Solutions Architect

Lead Solution Architect – Digital

3-4 days a week onsite in Reading

SC Clearance is essential

Up to £116 p/h Inside IR35

A Defence prime based in the Reading area are looking for an experienced and strategic Lead Solution Architect to provide senior technical leadership across our Digital business value stream. This is a high impact opportunity to shape the future digital architecture of a multinational defence organisation.

As Lead Solution Architect, you will define architectural direction across major programmes, lead internal and external architecture teams.

Key skills

• Proven experience leading architecture functions across major Defence, Aerospace or similar enterprise programmes
• Strong expertise in Microsoft technologies, cloud platforms, integration, and security
• Experience delivering large-scale enterprise solutions such as Azure and SAP S/4HANA
• Strong stakeholder management and leadership skills, including engagement at CXO level
• Experience governing architecture across complex, regulated, or multinational environments
• Strong understanding of enterprise architecture principles, governance, and technical assurance Azure cloud certifications
• Experience supporting multinational or highly integrated digital ecosystems

Key responsibilities

• Lead and govern Digital Architecture activities across major multinational programmes
• Define, own, and evolve the enterprise architecture roadmap aligned to strategic transformation objectives
• Ensure digital products and platforms are scalable, resilient, secure, and interoperable
• Provide technical oversight and assurance across solution delivery and partner engagements
• Critically assess delivery partner proposals for technical credibility, security, value, and architectural alignment
• Shape architectural strategy across RFPs, procurement, and supplier selection activities
• Collaborate with senior business and technical stakeholders to align architecture with organisational priorities
• Drive best practice design principles, governance standards, and long-term technology optimisation

This role is ideal for a forward-thinking architecture leader who enjoys solving complex challenges, influencing strategic direction, and shaping enterprise-scale digital transformation programmes.