Job Title and Location
Senior Solution Architect (Operational Technology) – Ipswich office, permanent position reporting to the Architecture Manager in the Strategy Regulation and Support Services directorate.
Compensation
Up to £95,000 per annum (dependent on skills, qualifications, and experience) plus a 7.5% bonus. Blended working (3 days in office, 2 days remote) after a 6-month probationary period.
Benefits
25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Reservist Leave – 18 days full pay and 22 days unpaid
Personal Pension Plan – 4%‑5% personal contribution with UK Power Networks matching 8%‑10%
Tenancy Loan Deposit Scheme and Season Ticket Loan
Tax‑efficient benefits: Cycle to Work, Home & Tech, Green Car Leasing schemes
Occupational Health support
Switched On scheme – discounts on a wide range of retailers
Discounted gym membership
Employee Assistance Programme
Job Purpose
To advance UK Power Networks’ operational technology systems, driving business transformation, operational efficiency, and modernisation. The Senior Solution Architect ensures technology investments deliver tangible improvements in performance, customer experience, and resilience.
Principal Accountabilities
Influence technology strategy with business teams and leadership to align solutions with organisational goals.
Act as a trusted adviser and solution partner to business counterparts.
Maximise value of operational technology assets through design, implementation, and utilisation.
Lead the technical design authority, resolving design problems and securing approval from the Architecture Review Board.
Advocate standardisation and minimal customisation of solutions.
Institutionalise a design‑assurance process with suppliers, ensuring delivery aligns with systems requirements and IT standards.
Deliver business capability models and design patterns via Enterprise Architecture tools.
Support the department with data migration, environment design (Dev/QA/Prod), interface design, legacy retirement, data archiving, code management, and documentation of standards.
Coordinate complex architectural transformations, aligning technical SMEs across vendors and internal teams.
Design and implement operational technology solutions and roadmaps across domains.
Produce incremental roadmaps to deliver value regularly.
Conduct architecture assessments of existing landscapes, identify gaps, and recommend remediation.
Ensure compliance with UK Power Networks architecture principles and cyber‑security standards.
Develop technical documentation, including architecture diagrams and specifications.
Translate roadmaps into work packages for change programmes and projects.
Track, analyse, and monitor technology performance metrics.
Encourage adaptive design and agile engineering practices within projects.
Co‑o‑perate with partners, scrum masters, project managers, product owners to define technical solutions.
Coach junior team members on technology, strategy, and delivery.
Dimensions
Direct reports: none
Budget influence: £20M in solutions and projects
Portfolio: Operational Technology
Nature & Scope
Provide direction and guidance to align architecture strategy and projects with organisational goals, architecture, and security principles. Communicate technology strategy to senior leaders and the broader business. Lead specification and design of next‑generation solutions, contributing to the technology landscape and business capabilities.
Qualifications & Experience
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, a STEM field, or equivalent project‑related experience.
Experience with Advanced Distribution Management Systems and large‑scale transformation projects.
Expertise in API standards, protocols, complex systems integration, data architecture, and analytics.
Knowledge of cyber‑security architecture, system integration, access, and identity management.
Experience with enterprise architecture frameworks such as TOGAF or ArchiMate.
Senior architect or equivalent role in a large, complex IT environment.
Experience leading technical design reviews and providing oversight to other architects or vendors.
Experience with the utilities or electricity distribution industry is beneficial.
Agile mindset with proven experience in agile teams.
Strong collaboration and partner management skills.
Ability to convey complex technical concepts to senior leadership.
Experience capturing business capabilities and reference architectures in an Enterprise Architecture repository.
Important Behaviours & Competencies
Effective communication between technical and non‑technical staff and suppliers.
Turning business problems into solution designs.
Seeking opportunities for change and informed decision‑making.
Influencing and persuading peers and leadership.
Understanding both long‑term and short‑term perspectives.
Rapid comprehension of innovative technologies.
Health & Safety Responsibilities
Managers and supervisors are legally and organisationally responsible for ensuring health and safety for employees and others affected by work. Employees must understand health and safety risks and apply controls to manage those risks to acceptable levels, including environmental impacts where legal requirements exist.
Equal Opportunity Statement
We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.
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