Solution Architect (Azure Cloud)
Define, design, and govern the end-to-end technical architecture across cloud and on-premise systems, ensuring scalability, security, maintainability, and alignment with business and enterprise architecture objectives. The role is responsible for establishing Azure-based solution architectures, guiding delivery teams, and ensuring that technology decisions drive long-term value, resilience, and performance across the organisation.
- Solution Architecture & Design
- Design end-to-end solution architectures across applications, data, integrations, and infrastructure within Microsoft Azure environments
- Define architectural patterns for cloud-native, hybrid, and distributed systems
- Develop high-level and low-level designs (HLD/LLD), ensuring clarity for delivery teams
- Ensure solutions are scalable, resilient, secure, and cost-optimised
- Azure Cloud Architecture
- Define and implement architecture using Azure services, including:
- Compute: Azure App Services, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Azure Functions
- Data: Azure SQL, Cosmos DB, Data Lake, Synapse Analytics
- Integration: Azure API Management, Logic Apps, Service Bus, Event Grid
- Security: Azure Active Directory (Entra ID), Key Vault, Managed Identities
- Design for high availability, disaster recovery, and business continuity using Azure-native capabilities
- Ensure effective use of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Bicep, ARM templates, or Terraform
- Define and implement architecture using Azure services, including:
- Integration & System Design
- Define integration patterns and system interactions across microservices and enterprise systems
- Design APIs and event-driven architectures using REST, messaging, and asynchronous patterns
- Ensure interoperability between legacy systems and modern cloud-based platforms
- Technical Leadership & Governance
- Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance to development and engineering teams
- Review and approve solution designs and key technical decisions
- Ensure alignment with enterprise architecture standards, governance frameworks, and design principles
- Define and enforce architecture governance processes, design reviews, and checkpoints
- Technology Evaluation & Innovation
- Evaluate new technologies, frameworks, and tools within the Azure ecosystem
- Conduct proofs of concept (PoCs) and recommend solutions based on business and technical fit
- Drive adoption of cloud best practices, DevSecOps, and modern engineering approaches
- Security, Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure compliance with security best practices, regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR), and organisational policies
- Embed zero-trust architecture principles and secure design practices
- Identify and mitigate technical risks, vulnerabilities, and architectural gaps
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Engage with business stakeholders, product owners, and leadership teams to understand requirements
- Translate business needs into scalable and pragmatic technical architecture solutions
- Communicate architecture decisions, trade-offs, and risks clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Delivery Support & Collaboration
- Collaborate with Agile delivery teams, DevOps engineers, QA teams, and architects
- Support programme delivery, roadmap planning, and release strategies
- Provide guidance during implementation, integration, and deployment phases
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
- TOGAF or equivalent architecture certification
- Azure DevOps / Security certifications (advantageous)