Platform Architect Design Manager | Contract | SC Cleared

Job Title: Platform Architect Design Manager
Location: Hybrid - Reading (2 days/week onsite, travel expensed)
Clearance: Active SC clearance required
Contract Type: Inside IR35
Duration: 6 months
Start Date: ASAP

Overview:
We're supporting a strategically critical programme within the defence and national security space and are seeking an experienced Platform Architect Design Manager to lead enterprise platform architecture across a secure, hybrid cloud environment.

This is a key leadership role, overseeing platform design governance, technical assurance, and strategic alignment across complex delivery streams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the end-to-end technical architecture of enterprise platforms and infrastructure
• Define, evolve, and govern architectural standards and design patterns across cloud and on-prem environments
• Act as technical design authority across infrastructure, integration, security, and platform domains
• Ensure architectural decisions align with strategic outcomes, risk posture, and operational realities
• Lead architecture reviews, provide assurance to delivery teams, and manage stakeholder alignment
• Support roadmap development and platform capability planning in collaboration with engineering and product leads
• Identify and mitigate architectural risks and technical debt

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Proven experience as a Lead Architect, Solution/Platform Architect, or Architecture Manager in complex enterprise or secure environments
• Strong understanding of hybrid cloud platform architecture, infrastructure-as-code, and CI/CD tooling
• Familiarity with architectural frameworks such as TOGAF, MODAF, or similar
• Hands-on knowledge of platforms and tooling such as Azure, AWS, Kubernetes, Terraform
• Ability to balance long-term strategy with short-term delivery priorities
• Excellent communication skills and experience engaging senior technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Active SC clearance is required for this role

If you're an experienced architecture leader ready to drive strategic platform design within a national security-aligned programme, apply now for immediate review.