Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape customer challenges into innovative solutions in defence and public sectors.
- Company: Join a leading tech firm with a focus on impactful projects.
- Benefits: Attractive salary, bonus scheme, hybrid work, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by solving complex problems with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in technical environments and strong customer engagement skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 120000 £ per year.
Senior Solutions Architect – Location: Bristol (Hybrid - 3 days per week in office). Salary: £80,000 - £120,000 (DOE) + bonus / incentive scheme. Eligibility: Must be eligible for SC Clearance (dual nationals considered depending on country).
This role is based with iO Associates and focuses on understanding customer challenges in the defence and public sector space, then working with engineers and delivery teams to determine how to solve them. It is not about chasing sales or managing accounts.
What you’ll be doing:
- Getting involved early in customer discussions — helping shape problems, not just respond to them.
- Defining solutions that bring together the right technology, delivery model and commercial approach.
- Working across domains such as C4ISR, defence, and government technology programmes.
- Identifying risks and challenges early and helping to structure delivery around them.
- Working with technical specialists across compute, systems and software to ensure solutions are sound and achievable.
- Providing technical credibility in customer meetings and supporting bid development.
What we’re looking for:
- This role would suit someone who’s spent time in technically led environments — maybe as a systems engineer, solution architect or technical lead — and who enjoys working with customers and shaping work at an early stage.
- We’re open on seniority: we’re interested in the right mindset and capability, not just a certain number of years of experience.
Required:
- A good understanding of complex technical systems and how they fit together.
- Experience working in or with MOD, government, or other complex organisations.
- Confidence talking with customers, understanding their context and priorities.
- The ability to bring together people, ideas and delivery plans to make things happen.
- Eligibility for SC clearance (dual nationals considered depending on country).
Nice to have:
- Experience in C4ISR or related domains.
- Exposure to SaaS or product-led environments.
- An interest in systems of systems and interoperability challenges.
Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
Employment type: Full-time
Job function: Information Technology
Industries: Information Services
Solutions Architect employer: IO Associates
Contact Detail:
IO Associates Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Solutions Architect
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company and its projects inside out. When you walk into that interview, you want to sound like you’ve been part of their team for ages. Research their work in defence and public sector tech, and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their challenges.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your problem-solving skills! Since this role is all about shaping solutions, think of examples from your past where you tackled complex issues. Be prepared to share these stories during your discussions to showcase your technical credibility.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just wait for the interview to shine. Engage with the company on social media or through networking events. This shows your enthusiasm and gives you a chance to connect with potential colleagues before you even step into the office.
✨Tip Number 4
Finally, apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Solutions Architect
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Solutions Architect. Highlight your experience in technically led environments and any relevant projects you've worked on, especially those involving complex systems or government organisations.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've shaped customer challenges into solutions, and don’t forget to mention your understanding of C4ISR or related domains if applicable.
Showcase Your Technical Credibility: In your application, emphasise your technical skills and experiences that demonstrate your ability to engage with customers confidently. We want to see how you can bring together technology and delivery models to solve real-world problems.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you’re considered for the role without any hiccups!
How to prepare for a job interview at IO Associates
✨Understand the Role Deeply
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the role of a Solutions Architect, especially in the context of defence and public sector challenges. Familiarise yourself with C4ISR systems and how they integrate into complex environments. This knowledge will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute.
✨Prepare for Customer-Focused Discussions
Since this role involves early customer engagement, practice discussing how you would approach understanding customer challenges. Think about examples from your past where you've shaped solutions rather than just responding to problems. This will show your proactive mindset.
✨Showcase Your Technical Credibility
Be ready to discuss your experience with complex technical systems and how they fit together. Prepare specific examples that demonstrate your ability to work with engineers and delivery teams to create sound solutions. This will highlight your technical expertise and collaborative skills.
✨Demonstrate Risk Management Skills
Think about times when you've identified risks or challenges in projects and how you structured delivery around them. Be prepared to share these experiences during the interview, as it shows your ability to foresee potential issues and manage them effectively.