Solution Architect

NZ Ministry of Education; Wellington; On-site; NZD 119,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

NZ Ministry of Education in Wellington is seeking an experienced Cloud Solution Architect to lead cloud architecture across data platforms and integration projects. You will partner with stakeholders, product teams, engineers, and security specialists to design secure, scalable cloud solutions that align with enterprise standards and government requirements.

The role focuses on platform modernisation, cloud adoption, data product design, and infrastructure as code patterns within New Zealand’s

Qualifications

• Experience designing and delivering cloud-based solutions in large, complex organisations.
• Strong knowledge of AWS and/or Azure, architecture patterns, and best practices.
• Experience creating architecture artefacts, design docs, and roadmaps.
• Understanding of integration, security, identity, networking, and data concepts.
• Experience in Agile and DevOps delivery environments.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Relevant tertiary qualification in IT, CS, or engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end data architecture design across ingestion, transformation, storage, and consumption layers on AWS (S3, Glue, Lambda, Step Functions, Redshift, dbt).
• Define architecture standards, patterns, enhancements, and implementations for ETL/ELT pipelines, including backup and restore strategies.
• Lead technical design for migrations and new data products (e.g., migrating legacy SQL Server towards a modern AWS stack).
• Contribute to the design of data quality frameworks including automated testing and alerting.
• Design and enhance a tagging strategy for data classification and private information.
• Contribute to design of Infrastructure as Code standards (AWS CloudFormation / AWS CDK / Terraform) and review infrastructure changes for cost, security, scalability.
• Drive cost optimisation and help design performance tuning across Redshift/Glue workloads.
• Lead the design of CI/CD architecture patterns.

Skills

AWS / Azure

Solution architecture

Roadmaps

Security & Networking

Agile & DevOps

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification in IT / CS / Engineering

Tools

AWS

Azure

Job description

NZ Ministry of Education – Wellington, North Island

We work to shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes

Our organisation is made up of talented and committed people around Aotearoa, from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. While we work in different groups and on different things, we all strive every day to make the biggest difference we can for our students in our education system.

We are looking for an experienced Cloud Solution Architect to join our Digital & Data team and help shape the future of technology across the Ministry of Education.

In this role, you’ll work closely with business stakeholders, product teams, engineers, security specialists, and delivery partners to design secure, scalable, and resilient cloud solutions that support better outcomes for New Zealand's education system. You’ll provide architecture leadership across a range of digital initiatives, ensuring solutions align with enterprise architecture standards, government requirements, and organisational strategy.

This is an opportunity to influence platform modernisation, cloud adoption, integration design, and technology transformation programmes within one of New Zealand's largest and most complex public sector environments.

Key responsibilities for this role include:

• Leading end-to-end data architecture design across ingestion, transformation, storage, and consumption layers on AWS (S3, Glue, Lambda, Step Functions, Redshift, dbt)
• Defining architecture standards, patterns, enhancements, and implementations for ETL/ELT pipelines, including backup and restore strategies
• Leading technical design for migrations and new data products (e.g., migrating legacy SQL Server towards a modern AWS stack)
• Contributing to the design of data quality frameworks including automated testing and alerting
• Designing and enhancing a tagging strategy for data classification and private information.
• Contributing to design of Infrastructure as Code standards (AWS CloudFormation / AWS CDK / Terraform) and review infrastructure changes for cost, security, scalability
• Driving cost optimisation and helping design performance tuning across Redshift/Glue workloads
• Leading the design of CI/CD architecture patterns

Salary range: $119,171 - $144,560 per annumplus KiwiSaver. The successful candidate will be appointed at a salary which reflects individual skills and experience.

About you | Mōhou ake

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about designing modern cloud solutions and can confidently navigate both business and technical conversations.

You will have:

• Experience designing and delivering cloud-based solutions within large and complex organisations.
• Strong knowledge of AWS and/or Azure cloud services, architecture patterns, and best practices.
• Experience developing solution architecture artefacts, design documentation, and technical roadmaps.
• Strong understanding of integration, security, identity, networking, and data architecture concepts.
• Experience working within Agile and DevOps delivery environments.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication, and influencing skills.
• A relevant tertiary qualification in information technology, computer science, engineering, or a related discipline.

Joining our team will give you the opportunity to work on meaningful technology initiatives with national impact while collaborating with experienced architects, engineers, and technology leaders. We support flexible working, continuous learning, and professional development..

The Digital & Data group enables the Ministry to deliver secure, reliable, and modern digital services that support learners, educators, and whānau across Aotearoa. We provide strategic technology leadership, enterprise platforms, digital solutions, and data services that help improve education outcomes.

Our Architecture Practice plays a key role in shaping technology direction, establishing standards, supporting delivery teams, and ensuring investments align with long-term business and technology strategies.

For further information, please contact Hayden Munro, Practice Manager Architecture at ************@education.govt.nz

Applications close: Midnight, Wednesday 23rd September 2026.

We want our people to feel valued for their unique qualities and have a sense of belonging. If you require assistance or adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.