Be at the heart of actionFly remote-controlled drones into enemy territory to gather vital information.

Apply Now

Security Cleared Solution Architect

Bristol
1 week ago
Create job alert

Role: Solution Architect - Defence & Cloud Systems

We are seeking an experienced Solution Architect to join a dynamic and forward-thinking technology consultancy. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in complex, secure environments and enjoys applying systems thinking to deliver innovative, scalable solutions across defence, national security, and enterprise domains.

As a Solution Architect, you will play a pivotal role in leading the design, integration, and delivery of technical solutions. You'll work closely with clients and internal teams to understand requirements, define architectures, and guide implementation through the full lifecycle-from concept to acceptance.

Key Responsibilities

Client Engagement & Technical Leadership
Understand client requirements and pain points, provide Subject Matter Expertise (SME), and apply best practice systems thinking to develop effective solutions.

Architecture Design & Documentation
Define and model "As-Is" and "To-Be" states of services, systems, and enterprises. Produce High-Level Designs (HLDs) and Low-Level Designs (LLDs) that align with business and technical goals.

Requirements Management
Elicit, document, and manage user, service, and system requirements throughout the programme lifecycle. Define measures of effectiveness, performance, and acceptance criteria.

Solution Options Analysis
Lead technical options analysis, presenting viable solutions that meet requirements at both threshold and objective levels.

Testing & Validation
Develop overarching test strategies and plans. Generate test scripts and lead verification, validation, and acceptance activities with stakeholders.

Team Leadership & Collaboration
Manage technical teams of architects and integrators. Foster collaboration across disciplines to ensure cohesive and high-quality delivery.

Stakeholder Communication
Present complex technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. Build trust and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders.

Technical Skills & Experience

Essential Skills

Proven experience in systems engineering and solution architecture
Strong background in requirements management, including use cases and user stories
Expertise in producing HLDs, LLDs, and other design artefacts
Experience with test strategy, evaluation, and acceptance planning
Familiarity with verification & validation processes

Architecture Modelling

Proficiency in industry frameworks such as TOGAF, ArchiMate, and UML
Experience in enterprise architecture and solution architecture modelling

Domain Knowledge

Minimum 7+ years' experience as a Solution Architect
Experience with Defence ICT systems, including secure cloud hosting environments
Understanding of Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) and geospatial technologies
Knowledge of cloud platforms (Azure, AWS), virtualisation, and AI technologies
Experience with containerisation and orchestration tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
Familiarity with Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) delivery methodologies

Qualifications & Clearance

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or equivalent experience
Relevant professional certifications (e.g., TOGAF, AWS/Azure Architect)
Active SC clearance or higher is required
Must be a UK national

What's on Offer

Competitive salary and performance-based bonus
Generous pension scheme and life assurance
25 days annual leave plus additional leave for military reservists and volunteering
Private healthcare via (email address removed)
Flexible working arrangements - remote or office-based
Access to the latest secure technologies
Investment in personal development and career progression
Relocation bonus available for graduatesTo find out more about Computer Futures please visit

Computer Futures, a trading division of SThree Partnership LLP is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy | Registered office | 8 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4BQ, United Kingdom | Partnership Number | OC(phone number removed) England and Wales

Related Jobs

View all jobs

PKI & Cloud Architect (Contract)

Technical Architect

Senior APEX Developer

Senior Oracle APEX Software Engineer

DevOps Automation Lead

DevSecOps Lead

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Cloud Computing Recruitment Trends 2025 (UK): What Job Seekers Must Know About Today’s Hiring Process

Summary: UK cloud hiring has shifted from title-led CV screens to capability-driven assessments that emphasise platform reliability, cost control (FinOps), defence-in-depth security, automation via IaC, high-availability design, and measurable business impact. This guide explains what’s changed, what to expect in interviews & how to prepare—especially for platform engineers, SREs, cloud security engineers, DevOps, solutions architects, FinOps practitioners & data/AI platform engineers. Who this is for: Cloud/platform engineers, SREs, DevOps, cloud security, FinOps, network engineers, solutions/enterprise architects, data/ML platform engineers, observability engineers & cloud product managers targeting roles in the UK.

Why Cloud Computing Careers in the UK Are Becoming More Multidisciplinary

For many years, cloud computing careers in the UK meant roles for infrastructure specialists, system administrators, network engineers & software developers. Today, the picture looks very different. Cloud has become the backbone of digital transformation across industries — from healthcare to finance, education to government. With that reach comes new expectations. Cloud isn’t just about servers & storage anymore. It’s about handling sensitive data responsibly, meeting regulatory obligations, designing intuitive user experiences, communicating clearly with diverse stakeholders & understanding how people actually interact with complex digital systems. This means cloud careers are increasingly multidisciplinary, requiring expertise in law, ethics, psychology, linguistics & design alongside technical skills. In this article, we’ll explore why cloud careers in the UK are broadening, how these five disciplines intersect with cloud work, what it means for job-seekers & employers, and how to future-proof your career in this fast-changing sector.

Cloud Computing Team Structures Explained: Who Does What in a Modern Cloud Department

Cloud computing has transformed how organisations in the UK and worldwide design, deliver, and maintain their IT infrastructure. Whether it’s migrating on-premise workloads to the cloud, building cloud-native applications, or optimising for cost, performance, and security — organisations of all sizes need cloud teams with clearly defined roles. For someone applying for cloud computing jobs, or hiring for them, knowing who does what in a modern cloud department gives you an edge. This article describes the core roles you’ll find in a mature cloud team, how these roles work together through the cloud lifecycle, what skills UK employers tend to expect, typical career paths and salaries, plus the challenges of structuring cloud computing teams.