Location: Birmingham (other locations considered- Manchester, Cardiff or Leeds)
Working arrangements- Hybrid (2-3x a week)
Industry- Professional Services (Legal sector)
Overview
The organisation is hiring an experienced Solution Architect to join the Architecture & Design team. The role is responsible for designing and delivering secure, scalable, and robust technology solutions that support strategic objectives, including a Cloud First approach and ongoing digital transformation. Working closely with business stakeholders, IT delivery teams, and external partners, you will translate requirements into high-quality architectural designs.
Key Responsibilities
* Translate business requirements into clear, end-to-end solution architectures
* Define target architectures and create transition roadmaps
* Analyse current ("as-is") architecture to identify gaps and improvement opportunities
* Ensure solutions meet security, regulatory, and performance standards
* Design integrations with existing systems
* Align architectural designs with enterprise roadmaps and support future technology direction
Technical Leadership
* Provide technical oversight throughout solution delivery and resolve complex design issues
* Act as a liaison between delivery teams and IT technical functions
* Support policy-related decisions, including data residency
* Influence and contribute to enterprise architecture roadmaps
Stakeholder Engagement
* Communicate solution options clearly and support informed decision-making
* Build trusted relationships with business and IT stakeholders
* Drive consensus and influence key technical and strategic decisions
Innovation, Governance & Risk
* Stay informed on emerging technologies and identify opportunities for improvement
* Highlight architectural risks and propose mitigation strategiesMaintain the information asset register
* Ensure compliance with security, data handling, and regulatory policies
Skills & Experience
* Experience across one or more IT domains
* Proven background as a Solution Architect in complex enterprise environments
* Strong capability in Microsoft Azure (IaaS, PaaS) and cloud-native architectures
* Knowledge of enterprise integration patterns and API management
* Understanding of security, compliance, and data privacy best practices
* Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills
* Ability to take ownership of technical challenges and deliver solutions
* Knowledge of project delivery cycles and quality assurance
* Proactive learner with interest in emerging technologies
* Understanding of data governance and information security standards
* Experience within legal or professional services
* Familiarity with TOGAF or similar architecture frameworks
* Experience with DevOps tools and practices
* Exposure to business analysis and large-scale process change
* Experience working with third-party or offshore delivery teams
* Identity & Access Management
* Networking and infrastructure fundamentals
* Agile and modern delivery methodologies
Personal Attributes
* Strong strategic thinking, influencing, and diplomacy skills
* Excellent communication and leadership capability
* Comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
* Detail-oriented with excellent written and verbal communication
* Resilient, adaptable, and solution-focused
* Able to prioritise and work independently
* Positive, proactive, and committed to continuous development
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