Solutions Architect

LHH; Luton; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A forward-thinking company is seeking a skilled Solutions Architect for a major Data Centre Exit & Obsolescence Programme. This role demands strong architectural leadership and practical experience in cloud migration, especially to Microsoft Azure. As part of a high-profile transformation project, you will lead discovery activities, assess current applications, and engage with business stakeholders to validate requirements. This position offers flexibility with remote work options and the chance to shape significant infrastructure migrations within a collaborative team environment. If you thrive under pressure and are passionate about architectural excellence, this opportunity is for you.

Qualifications

• Proven experience on a Data Centre Exit and Obsolescence programme.
• Strong background in both infrastructure and application architecture.
• Solid experience with Azure cloud services.

Responsibilities

• Lead discovery and assessment activities across a complex estate.
• Conduct architectural analysis to determine future state solutions.
• Support the migration of workloads to Microsoft Azure.

Skills

Cloud Migration Strategies

Microsoft Azure

Architectural Leadership

Discovery and Assessment

Infrastructure Architecture

Application Architecture

7Rs Methodology

Job description

Job Description

Solutions Architect – Contract (Outside IR35)

Location: Remote / Flexible, with travel to client sites as required

Rate: Competitive day rate (Outside IR35)

Clearance: SC eligible

Duration: 6 month rolling

We’re working with a major defence and technology client seeking an experienced Solutions Architect to support a Data Centre Exit & Obsolescence Programme. This is a fast-paced, high-impact project requiring strong architectural leadership, business engagement, and practical experience in cloud migration strategies, particularly to Microsoft Azure.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and support discovery and assessment activities, working at pace across a complex estate using the 7Rs approach.
• Conduct architectural analysis to assess current applications and determine future state solutions.
• Engage directly with business application owners and stakeholders to capture and validate architectural requirements.
• Drive quick, evidence-based treatment determinations for applications and systems.
• Lead lift-and-shift (re-host) strategies as an initial approach, with scope for re-architecting where appropriate.
• Work with cross-functional teams to reverse engineer and document both source and target application/system architectures.
• Support the migration of workloads to Microsoft Azure, leveraging deep understanding of cloud architectures and capabilities.
• Operate under pressure to meet tight timelines and deliver consistently at pace.

Essential Experience:

• Proven experience on a Data Centre Exit and Obsolescence programme, ideally in a complex or regulated environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and contribute to discovery and assessment at speed using the 7Rs methodology (Retire, Retain, Rehost, Replatform, Refactor, Repurchase, or Replace).
• Strong background in both infrastructure and application architecture, including hands-on cloud migration.
• Solid experience with Azure cloud services and deployment models.
• Track record of facilitating and leading meetings with business stakeholders, extracting and challenging requirements as needed.
• Ability to interpret and reverse engineer undocumented legacy systems.
• Experience operating in high-pressure programmes with immovable deadlines

Desirable Skills:

• Exposure to security architecture or governance within transformation programmes.
• Familiarity with tooling to support architecture analysis and migration planning.
• Knowledge of defence, aerospace, or secure government environments.

Why Apply?

• High-profile, fast-paced transformation programme
• Outside IR35 with flexibility to work remotely
• Opportunity to shape a major infrastructure and application migration to Azure
• Work with a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team