Lead Solution Architect

+6 months +

+Hybrid working 3 days a week in Reading

+Inside IR35

+£95 - £116 per hour

+SC cleared role

+Sole British national due to nature of the project

We are seeking an experienced Lead Solution Architect to provide senior technical leadership across major digital programmes.

This is a high-impact role responsible for defining, governing, and evolving the architecture that underpins digital products, platforms, and services. You will lead architectural direction across complex programmes, ensuring solutions are secure, scalable, interoperable, and aligned to enterprise strategy and long-term business objectives.

You will work closely with senior stakeholders, architecture teams, and external delivery partners to drive technical excellence and deliver a cohesive digital ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and govern solution architecture activities across major digital programmes
Define and evolve enterprise architecture roadmaps aligned to business and digital transformation objectives
Provide architectural oversight across cloud, enterprise, and integrated technology solutions
Assess and validate technical proposals from delivery partners and suppliers
Ensure all solutions meet required standards for cybersecurity, resilience, scalability, and interoperability
Shape architecture strategy within RFPs, procurement activities, and delivery governance processes
Collaborate with senior leadership and stakeholders across multinational programmes
Promote best practice architecture principles, standards, and governance across the Digital portfolio

Essential Experience

Proven experience leading architecture functions across large-scale enterprise programmes
Strong background delivering solutions involving technologies such as Azure and SAP S/4HANA
Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at senior and CXO level
Strong expertise across Microsoft technologies, enterprise integration, and security
Experience leading internal technical teams and managing external delivery partners
Strong understanding of enterprise architecture governance and digital transformation

Desirable

Azure cloud certifications
Experience within Defence, Aerospace, or highly regulated environments
Exposure to multinational or complex international programmesIf you'd like to discuss this Solution Lead in more detail, please send your updated CV to (url removed) and I will get in touch.