Solution Architect - Job Description
Overall Purpose of the Role
The Solution Architect is responsible for ensuring that our client's technology solutions are designed and implemented in alignment with Enterprise Architecture requirements, business objectives, and IT development standards. The role plays a critical part in delivering technology capabilities that support strategic goals.
This is a specialist position providing technical leadership across a variety of solutions, creating value for one or several enterprise journeys. The Solution Architect will design end-to-end technology solutions and support engineering teams throughout the full Software Delivery Lifecycle. The role also requires experience producing design documentation and contributing to IT governance and standards.
You will work collaboratively with other Architects, Delivery Managers, Principal Software Engineers, Business Analysts, UX Designers, and development teams to deliver incremental releases that drive business value.
Key Responsibilities (Top 5-10 Tasks)
The Solution Architect is accountable for understanding business needs and translating them into technology solutions that align with IT delivery policies and standards. Key responsibilities include:
Designing solutions that span technical, product, and application boundaries in collaboration with the wider technology organisation.
Acting as the primary contact for resolving architectural issues.
Serving as the subject matter expert for technical changes and providing input into proposals and estimates for new initiatives or product enhancements.
Owning, creating, and maintaining solution design documentation and ensuring all necessary approvals are obtained.
Contributing to design standards and patterns as part of the Enterprise Architecture governance group.
Supporting projects and product enhancements throughout the entire development and delivery lifecycle.
Assisting with incident and problem management, root cause analysis, and defining long-term solutions.
Working closely with engineering teams to encourage continuous improvement across development, build, test, and maintenance processes.
Autonomy
Works independently, seeking guidance only in the most complex situations.
Problem Solving
Solves unique, complex problems with broad impact on the business.
Cross-Team Interaction
Collaborates with teams across the business at all levels.
Project Involvement
May lead projects or project workstreams and hold accountability for ongoing initiatives or objectives.
Responsible for solution design across assigned projects, covering multiple applications and their integration.
Oversees the implementation of solutions to ensure alignment with the approved design and resolves any issues or complexities that arise.
Additional Information
The role requires close collaboration with:
Internal and external stakeholders
Third-party suppliers and technology partners (both onshore and offshore)
Career Level (Skills & Qualifications)
Essential
Degree-level education (or equivalent) with 5+ years' relevant experience.
Demonstrable experience (ideally 5+ years) working as a Solution Architect across a range of technologies (ideally including Java/Spring, Salesforce, JavaScript/TypeScript, microservices, containers, databases, and cloud technologies).
Experience delivering complex modernisation initiatives.
Ability to evaluate new technologies and assess their impact on the existing landscape.
Strong expertise across tools and technologies used for design, development, build, testing, and deployment of diverse applications.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Experience working within Agile methodologies (ideally SAFe).
Ability to manage multiple priorities across several projects and initiatives.
Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to work autonomously when required.
Success in fast-paced and rapidly evolving environments.
Self-motivated and goal-oriented, with strong ownership of assigned tasks.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Desirable
Experience within the Financial Services sector (preferred but not essential).
Familiarity with multiple architecture frameworks.
Experience with multiple cloud technologies.
