Closing Date 2025-07-26 Location : Durrington (Worthing) Contract Type : Permanent - Hybrid Hours : 37 hours a week Salary: Negotiable DOE There has never been a better time to join our organisation as we build towards a greener future, tackling climate change, minimising our environmental impact and reducing our carbon footprint The Solution Architect is responsible for working within projects delivering the overall end-to-end high level design, to ensure technology change supports the business drivers and benefits. You will be a bridge between business stakeholders and technical teams, translating functional needs into architectural blueprints and ensuring that solutions are scalable, secure, and cost-effective. You will be involved in evaluating technology options, selecting products, and addressing complex challenges to deliver end-to-end solutions that meet standards. Responsibilities are to include: Work closely with the Domain Architect & Enterprise Architect to understand the technology roadmaps to meet business needs (as well as understanding Southern Water’s guidelines, standards and principles to work within) Work closely with the Domain Architect to shape initiatives, options analysis, and estimates before initiatives become projects Work on multiple projects and/or major programmes to provide the following ‘architectural services’: - Architectural Assessment – Provides shaping, options and estimates to initiatives (pre-project) RFP / Production Selection – Reviews technology products & vendors that may be able to deliver a system into the landscape to provide business value to an initiative High Level Design – Is responsible for writing the end-to-end high-level design, taking all stakeholders with them and taking through QA and governance processes. Options Analysis – Provides high level technology options and recommendations to solve problems. Stakeholders and Coordination - Works with all digital functions/owners that contribute to the HLD (e.g. Infra, Security, Data etc) Risks – identifies risks / issues from an architectural perspective. Governance – ensures all parties (business & digital) are well informed throughout the design phase and seeks formal sign off in the appropriate governance forum Design Assurance – works with delivery/engineering teams to explain the end-to-end design and oversees/QAs detailed design. Helps solutionise when detailed issues come up before delivery & updates HLD accordingly. Advice & Guidance – being a trusted advisor to the business and tech teams when they have questions. Will run programme design authority meetings, where on a major programme, and guide decisions and actions Other activities Contributes to helping shape patterns, standards etc Helps drive continuous improvement within the function Contributes to team meetings, engagement and internal initiatives Knowledge & experience needed: Previous experience in a similar Solution Architect role Demonstrable experience in the application of knowledge Proficiency in systems design, integration, and architecture principles Ability to assess complex business and technical requirements and identify both options & recommended solutions Capacity to design scalable, sustainable, and future-proof architectures, end-to-end Ability to produce clear and detailed architectural documentation Strong communication and interpersonal skills & strong stakeholder engagement Collaborative in approach, especially across domains and digital functions. Has worked in both a waterfall and agile environment Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities Ability to work across cross-functional teams and manage varying & changing demands What Do We Offer? More benefits! 25 days annual leave Bank Holidays. Health cash plan cover (with options to upgrade for family coverage). Free annual flu jab and eye test vouchers. Pension contributions up to 11% (depending on your contribution). An employee assistance program. A network of sports and social clubs. Company and performance-related bonus. Life assurance equal to 4x salary. Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months service). Two paid volunteering days a year. Occupational health service. Discounts with over 800 popular retailers. Digital GP service. Study support may be available for job-related qualifications. Competitive maternity & paternity leave and flexible return to work options. Cycle to work scheme. Does this opportunity excite you but you’re not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’ll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role? If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at Southern Water, you can register your details here: Introduce Yourself (myworkdaysite.com) Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, because delivering water for life is our core purpose. To achieve this, we need 24/7 support in place to resolve incidents quickly and efficiently. All our employees understand the importance of out-of-hours incident support – because when problems appear, fixing them is our top priority. That’s why our people join together and support when and however needed to make sure our customers get the service they deserve. Joining the Southern Water family means you’ll become part of our incident support team. During your interview, your manager will speak to you about any incident support rotas that apply to your position. Privacy Statement: Please note: If you are an existing Southern Water employee, you will need to confirm within your application that your Manager is aware of your application. All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. You will need to provide evidence of eligibility (e.g. a passport or long birth certificate and proof of NI) and current proof of address (dated within the last 3 months), will be required as part of the recruitment process. If you do not meet these criteria, your application will not be considered.