Job description for Lead Solutions Architect

Are you passionate about delivering mission-critical IT infrastructure? Do you thrive in dynamic environments where collaboration and innovation are key? If so, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) are looking for a Lead Solutions Architect to join their team.

You’ll join a dynamic team dedicated to delivering essential IT infrastructure and capabilities, supporting a diverse range of customers with complex and evolving needs. With an annual budget of approximately £50M to £60M, the team operates with agility and is transitioning towards an Enterprise Service Management (ESM) model, embracing collaborative practices across a multi-vendor ecosystem.

You’ll focus on meeting broad and complex operational demands, integrating and operating cutting-edge technologies for modern warfighting scenarios. While the team’s services are primarily UK-based, they extend globally to meet operational requirements. Collaboration with Defence-wide initiatives is key, aligning with the Roadmap and Target Architecture to achieve strategic objectives.

We champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required at both sites to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role. There may also be the opportunity to travel to other UK locations on occasion.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading solution architecture and contributing to enterprise architecture of the customer digital landscape, enabling the integration of the IT landscape for software and hardware, services, and business processes, and ensuring compatibility across the IT estate.
• Overseeing solution development through to implementation, assessing risks and compatibility issues, and articulating subsequent business impact of new technologies on the organisation and wider community.
• Monitoring service and supplier technical performance and initiating corrective action where necessary to make improvements and mitigate risks.
• Leading and influencing stakeholders at all levels including senior customers and suppliers.
• Contributing as a senior leader across the Delivery Team and the Profession, and the wider organisation’s initiatives, providing subject matter expertise on technical aspects of system development and integration.
• Leading the Design Authority to ensure compliance across technical delivery, ensuring alignment with relevant regulatory acts and legislation, policy, and standards.
• Lead the safety assurance of the IT landscape including software and hardware services and associated operating processes and practices

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you’ll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• A Degree in one of the following – Computer Science, Information Systems, Systems Engineering or a related field, or similar in experience
• Significant experience in leading the design and implementation of IT solutions, architecture, and design
• TOGAF Practitioner and/or BCS Architecture and/or equivalent qualifications
• Enterprise architecture modelling experience using ArchiMate language

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Strategy, Architecture and Solution Design – Expert
• Change and Transformation – Expert
• Seeing the Bigger Picture – CSBC 4
• Communicating and Influencing – CSBC4

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £81,200, Ministry of Defence contributes £23,523 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of – and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES-Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-SDA-Terms-and-Conditions

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here.

Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift – We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift – Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills. Please follow our guidance on CV writingfor best chance of success.
3. Interview – If you’re invited to interview, you’ll be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact department via email: DESHR-WSC-PMOCOMPLAINTS@mod.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints – Civil Service Commission