Salary: £85,000 - 85,000 per year Requirements: Solution architecture experience across complex or multi-domain environments. Confidence in engaging with senior stakeholders and translating architectural thinking for non-technical audiences. Strong technical background and understanding of modern architectural practices, especially cloud-native approaches. Collaborative, inquisitive nature and comfort in constructively challenging thinking. Ability to lead, mentor, and inspire a team, even without formal line management experience. Responsibilities: Define and maintain solution architecture standards, principles, and frameworks. Lead and manage a team of Solution Architects, supporting their development and embedding best practice. Collaborate across product, technology, and business domains to evaluate solution options and shape clear recommendations. Provide architectural oversight and governance across initiatives, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture, data strategy, and security policies. Technologies: Architect Cloud Security Support MS Teams More: We are AQA, embracing an exciting transformation journey where technology is central to enhancing the assessment experience for learners, teachers, and internal users. As the Lead Solution Architect, you will shape the solutions underpinning our digital products and services within a hybrid working model, based in either Manchester or Milton Keynes. We offer a competitive salary alongside benefits like 25 days of annual leave (rising to 30 with service), flexible working arrangements, an excellent pension scheme, life assurance, and health plans. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered. last updated 14 week of 2026