At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the architecture of data integration solutions for higher education partners.
- Company: PACT Solutions, a dynamic consultancy transforming higher education across the UK.
- Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a collaborative team focused on innovation and lasting change.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on student journeys and drive meaningful digital transformation.
- Qualifications: Experience in integration architecture and Azure Integration Services required.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
Location: Bristol or Manchester (hybrid, with regular travel to partner sites across the UK and Ireland as needed)
Role Type: Permanent (full-time preferred, flexible working considered)
About PACT Solutions:
PACT Solutions is a specialist management and digital transformation consultancy working exclusively with higher education institutions across the UK. We help universities solve complex challenges across strategy, student records, data, change and delivery. Our work often sits at the heart of major institutional transformation, helping partners improve the student journey, modernise operations and deliver change more effectively.
PACT has grown quickly and is now entering its next phase. We are moving from a founder-led boutique consultancy into a more scaled and structured business, while protecting the quality, culture and partner focus that have made us successful. Our culture is crucial to our success. Each day, our team significantly contributes to our business and that of our partners. We combine the agility and collaborative spirit of a close-knit consultancy with the credibility, structure, and professionalism needed to deliver meaningful digital transformation. Our values sit at the heart of everything we do and are core to our business.
- Partnership: We work with you, not for you.
- Integrity: We do the right thing, even when it requires difficult conversations.
- Curiosity: We dig deeper to uncover what will truly deliver value.
- Transformation: We focus on outcomes that create lasting, measurable improvement.
The Role:
We are looking for a Senior Integration and Solution Architect to own the architecture of data integration solutions across our higher education partners. You will define the integration framework: the principles, patterns, standards and technical decisions that determine what is built and how it is built. This is an architecture role, not a day-to-day delivery management role. Working alongside colleagues who lead programme and technical delivery, you will provide the architectural direction and assurance that enable secure, resilient and maintainable integrations across complex transformation programmes. You will combine strong consulting skills with practical experience of Azure Integration Services and software engineering. You will shape target-state architectures, guide solution design and support teams to apply consistent, reusable approaches.
Purpose of the role:
To support the delivery of effective, practical and people-centred change activity that helps PACT’s partners adopt new systems, processes and ways of working successfully.
Key Responsibilities:
- Integration and solution architecture: Own the integration architecture for assigned partner programmes and shape the target-state integration landscape. Define and evolve integration principles, reference architectures, patterns, standards and reusable components. Translate business, data and operational requirements into clear solution architectures, design decisions and technical roadmaps. Set the approach to API design, data contracts, message design, asynchronous processing, error handling, security, observability and resilience. Assess architectural options and technical trade-offs, providing clear recommendations to partners and delivery teams.
- Solution design and technical assurance: Design practical, scalable and maintainable integrations using Azure Integration Services, including Azure Service Bus, APIs and related Azure services. Provide architectural assurance at key design, build, test and deployment points, ensuring solutions conform to agreed standards. Review technical designs, code and documentation to improve consistency, quality and long-term supportability.
Senior Integration and Solution Architect employer: Pact Solutions
PACT Solutions is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration within the higher education sector. Employees benefit from extensive growth opportunities, including hands-on experience in data transformation and leadership development, all while making a meaningful impact on university partners across the UK.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Integration and Solution Architect
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Pact Solutions or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Pact Solutions.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Pact Solutions.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Pact Solutions that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Integration and Solution Architect
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Pact Solutions.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Pact Solutions and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pact Solutions
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Pact Solutions uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
