Solutions Architect

iO Associates; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm in Bristol seeks a Senior Solutions Architect. You'll engage with customers to understand challenges in the defence sector, define solutions, and collaborate with technical teams. Ideal candidates will have experience in complex technical systems and be eligible for SC clearance. This role is hybrid, offering a competitive salary range of £80,000 to £120,000 plus bonuses.

Qualifications

• Experience in technically led environments.
• Comfortable discussing with customers to understand their needs.
• Ability to identify risks and challenges early.

Responsibilities

• Engage in customer discussions to shape problems early.
• Define solutions integrating technology and delivery models.
• Collaborate with technical specialists to ensure solution viability.

Skills

Understanding complex technical systems

Customer engagement

Problem-solving

Confidence in client communication

Delivery planning

Job description

Overview

Senior Solutions Architect – Location: Bristol (Hybrid - 3 days per week in office). Salary: £80,000 - £120,000 (DOE) + bonus / incentive scheme. Eligibility: Must be eligible for SC Clearance (dual nationals considered depending on country).

This role is based with iO Associates and focuses on understanding customer challenges in the defence and public sector space, then working with engineers and delivery teams to determine how to solve them. It is not about chasing sales or managing accounts.

What you’ll be doing

• Getting involved early in customer discussions — helping shape problems, not just respond to them.
• Defining solutions that bring together the right technology, delivery model and commercial approach.
• Working across domains such as C4ISR, defence, and government technology programmes.
• Identifying risks and challenges early and helping to structure delivery around them.
• Working with technical specialists across compute, systems and software to ensure solutions are sound and achievable.
• Providing technical credibility in customer meetings and supporting bid development.

What we’re looking for

This role would suit someone who’s spent time in technically led environments — maybe as a systems engineer, solution architect or technical lead — and who enjoys working with customers and shaping work at an early stage. We’re open on seniority: we’re interested in the right mindset and capability, not just a certain number of years of experience.

Required:

• A good understanding of complex technical systems and how they fit together.
• Experience working in or with MOD, government, or other complex organisations.
• Confidence talking with customers, understanding their context and priorities.
• The ability to bring together people, ideas and delivery plans to make things happen.
• Eligibility for SC clearance (dual nationals considered depending on country).

Nice to have:

• Experience in C4ISR or related domains.
• Exposure to SaaS or product-led environments.
• An interest in systems of systems and interoperability challenges.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Information Technology

Industries

• Information Services

Note: This description reflects the current job posting language and core requirements. Related postings or time stamps listed in the original text have been omitted to maintain clarity.