Solution Design Authority Engineer (Contract)
* Client: Telecommunication
* Start: ASAP
* Duration: 6months +
* Daily Rate: DOE
* Inside IR35
* Employment Type: Contract.
* Reason for hire: Increased workload/demand - need additional contract Solution Design Authority (SDA) capability to support delivery.
Overview
We're looking for an experienced Solution Design Authority Engineer to take ownership of end-to-end solution design and design governance across complex network/infrastructure change initiatives. You'll act as the technical authority ensuring solutions are fit-for-purpose, secure, supportable, and aligned to enterprise standards-while enabling delivery teams to execute at pace.
This is a contract role, suited to someone comfortable working in large-scale, multi-stakeholder environments with strong design assurance discipline.
Key Responsibilities
* Own and assure solution designs from early discovery through to delivery handover (HLD/LLD as required).
* Provide technical authority and governance, ensuring designs align to architecture, security, operational, and commercial constraints.
* Lead/drive design forums (eg, design reviews, technical authority boards) and manage design sign-off.
* Translate business requirements into clear, implementable technical solutions, balancing risk, cost, time, and quality.
* Produce and maintain design artefacts such as:
o Solution design documents (HLD/LLD)
o Option analysis & trade-offs
o Interface/integration designs
o Implementation approach, assumptions, dependencies, and constraints
o RAID items (risks, assumptions, issues, dependencies) relevant to design
* Collaborate with internal/external delivery partners (engineering, vendors, managed service providers) to ensure build aligns to approved design.
* Ensure solutions meet security and compliance expectations (eg, secure-by-design, threat considerations, design hardening).
* Support operational readiness: non-functional requirements, monitoring, support model, acceptance criteria, and handover documentation.
* Provide clear technical leadership to engineers and stakeholders-removing ambiguity and unblocking delivery.
Required Skills & Experience
* Proven experience operating as a Solution Design Authority/Design Authority/Lead Solution Designer in complex environments.
* Strong background in network and infrastructure solution design (enterprise-grade, multi-site, high-availability).
* Strong documentation skills: producing high-quality HLD/LLD and running design governance properly.
* Solid understanding of:
o Network architecture/design (LAN/WAN, routing/switching, segmentation)
o Security-by-design principles (Firewalls, secure connectivity, identity considerations)
o Resilience, performance, capacity, and operational supportability
* Comfortable managing senior stakeholders and driving decisions in ambiguous situations.
* Experience working within structured delivery frameworks (Agile/Waterfall/hybrid) and with multiple suppliers.
Desirable/Nice to Have
* Telco/large enterprise experience (highly relevant for Vodafone-scale environments).
* Experience with SD-WAN, cloud connectivity, zero trust, SASE, NAC, or large-scale transformation programmes.
* Formal architecture/design qualifications (eg, TOGAF) - beneficial but not essential.
* Security clearance (SC) if required for specific programmes.
Next Steps
For enquiries, please contact me
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