Strategic Bid Architect

Strategic Bid Architect (Home Based), inside IR35, initial 6-month contract (rate depending on exp)

We’re looking for a Strategic Bids Architect to support high-value, complex digital, data and AI-enabled bids on a contract basis. This role is perfect for an experienced architect who thrives in pre-sales, solution leadership, and shaping commercially competitive technology propositions.

The Opportunity

As the senior technical lead across major bids, you'll design and govern advanced digital, data and AI architectures — ensuring they are scalable, deliverable, and positioned to win. You’ll work closely with Growth, Service Design, and senior stakeholders to craft innovative, cloud-native, data-driven solutions that demonstrate real measurable outcomes.

What You’ll Be Doing

Solution Leadership

• Lead end-to-end architecture design for strategic bids (cloud, data, AI, automation).
• Translate business and outcome requirements into clear, integrated technical blueprints.
• Define architecture vision across AI/ML platforms, analytics, automation, integration and security.
• Balance innovation with cost, risk, and delivery feasibility.

Bid & Pursuit Engagement

• Act as the technical design authority across bid cycles.
• Shape digital transformation narratives with a strong AI-driven edge.
• Support bid writing, technical orals, workshops, and client deep-dives.

Digital, Data & AI Governance

• Align all architectural elements with enterprise standards and responsible AI frameworks.
• Maintain traceability between outcomes, capabilities, architecture and cost models.
• Support risk and assurance around data, AI, integration, scalability and security.

Commercial Support

• Work with commercial teams to model cost structures and justify ROI.
• Provide input into outcome-based, consumption-based, and fixed-price bid modelling.
• Ensure solutions are compelling, competitive, and architecturally sound.

Transition Support

• Support handover into mobilisation teams post-award, ensuring architecture continuity.

Required Skills & Experience

• 10+ years designing large-scale digital transformation solutions.
• Deep knowledge of AI/ML, data platforms, analytics, automation and cloud architectures.
• Strong experience with AWS/Azure, APIs, microservices, integration and event-driven systems.
• Proven track record leading solution design for major bids.
• Ability to communicate with CXO-level stakeholders.
• Familiarity with TOGAF, ITIL, Agile, Responsible AI frameworks, and architecture modelling tools.