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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative solution designs for critical missions and mentor a dynamic team.
- Company: Join Leonardo, a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and a comprehensive benefits package.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while shaping the future of technology and security.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in solution architecture and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Your impact
Are you ready to shape and lead solution designs that underpin the UK’s most critical missions? At Leonardo, our Senior Solutions Architects are trusted experts who provide technical leadership across programmes, influence roadmaps, and ensure solutions are secure, resilient, and future-ready.
Your work at Leonardo UK will see you take the lead in solving customer problems in an agile, innovative and team-centric manner. The role may involve a blended hybrid working model, with a mixture of working from home and working on site at one of our Leonardo offices to ensure close collaboration with the wider team and with our customers.
What you will do as a Senior Solutions Architect
- Act as the technical authority for solution design across large-scale or multi-project programmes.
- Define and evolve architectures that balance customer needs, enterprise principles, and secure-by-design standards.
- Contribute to divisional and line-of-business roadmaps, identifying opportunities for technology insertion and innovation.
- Lead technical reviews, trade-off studies, and risk assessments for major design decisions.
- Mentor and coach Solutions Architects and Engineers, raising capability across the community.
- Represent Leonardo at senior customer forums, technical boards, and industry events.
- Support business winning, including solution strategy, bids, and proposal development.
- Champion best practice, reuse, and model-based design approaches across the architecture community.
What you’ll bring
- Extensive technical expertise with a proven track record of designing secure, integrated solutions.
- Ability to influence technical strategy and act as a recognised authority within your domain.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with senior stakeholders.
Core areas (must have):
- Proven experience in solution architecture across multiple domains (infrastructure, applications, data, networking, cloud).
- Strong knowledge of enterprise and solution architecture frameworks (e.g. TOGAF, MODAF, NAF).
- Advanced understanding of secure system design principles and cyber security standards.
- Experience shaping architectures within Agile or SAFe delivery environments.
- Ability to mentor, coach, and provide thought leadership within a technical community.
Desirable:
- Industry certifications (TOGAF, AWS/Azure Architect, ArchiMate).
- Experience contributing to technology roadmaps and enterprise strategy.
- Familiarity with service design, operational transformation, and digital modernisation.
- Exposure to cloud-native, DevSecOps, and automation approaches.
- Experience presenting at technical boards, customer forums, or industry conferences.
This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.
Security Clearance
This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV).
Location
This role can be based at one of our UK sites, typically Bristol, with hybrid/custom working options where appropriate. Customer is based in Reading.
Why join us
At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.
- Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
- Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
- Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity.
- Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
- Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
- Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
- Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
- Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.
For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.
Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.
At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.
Be part of something bigger - apply now!
Primary Location: GB - Bristol - Coldharbour Lane
Additional Locations: GB - Basildon - Home Based
Contract Type: Permanent
Hybrid Working: Hybrid
Solutions Architect in Bristol employer: Leonardo UK Ltd
Contact Detail:
Leonardo UK Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Solutions Architect in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who works at Leonardo. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a portfolio or case studies that highlight your previous work as a Solutions Architect. When you get the chance to chat with recruiters or hiring managers, share your successes and how you've tackled challenges.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready for the interview! Research common interview questions for Solutions Architects and practice your answers. Think about how your experience aligns with the role at Leonardo and be prepared to discuss it confidently.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining us at Leonardo. Don’t forget to follow up after applying; a little persistence goes a long way!
We think you need these skills to ace Solutions Architect in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in solution architecture. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Technical Expertise: Don’t hold back on detailing your technical skills! Mention specific frameworks like TOGAF or MODAF, and any relevant certifications. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs.
Communicate Clearly: Strong communication is key for this role. Ensure your application is well-structured and free of jargon. We appreciate clarity and conciseness, especially when discussing complex topics.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows your enthusiasm for joining us at Leonardo!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leonardo UK Ltd
✨Know Your Architecture Frameworks
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of enterprise and solution architecture frameworks like TOGAF and MODAF. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in past projects, as this will show your technical authority and understanding of secure-by-design principles.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of how you've tackled complex customer problems in an agile environment. Highlight your experience with risk assessments and trade-off studies, as these are crucial for the role. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Engage with Senior Stakeholders
Practice your communication skills, especially when it comes to engaging with senior stakeholders. Think about how you can convey technical concepts in a way that resonates with non-technical audiences. This will be key in demonstrating your ability to influence technical strategy.
✨Be Ready to Mentor
Since mentoring is part of the role, prepare to discuss your approach to coaching others. Share specific instances where you've helped colleagues grow their skills or contributed to a technical community. This will highlight your leadership capabilities and commitment to raising capability across the team.