At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and execution of innovative digital transformation projects using Microsoft Dynamics 365.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company in London with a hybrid work model.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with excellent career advancement opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of enterprise solutions and make a real impact in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in software implementation, with strong expertise in Microsoft Dynamics 365.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
Location: London, Hybrid
Role type: Contract Inside IR35
Position Overview
The Solution Architect plays a critical leadership role in the design, planning, and execution of enterprise digital transformation initiatives. Reporting to the Project Manager, the Solution Architect is responsible for translating business requirements into scalable, secure, and integrated technology solutions. This role requires strategic technical thinking combined with exceptional stakeholder management and governance oversight across complex, multi-workstream implementations.
Experience Requirements
- Minimum 10-12 years of enterprise software implementation experience, with:
- Minimum 8+ years with Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Platform, or Business Central technologies
- Minimum 6+ years in a Solutions Architect, Enterprise Architect, or equivalent senior technical delivery role
- Minimum 4+ years leading complex system integrations or data migration initiatives
- Track record of successful delivery on projects with budgets exceeding £300k and durations of 6+ months
- Demonstrated experience designing and implementing security frameworks for enterprise systems
Primary Responsibilities
- Technical Strategy and Architecture Design
- Define enterprise-grade system architecture for cloud-native transformations, specifically Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Pages, Copilot Studio), Business Central, and integrated ecosystems
- Design comprehensive integration strategies connecting multiple systems in real-time (CRM, ERP, payment processors, portal systems) with a focus on data consistency, scalability, and performance
- Develop detailed technical specifications for system components, including Dataverse schema design, Power Automate workflow frameworks, custom API architectures, and Power BI semantic models
- Create security architecture and governance frameworks, including field-level security (RLS), role-based access control, compliance requirements, and audit trail design
- Establish non-functional requirements, including performance targets (latency, throughput, availability), scalability parameters, disaster recovery, and backup strategies
- Project Planning and Governance
- Conduct comprehensive discovery sessions with business stakeholders to understand current state systems (legacy Dynamics CRM 9.2, Sage 200), business processes, and future state requirements
- Lead fit-gap analysis to identify misalignments between business requirements and platform capabilities, documenting impact and mitigation strategies
- Produce Business Requirements Documents, Architecture Integration Design Specifications, and Security Compliance Frameworks that serve as blueprints for delivery teams
- Develop detailed project roadmaps and resource plans across three parallel workstreams (CRM Modernisation, Portal Development, Financial System Migration)
- Establish environment strategy, including development, test/staging, and production infrastructure provisioning with appropriate security controls
- Integration Planning and Technical Governance
- Design real-time and batch integration patterns for critical business flows (payment matching with SumUp, financial synchronisation between Business Central and Dataverse, portal data workflows)
- Specify integration technical requirements, including API contracts, error handling, retry logic, data reconciliation, and monitoring
- Create detailed API specifications for custom integrations with external systems and third-party services
- Define data migration strategy, including test load procedures (TL1, TL2), data cleansing rules, validation logic, cutover procedures, and rollback plans
- Oversee integration testing coordination with QA teams, ensuring all systems function correctly together with defined success criteria
- Stakeholder Management and Communication
- Lead stakeholder engagement throughout discovery and planning phases, including executive steering committee meetings, product owner workshops, and SME interviews
- Present technical concepts and architectural decisions to non-technical audiences, translating complex technology into business value propositions
- Facilitate workshops on business process design, requirements prioritisation, and scope definition with Product Owner and subject matter experts
- Maintain executive-level communication on technical risks, dependencies, and architectural decisions; provide escalation support when critical issues arise
- Partner with project management on governance processes, decision logs, risk registers, and architectural change control
- Quality and Risk Mitigation
- Develop risk mitigation strategies for technically complex areas (large data migrations with 100% integrity requirements, high-volume payment processing with 95% match accuracy targets)
