DV Cleared Design Authority Solution Architect

Job Title: DV Cleared Design Authority Solution Architect Location: Type: Contract Security Clearance: Active DV (Developed Vetting) Clearance required Salary / Rate: £700-£875 Role Overview: We are seeking a highly experienced and security-cleared Design Authority Solution Architect to lead the end-to-end technical architecture and assurance of critical systems in secure environments. This strategic role requires broad architectural expertise, stakeholder influence, and a strong understanding of delivering resilient, secure, and scalable enterprise solutions. As a Design Authority, you will act as the primary technical decision-maker, ensuring that all design outputs are cohesive, compliant, and aligned with business goals, technology standards, and security requirements. Key Responsibilities: Act as the technical design lead and final authority for all architectural decisions within the scope of the programme or solution Define, own, and maintain the solution architecture roadmap, ensuring coherence across platforms and services Provide governance and assurance across all architectural artefacts, including HLDs, LLDs, interface specifications, and design patterns Engage with stakeholders to ensure business, security, and operational requirements are effectively captured and translated into viable designs Lead architecture reviews, technical assessments, and design sign-off processes Oversee the selection and integration of technologies, platforms, and tools Ensure architecture adheres to best practices for security, performance, resilience, and scalability Collaborate with delivery, security, and operational teams to support implementation and ongoing evolution of the architecture Mitigate technical risks and ensure effective change control over the design baseline Essential Skills & Experience: Active DV Clearance (Developed Vetting) is essential Proven experience in a Design Authority or Lead Architect role within secure or critical national infrastructure environments Strong background in enterprise solution architecture across infrastructure, application, and integration layers Deep knowledge of architectural frameworks and standards (e.g., TOGAF, SABSA, NIST) Track record of leading the technical design of complex, high-availability systems Experience working with cloud (AWS, Azure, or GCP), hybrid, and legacy platforms Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to bridge business and technical domains Skilled in producing high-quality architectural documentation and leading design reviews Strong awareness of security architecture principles and secure system design practices Desirable: Relevant industry certifications (e.g., TOGAF, AWS/Azure Architect, CISSP, SABSA) Experience with DevSecOps and automated delivery pipelines Understanding of Zero Trust architecture and modern identity/access management models Experience in highly regulated industries such as finance, energy, aerospace, or telecoms Familiarity with agile and hybrid delivery methodologies TPBN1_UKTJ