Title: Solutions Architect (SC Cleared) - Telecom Networks
Job Type: Contract
Length: Initial 9-12 month contract (strong chance of extending further)
Rate: Competitive
Contact: Thomas.price@forsythbarnes.com
The Role
As a Solutions Architect, you’ll design scalable, repeatable, and customer-focused technical solutions that align with both business and technology strategy. You’ll play a central role in requirement capture, technical assurance, and decision-making—guiding stakeholders through the full design lifecycle.
You’ll act as the IP technical authority, influencing direction, shaping standards, and ensuring that solutions are robust, compliant, and ready for deployment. With a strong focus on quality and operational readiness, you'll produce both High-Level and Low-Level Designs and support the transition into live service.
Your work will involve breaking down solutions on a site-by-site basis, producing modular and industrialised configurations, and supporting hands-on build activities where required.
What You’ll Be Doing
* Capturing, analysing, and translating customer requirements into scalable, repeatable solutions
* Producing detailed HLDs and LLDs for customer deployments
* Providing technical sign-off across solution design, testing strategy, and operational handover
* Acting as the IP technical authority, guiding customers and stakeholders through decision-making
* Designing solutions using templated, modular, and industrialised approaches
* Supporting hands-on build activities and assisting the network design team
* Ensuring designs meet quality standards and operational expectations
* Influencing project direction to align with technical principles and best practices
What You’ll Bring
* Excellent presentation, communication, and problem-solving capabilities
* Self-starter mindset with the ability to take ownership and deliver under pressure
* Ability to produce complex HLD and LLD documentation
Strong technical knowledge of:
* Layer 2/3 networking
* IP networking and routing protocols
* MPLS, load balancing, Radio technologies
* Legacy technologies (SDH, PDH, ISDN)
* Firewall and security technologies
* IP and Data Centre expertise (essential)
* Classic Cisco networking skills, ideally with CCNP-level knowledge
* Data centre experience (preferably Cisco UCS / 9571K environments)
* Experience working with Telecom networks
* Ability to break down complex architectures into site-by-site deliverables
* 2+ years into your Solutions Architect career with growing autonomy
* Strong knowledge transfer and mentoring skills
* Hands-on build experience and willingness to “roll up your sleeves”
Security Requirements
* MOD SC clearance (mandatory)
* Contractors must hold SE clearance (preferably via MOD or DESNZ)
* Ability to pass BS 7858 vetting as part of onboarding