Lead Solution Architect - Public Sector Consulting

Our Public Sector Business Unit is growing rapidly, and we are looking for an experienced permanent Lead Solution Architect to join our expanding team delivering high-impact digital and data transformation for UK central government clients. We are seeking a hands-on solutions leader with a passion for solving complex challenges in government. You will have a proven track record of shaping large-scale solutions across cloud platforms, legacy estates, and service integration layers—ideally within a consultancy, systems integrator, or public sector delivery environment. You will be confident working across both business and technology domains, comfortable influencing senior stakeholders, and experienced in aligning solution architecture with user needs, operational constraints, and public sector standards. You will bring both broad technical understanding and a pragmatic mindset, helping clients achieve meaningful change at pace. As part of our Extended Leadership Team for the UK Government Sector, reporting to the CTO, you will contribute directly to further enhancing our team culture and driving business growth.

What you'll be doing:

• Focus on pre-sales activity, developing solution strategies, high-level designs, and producing responses to RFPs in collaboration with sales and bid teams.
• Engage with senior client stakeholders to understand business problems and translate them into composable, scalable solution architectures that are secure, compliant, and future-ready.
• Work closely with multi-disciplinary teams—delivery managers, business analysts, technical architects, and engineering leads—to shape delivery models that meet client and user needs.
• Contribute to governance and assurance, ensuring architectural coherence across delivery workstreams, and adherence to government standards (e.g. GDS, NCSC, Cabinet Office, MOD).
• Collaborate with our Government CTO and wider leadership team to shape IP, frameworks, and go-to-market offerings.
• Coach and mentor other architects and support the development of architecture capability within the business.

Qualifications:

• Significant experience designing and delivering complex digital and data solutions in the UK Government or wider Public Sector.
• Deep knowledge of enterprise architecture patterns, public cloud services (Azure, AWS), application design, integration patterns (API, event-driven), and data platforms.
• Demonstrable success in shaping client strategies, designing operating models, and engaging in business case development and benefit modelling.
• Experience of bid and pre-sales involvement, including shaping client proposals, contributing to SOWs, and presenting to commercial and technical stakeholders.
• A sound understanding of government standards and frameworks, including the Digital Service Standard, GDS assessment criteria, NCSC cloud security principles, and relevant assurance models.
• Experience working in agile delivery environments and collaborating across business and technology domains.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to articulate and advocate for strategic solutions at executive level.

Essential experience:

• Demonstrated success in producing winning proposals for central government clients.
• Extensive experience in a solution architecture or enterprise architecture role, within government or regulated industries.
• Background in consulting, systems integration, or technology leadership within public sector environments.

Desirable experience:

• Relevant certifications such as TOGAF, SAFe, or cloud architect qualifications (Azure/AWS).
• Understanding of government technology assurance frameworks and legacy modernisation journeys.
• Degree in a technology-related discipline or equivalent practical experience.

Benefits:

Our inclusive work environment prioritises mutual respect, accountability and continuous learning. We offer a range of tailored benefits that support your physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing, and flexible work options. We are proud to have a range of Inclusion Networks such as the Women's Business Network, Cultural and Ethnicity Network, LGBTQ+ & Allies Network, Neurodiversity Network and the Parent Network.