- Define testing strategies aligned to technical architecture, including unit testing, integration testing, UAT approaches, and performance validation
- Ensure compliance with security standards and regulatory requirements relevant to charity sector operations (audit controls, data privacy, financial controls)
- Knowledge Transfer and Documentation
- Produce comprehensive technical documentation, including architecture diagrams, design specifications, API documentation, and security runbooks
- Lead technical knowledge transfer sessions with client IT teams to build internal capability
- Develop go-live support playbooks and hypercare runbooks, ensuring operational teams can support the system post-launch
- Document lessons learned and architectural decisions for future reference and organisational knowledge base
Required Technical Skills
- Microsoft Ecosystem Expertise
- Dynamics 365 & Dataverse: Advanced knowledge of Dynamics CRM architecture, Dataverse data model, security framework, field-level security (RLS), custom fields, relationships, and form design
- Power Platform: Expert-level understanding of Power Apps (canvas and model-driven), Power Automate cloud flows (instant, automated, scheduled), workflow design patterns, and integration approaches
- Power Pages: Experience designing and architecting customer-facing portals with Power Pages, including authentication integration with Microsoft Entra External ID, external user management, and data access controls
- Power BI: Semantic model design, row-level security implementation, performance optimisation, and real-time/scheduled refresh architecture
- Business Central: Functional and technical understanding of ERP configuration, GL posting, payment processing, inter-company processes, and financial controls
- Azure: Knowledge of Azure infrastructure, App Service hosting, API Management, security services, authentication (Entra ID), and cloud deployment patterns
- Copilot Studio: Skilled in designing, deploying, and managing conversational AI with Copilot Studio, integrating with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform, and ensuring secure, compliant AI automation.
- Integration and API Architecture
- Design and specification of REST and custom APIs for system-to-system communication
- Real-time data synchronisation patterns and bidirectional sync implementation
- Payment processor integrations (experience with SumUp or similar payment gateways)
- Data mapping and transformation logic for complex migrations
- Error handling, retry logic, dead-letter queues, and exception management
- ETL/ELT patterns for data migration and ongoing synchronisation
- Understanding of API security, throttling, rate limiting, and monitoring
- Enterprise Architecture and Design
- Cloud migration architecture (on-premises to cloud transformation)
- System integration patterns and event-driven architecture
- Database schema design for enterprise applications
- Security architecture including authentication, authorisation, encryption, and audit controls
- Scalability and performance architecture for high-transaction systems
- Disaster recovery and business continuity planning
- Infrastructure-as-Code concepts and cloud deployment patterns
- Data Management and Migration
- Data governance frameworks and master data management (MDM) concepts
- Data mapping, cleansing, and validation strategies
- Large-scale data migration planning and execution oversight (handling millions of records)
- Data reconciliation and audit approaches
- Metadata management and data quality assurance
- Development and Coding (Secondary)
- Understanding of software development lifecycle and code quality standards
- Plugin development and custom API development in Dynamics 365/Dataverse
- No-code/low-code platform extensibility and customisation patterns
Solutions Architect employer: Pyramid Consulting, Inc
As an Infrastructure Engineer at our Crawley location, you will be part of a dynamic team that values innovation and collaboration. We offer competitive benefits, a supportive work culture that prioritises employee well-being, and ample opportunities for professional growth in the ever-evolving tech landscape. Join us to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a fulfilling career in a thriving environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Solutions Architect
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what Pyramid Consulting, Inc values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges Pyramid Consulting, Inc might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
✨Leverage LinkedIn for Connections
Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at Pyramid Consulting, Inc!
✨Direct Apply to Pyramid Consulting, Inc
Let's not forget to apply directly through the Pyramid Consulting, Inc website! Tailor your application to showcase our understanding of their consulting style and how we can contribute to their projects. A personalised approach can make a huge difference in landing that full-time position!
We think you need these skills to ace Solutions Architect
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at Pyramid Consulting, Inc.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at Pyramid Consulting, Inc. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pyramid Consulting, Inc
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
