Sr. Solutions Architect - Cisco

SHI International Corp.; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

SHI UK is seeking a Sr Solutions Architect to shape and deliver enterprise-scale technology solutions centered around Cisco products. This leadership role combines deep technical expertise with strategic thinking to design, implement, and govern secure, scalable architectures.

You will partner with cross-functional teams, drive governance, and support pre-sales and client engagements, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture, security standards, and modern frameworks including cloud,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field and 7+ years of relevant experience.
• Deep expertise in Cisco architecture and enterprise-grade solution design.
• Experience with microservices, APIs, and containerized environments (Docker/Kubernetes).
• Strong knowledge of cybersecurity, data privacy, and compliance concepts.
• Ability to translate complex requirements into scalable, secure architectures.

Responsibilities

• Architect end-to-end, enterprise-grade solutions aligned with strategic objectives.
• Lead development of SOWs, standards, reusable frameworks, and best practices.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and integration patterns for digital transformation.
• Translate business needs into scalable technical solutions and data flows.
• Facilitate solution design workshops and define architecture and system interactions.
• Review designs and implementation plans for performance and scalability.
• Collaborate with engineering, DevOps, and security teams to ensure governance.
• Support pre-sales and client engagements by presenting architectural vision.

Skills

Cisco architecture

Microservices design

APIs

Containerization

CI/CD

DevOps practices

Security & data privacy

Architecture governance

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Terraform

CloudFormation

ARM

Job description

About Us

Since 1989, SHI International Corp. has helped organizations change the world through technology. We’ve grown every year since, and today we’re proud to be a $16 billion global provider of IT solutions and services. Over 17,000 Organizations Worldwide Rely On SHI’s Concierge Approach To Help Them Solve What’s Next. But The Heartbeat Of SHI Is Our Employees – All 7,000 Of Them. If You Join Our Team, You’ll Enjoy

• Our commitment to diversity, as the largest minority- and woman-owned enterprise in the U.S.
• Continuous professional growth and leadership opportunities.
• Health, wellness, and financial benefits to offer peace of mind to you and your family.
• World-class facilities and the technology you need to thrive – in our offices or yours.

About Us

Since 1989, SHI International Corp. has helped organizations change the world through technology. We’ve grown every year since, and today we’re proud to be a $16 billion global provider of IT solutions and services. Over 17,000 Organizations Worldwide Rely On SHI’s Concierge Approach To Help Them Solve What’s Next. But The Heartbeat Of SHI Is Our Employees – All 7,000 Of Them. If You Join Our Team, You’ll Enjoy

• Our commitment to diversity, as the largest minority- and woman-owned enterprise in the U.S.
• Continuous professional growth and leadership opportunities.
• Health, wellness, and financial benefits to offer peace of mind to you and your family.
• World-class facilities and the technology you need to thrive – in our offices or yours.

Job Summary

The Sr Solutions Architect at SHI plays a critical leadership role in shaping and delivering enterprise-scale technology solutions focused around Cisco solutions. This role combines deep technical expertise, strategic thinking, and strong project leadership to design, implement, and govern secure, scalable, and high-performing architectures. As a trusted advisor, the Sr Solutions Architect bridges business objectives and technical execution, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture, security standards, and modern technology frameworks, including cloud, data, AI, and Microsoft ecosystems. This individual partners closely with cross-functional teams, clients, and stakeholders to drive innovation and deliver business value at scale.

Role Description

(Including, but not limited to)

• Partner with business leaders, product owners, and technical teams to architect end-to-end, enterprise-grade solutions aligned with strategic objectives.
• Lead the development of Statements of Work (SOWs), architectural standards, reusable frameworks, and best practices to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery.
• Evaluate and recommend emerging technologies, platforms, and integration patterns to support digital transformation and innovation initiatives.
• Translate complex business requirements into scalable, secure, and maintainable technical solutions aligned with enterprise architecture principles.
• Facilitate and lead solution design workshops, defining architecture, integrations, data flows, and system interactions.
• Review and validate technical designs and implementation plans to ensure architectural integrity, performance, and scalability.
• Collaborate with engineering, DevOps, and security teams to oversee solution delivery, enforce governance, and ensure adherence to standards.
• Support pre-sales and client engagements by aligning solutions to customer needs, presenting architectural vision, and contributing to technical strategy.

Behaviors and Competencies

• Adaptability: Demonstrates agility in dynamic environments, proactively anticipating change and adjusting strategies to address evolving business and technical needs.
• Executive Communication: Effectively communicates complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences, influencing decision-making at all levels.
• Documentation & Governance: Produces and maintains high-quality architectural documentation, ensuring clarity, consistency, and adherence to standards.
• Leadership: Leads by influence, mentoring teams, driving technical excellence, and fostering innovation across projects and initiatives.
• Problem Solving: Anticipates risks, identifies root causes, and architects innovative, forward-thinking solutions to complex challenges.
• Collaboration: Drives cross-functional alignment, enabling teams to work cohesively toward shared outcomes.
• Self-Leadership: Demonstrates initiative, continuous learning, and a commitment to advancing both personal expertise and organizational capability.

Skill Level Requirements

• Deep expertise in cisco architecture.
• Strong experience designing microservices-based architectures, APIs, and containerized environments (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Proven ability to architect solutions across enterprise systems, integration layers, and data platforms.
• Advanced knowledge of cybersecurity principles, data privacy, and regulatory compliance frameworks.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, business-focused insights and recommendations.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, automation tools, and infrastructure-as-code (e.g., Terraform, ARM, CloudFormation).
• Strong understanding of modern software development methodologies, including Agile and DevOps practices.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Other Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field required.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in solutions architecture, system design, or senior-level technical roles within enterprise environments.
• Industry-recognized certifications, in particular CCIE and any other vendors

The compensation for this position is dependent on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and market location and, therefore, will vary from individual to individual.

SHI UK is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected status. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and we are dedicated to providing a fair and accessible recruitment process.

Equal Employment Opportunity – M/F/Disability/Protected Veteran Status