Solutions Architect

Sopra Steria Limited; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm in the UK seeks an experienced Architect to design secure solutions mainly for defense and national security clients. You will define and oversee the architecture for complex projects, requiring strong industry knowledge, security awareness, and experience in Agile environments. Holding live DV clearance is essential. This position offers various benefits including a health cash plan and a flexible working environment.

Benefits

Car Allowance

25 days annual leave

Health cash plan or private healthcare

Life assurance

Pension

Flexible benefits fund

Qualifications

• Live DV clearance is required.
• Strong understanding of industry standards and trends.
• Experience in secure-by-design frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Define the solutions architecture for large-scale assignments.
• Influence and manage the strategy of defined business areas.
• Ensure integration with existing systems and technical compliance.

Skills

Understanding of industry standards, models and trends

Experience delivering projects to MOD and/or UKIC

Expertise in designing complex solutions

Hands-on experience in Agile environments

Knowledge of modern software development practices

Strong security and cyber awareness

IT architecture experience

Familiarity with modelling notations

Background in delivery and presales activities

Job description

Are you an experienced Architect with a proven track record in designing complex solutions within a highly secure environment with DV clearance, experience and passion to work on solutions for defence and national security customers?

We have openings at various levels for solution architects, lead architects, through to customer account CTOs to work with our customers and teams to define and lead the implementation of groundbreaking, and growth focussed secure solutions within the defence or national security arenas.

This is a permanent role, mostly working on-site at locations across the South of England including, Hemel Hempstead, Salisbury, Portsmouth, Farnborough and Cheltenham.

The role requires candidates to be holding a live DV clearance.

What you will be doing:

You will define the solutions architecture for large scale, complex, medium risk or highly specialised assignments or pre-sales assignments that may lead to major downstream revenue opportunities. Individuals are accountable for influencing, managing and driving the strategy of a defined area of the business within Sopra Steria or for the development of policy in their area of expertise. You will own the holistic Architecture, Design and Communication of solutions, focusing on business, application and data layers while working closely with domain specialisms such as infrastructure, security and service. You will produce outline designs that meet functional and non‑functional requirements, ensure integration with existing systems, deliver maintainable, cost‑effective and scalable designs, provide technical leadership throughout implementation, review services to ensure compliance with policies and standards, model services using recognised architectural modelling languages, build strong technical relationships with customers, advise stakeholders on leveraging available services, monitor market trends, and identify, manage and report risks.

What you will bring:

• Strong understanding of industry standards, models, and trends
• Proven experience delivering projects to MOD and/or UKIC
• Expertise in owning and designing complex solutions, particularly leveraging COTS products
• Hands‑on experience delivering architectures in an Agile environment
• Deep knowledge of modern application and software development practices, including DevSecOps
• Strong security and cyber awareness, with experience in secure‑by‑design frameworks
• Solid IT architecture experience, including TOGAF
• Familiarity with modelling notations, such as Archimate and C4
• Background in delivery and presales activities

Employment Type: Full‑time, Permanent

Sopra Steria's Aerospace, Defence and Security business designs, develops and deploys digital solutions to Central Government clients. The work we do makes a real difference to the client's goal of National Security, and we operate in a unique and privileged environment. We are given time for professional development activities, and we coach and mentor our colleagues, sharing knowledge and learning from each other. We foster a culture in which employees feel valued and supported and have pride in their work for the customer, delivering outstanding rates of customer satisfaction in the UK's most complex safety‑ and security‑critical markets.

Location: Cheltenham, Portsmouth, Salisbury or Hemel Hempstead

Security Clearance Level: must be holding live DV clearance

Internal Recruiter: Lee

Salary: Dependant on Experience

Benefits: Car Allowance (depends on Level), 25 days annual leave with the option to buy additional days, health cash plan or private health care (depends on Level), life assurance, pension, and generous flexible benefits fund (3% of base salary).

Although this role is advertised as full‑time, we believe that flexibility at work can promote work/life balance, increase your motivation, reduce stress and improves performance and productivity. We support different ways of working and can offer a range of flexible working arrangements. So, if you're interested and need to work flexibly, we encourage you to apply and talk to us about what might be possible.