Solutions Architect - Defence & National Security
Location:
Stoke (Onsite - 5 days per week) Salary:
£75,000 + benefits Clearance:
UKSV clearance required (must be eligible) About the Role Sanderson Government & Defence is supporting a leading organisation delivering secure, mission-critical solutions into the Defence and National Security sectors. We're looking for an experienced
Solutions Architect
to design and deliver innovative, secure collaboration solutions tailored to highly sensitive environments. This is a key role working at the forefront of secure technology, helping clients tackle complex challenges across defence and intelligence domains. What You'll Be Doing Client Engagement & Consultation Work closely with clients and internal stakeholders to understand business needs, technical challenges, and security requirements
Translate requirements into clear technical specifications and solution designs
Lead workshops, presentations, and technical demonstrations
Act as a trusted advisor on secure collaboration technologies and emerging threats
Solution Design & Architecture Design end-to-end solutions aligned with security standards and best practices
Produce architecture diagrams, technical documentation, and implementation plans
Support RFI/RFP responses with detailed technical proposals
Technology Evaluation Assess and select appropriate technologies, platforms, and tools
Evaluate security, compliance, scalability, and interoperability
Provide clear recommendations with supporting rationale
Delivery & Implementation Work with engineering, project teams, and vendors to ensure successful delivery
Provide technical oversight throughout the project lifecycle
Support issue resolution and ensure solutions meet client expectations
Innovation & Leadership Stay up to date with industry trends, emerging technologies, and security developments
Drive continuous improvement and innovation across solutions
Contribute to thought leadership and best practices
Mentor and support junior team members
Key Skills & Experience Proven experience as a Solutions Architect within Defence, National Security, or secure environments
Strong understanding of secure collaboration technologies (messaging, file sharing, video, IA)
Experience with enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g. TOGAF)
Strong cloud knowledge (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
Experience across networking, virtualisation, and cybersecurity tools
Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
Desirable Relevant certifications (CISSP, TOGAF, CCSP, ITILv4)
Experience responding to RFIs/RFPs
Background in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
What's on Offer Salary of £75,000 plus a comprehensive benefits package
Opportunity to work on high-impact, mission-critical projects
Exposure to cutting-edge secure technologies
Collaborative, expert-led environment
Ongoing professional development and career progression
Important Information Due to the nature of the work, candidates must hold UKSV clearance or be eligible to obtain it. If you're an experienced Solutions Architect looking to apply your expertise in a highly secure, purpose-driven environment, we'd love to hear from you. Reasonable Adjustments: Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients. If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason
,
please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.