Technical Architect

iO Associates; Bedford; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consultancy firm is seeking an experienced Technical Architect for a 6-month contract based in Bedford. This role will lead architectural discovery and support a major estate transformation programme that requires secure and compliant solution architectures across complex environments. Candidates must have minimum SC clearance and strong expertise in infrastructure and network architecture, particularly within classified and operational technology settings, with onsite presence expected 3-4 days a week.

Qualifications

• Minimum SC clearance and ability to work with SECRET-level systems.
• Experience designing for secure, classified, air-gapped environments.
• Experience in highly regulated technical environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural discovery and requirements gathering.
• Interpret and apply defence-grade security requirements.
• Architect on-prem infrastructure using VMware technologies.
• Document architectures and provide design governance.

Skills

Infrastructure architectural background

Network architectural background

Experience in defence environments

Understanding of VMware-based virtualisation

Operational Technology (OT) knowledge

Job description

Technical Architect

6-month contract | £600 per day | Inside IR35 | Bedford (3-4 days onsite)

Our client is seeking an experienced Technical Architect to support a major estate transformation programme spanning internet-connected and air-gapped environments. You'll work closely with technical teams and security stakeholders to define secure, compliant solution architectures across a highly complex OT and on-prem infrastructure estate.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead architectural discovery and requirements gathering with internal teams.

• Interpret and apply defence-grade security and compliance requirements (up to SECRET).

• Develop solution options and produce target-state and N-state phased architectures.

• Design solutions across mixed internet-connected and air-gapped environments.

• Architect on-prem infrastructure with heavy use of VMware technologies.

• Support design work across highly specialised Operational Technology (OT) systems.

• Document architectures, provide design governance, and support technical teams through delivery.

• Work collaboratively across engineering, operations, and security to validate solutions.

Requirements

• Minimum SC clearance and ability to work with SECRET-level systems.

• Strong infrastructure and network architectural background.

• Experience designing for secure, classified, air-gapped, or defence environments.

• Background in Operational Technology (OT), CNI, or other critical estates.

• Proven ability to work in complex, highly regulated technical environments.

• Comfortable being onsite in Bedford 3-4 days per week.

• Strong understanding of VMware-based virtualisation and on-prem architectures.

Desirable

• Experience within defence, RAF, MoD, or defence-aligned organisations.

• Experience designing solutions for SECRET-classified environments.

• Prior work in mixed IT/OT operational estates.

A great opportunity to shape secure infrastructure and influence the technical direction of a critical, high-impact transformation programme.