Technical Architect

Solution Architect (Contract) Location: Hybrid 3 days onsite/week (Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester, Manchester, Blackpool, Birmingham, Newcastle) Contract: 6 Months Opportunity We are supporting a major UK Government programme seeking an experienced Solution Architect to lead the design and delivery of enterprise-scale solutions across business-critical functions including People, Finance, Commercial and Estates. This is an excellent opportunity to join a high-profile transformation programme where you will shape technical strategy, design modern cloud-based solutions, and work closely with senior stakeholders, engineering teams, and delivery partners. Key Responsibilities • Design end-to-end technical solutions that align with business requirements and enterprise architecture standards. • Lead architecture design for large-scale enterprise systems and transformation initiatives. • Evaluate, select, and implement SaaS products and services. • Design and govern solutions using microservices, APIs, event-driven architectures, and file-based integrations. • Produce architecture artefacts, solution designs, and technical documentation for a range of audiences. • Work closely with engineering and delivery teams to ensure successful implementation. • Drive the adoption of architecture best practices, patterns, and standards. • Identify and reduce technical debt while improving long-term platform sustainability. • Develop technical roadmaps and present solutions at architecture governance forums. • Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. • Collaborate with business and technology leaders to deliver value-for-money solutions.Essential Experience • Proven experience working as a Solution Architect within large and complex organisations. • Extensive experience selecting and implementing Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions. • Strong expertise in: • Microservices Architecture • API Design and Integration • Event-Driven Architecture • File-Based Data Transfers and Integration Patterns • Experience designing solutions within public cloud environments (AWS, Azure and/or GCP). • Strong understanding of enterprise architecture principles and governance. • Experience creating architecture diagrams, solution views, and technical documentation. • Demonstrable experience leading architecture on enterprise-scale programmes. • Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior leadership. • Excellent communication and presentation skills.Desirable Experience • Experience delivering solutions across People (HR), Finance, Commercial, or Estates domains. • Experience working within Government or highly regulated environments. • Familiarity with architecture frameworks and governance processes.