the target solution where required.
4. Identify and log exceptions and additions to domain standards during solution design and development.
5. Record deviations from the Solution Concept as technical debt and assign ongoing ownership to the relevant Domain Architect.
6. Assist Domain Architects in creating and maintaining technology platform roadmaps, supporting decisions on application and infrastructure investments, replacements, or eliminations.
7. Participate in the Architecture Review Board and Technical Implementation Governance activities, submitting Solution Concepts for review and approval, and supporting Domain Architects to ensure solutions conform to domain roadmaps and overall Enterprise Architecture.

About you

To be considered for the Junior Solution Architect role, you should have:

1. Experience in a Solution Architect role or equivalent activities demonstrating your capabilities and suitability.
2. A desire to develop your career and skills as a Solution Architect.
3. A self-starter mindset with a commitment to staying updated with technological developments.
4. The ability to collaborate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders to drive improvements aligned with organizational strategy and Enterprise Architecture.

Knowledge of the RNLI and experience volunteering or working for the organization or similar charities is highly desirable, along with enthusiasm for the role.