Consultant Solution/Technical Architect in Guildford

The Consultant Solution / Technical Architect role provides an opportunity to support a wide range of UK public sector and defence organisations on nationally critical digital programmes. You will provide consultancy to UK public sector and defence organisations to help them get maximum benefit from their ICT investments. You will analyse and develop solution and technical architectures based on the needs of the customer, including the associated technologies and operational processes. You will also research and assess new or unfamiliar technologies developments and routes to exploit these in support of our customers. Our position as a client-side advisor means that this role requires significant stakeholder engagement, dealing directly with the client, including in resolving day-to-day issues involved in assignment delivery and developing follow-on opportunities, so excellent interpersonal and influencing skills are essential. You will produce high-quality formal deliverables, sometimes to challenging timescales.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct engagement with clients to understand their business drivers, requirements and constraints.
• Defining end-to-end solution architectures including Business, Information/Data, Applications and Infrastructure views.
• Development of solutions and product investigation/selection and supporting implementation in critical national infrastructure projects.
• Supporting large ICT procurements, including developing technical requirements and evaluating options.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Essential: A track record in technical or solution architecture for digital projects or programmes is essential. The fast-changing nature of the ICT environment together with the need to resource multiple, ad-hoc assignments also requires the individual to be intellectually agile, proactive and self-motivated – with the ability to apply a structured approach to often unfamiliar subject matter.

Desirable: Experience working on Digital or ICT programmes within the Defence and/or UK Public Sector. Solution Architecture development and review using industry standard frameworks or modelling standards (e.g. TOGAF, Archimate language) and tooling (such as BizzDesign, SparxEA or Archi).

Experience with two or more of the following:

• Cloud Platforms: Understanding of Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Oracle Cloud, or VMware VCF (with ability to design cloud-native or hybrid solutions). Suitable qualifications might include Cisco CCNP, Amazon Web Services Solution Architect, Microsoft Azure Fundamentals, Google Associate Cloud Engineer, VMware Certified Professional.
• A solid foundation in infrastructure. Understanding networking, integration of software defined networking within cloud, storage, virtualization, and server technologies such as Cisco, Dell, Palo Alto.
• Integration & APIs: REST, event-driven architectures, message brokers, API gateways.
• Data: data models, data flows, data governance, analytical platforms.
• Security: familiarity with NCSC and cloud security principles, identity & access management, zero trust, data protection and regulatory compliance.

The nature of Actica’s business means that a wide and varied background is preferable and the capability to adapt quickly to change is always required. You may not feel that your skills precisely match the requirements of this job specification; however, we encourage you to apply if this is a role that appeals to you. We require individuals with a broad skillset, so there may be other aspects of your experience which are equally important to us, but that are perhaps not listed in the role specification above.

Actica aims to nurture a diverse workforce through inclusive working practices, promoting equality in our recruitment activities, and by employing candidates on the basis of merit. Discrimination against individuals on the grounds of protected characteristics is not permitted and we take steps to ensure that our staff are made aware of their legal responsibilities when making hiring decisions. We are keen to improve diversity within our organisation and the industries in which we work, and hope to employ individuals who share that view.

While Guildford is our home base, consultants typically spend their time working remotely. For most clients, consultants spend 2-3 days working remotely and 2-3 days co-located with colleagues at a client’s site or our office in Guildford. For some projects, there will be a requirement to work up to 5 days a week co-located with colleagues. All work is team based, with a high level of engagement with other Actica and client team members. Candidates must be eligible and willing to gain UK Security Clearance to apply for this position.