Solution Architect

Solution Architect
6 months
Warwick - x2 days onsite x3 remote
Inside IR35 - umbrella only

Role description
The Solution Architect will be responsible for creating a business case to identify and select the most appropriate options for a Software as a Service (SaaS) application, whether available in the market or developed in-house. This role involves gathering and analysing requirements, designing architectural solutions, evaluating proposals through Request for Proposals (RFP), ensuring Non-Functional Requirements (NFR) are met, addressing security and IT controls, creating architectural artefacts, and leading the technical aspects of the SaaS deployment across multiple domains and Identity Provider (IdP) Single Sign-On (SSO) integrations. Additionally, the architect will understand business functional requirements to influence option selection effectively.
A key aspect of the role will entail covering Common Data Environments & Building Information Modelling (CDE & BIM) platforms. Experience or use of these would be beneficial although not essential. Understanding of system architecture in relation to CDE & BIM as well as Sharepoints / MS365 stack would also be beneficial for this role. There is a high expectation that the right candidate would be able to lead and progress with architectural type work supporting the overall product team progress with delivery.
Essential skills and experience
Responsibilities:

Business Case Development:
Create comprehensive business cases to evaluate and justify the selection of SaaS solutions available in the market or the development of in-house solutions.
Conduct cost-benefit analyses and feasibility studies to support decision-making.
Requirements Gathering:
Collaborate with business stakeholders to gather and analyse functional and non-functional requirements.
Translate business needs into technical specifications and architectural designs.
RFP Evaluation:
Review and assess RFP submissions to ensure alignment with business objectives and technical requirements.
Collaborate with stakeholders to define evaluation criteria and scoring mechanisms.
Non-Functional Requirements (NFR):
Identify and document NFRs such as performance, scalability, reliability, and usability.
Ensure that the selected solution accommodates these requirements effectively.
Architectural Design:
Develop high-level architecture designs and detailed technical specifications for software solutions.
Ensure that the architecture is scalable, secure, and maintainable.
Security and IT Controls:
Implement security best practices and compliance measures within the architecture.
Collaborate with security teams to conduct risk assessments and ensure adherence to IT controls.
Architecture Artefacts:
Create and maintain architectural artefacts, including diagrams, models, and documentation.
Ensure that artefacts are up-to-date and reflect the current state of the architecture.
Multi-Domain Architecture:
Design solutions that operate across multiple domains, ensuring seamless integration and data flow.
Address domain-specific requirements and constraints in the architecture.
Identity Provider (IdP) SSO Integration:
Lead the integration of IdP SSO solutions to provide secure and efficient user authentication.
Ensure that the architecture supports various authentication protocols (e.g., SAML, OAuth).
Understanding Business Functional Requirements:
Engage with business stakeholders to gather and understand functional requirements.
Use this understanding to influence option selection and ensure that architectural decisions align with business needs.
Technical Leadership:
Lead the technical aspects of the SaaS deployment, guiding development teams and ensuring adherence to architectural standards.
Facilitate technical discussions and decision-making processes among stakeholders.
Collaboration and Communication:
Work closely with product managers, developers, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment on architectural decisions.
Communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders effectively.
Documentation:
Create and maintain comprehensive documentation, including architectural diagrams, design specifications, and implementation plans.
Ensure that documentation is accessible and up-to-date for future reference.
Quality Assurance:
Establish quality assurance processes to ensure that solutions meet defined standards and requirements.
Conduct code reviews and provide feedback to development teams.
Performance Monitoring:
Monitor the performance of implemented solutions and identify areas for improvement.
Propose optimisations and enhancements based on performance metrics
Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
Proven experience as a Solution Architect, preferably in SaaS environments.
Strong understanding of software development methodologies and best practices.
Experience with cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure etc.).
Familiarity with microservices architecture, APIs, and integration patterns.
Knowledge of security frameworks and compliance standards (e.g., ISO 27001, GDPR).
Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
All profiles will be reviewed against the required skills and experience. Due to the high number of applications we will only be able to respond to successful applicants in the first instance. We thank you for your interest and the time taken to apply