SOLUTION ARCHITECT (AI & CLOUD)

Glue Reply is the outcome-focused Architecture specialist within the Reply Group. Through services encompassing Business Change/Transformation, Strategy & Architecture, Data exploitation and Integration, Glue Reply is able to help its clients succeed by turning strategy into tangible solutions and vision into practical outcomes. Glue Reply diagnoses the challenges and advises on the way to make real impact – enabling its clients to deliver.

Role Overview: We are recruiting for a solution architect to lead the designing and delivery of modern, cloud first, digital services that will directly impact the experiences and lives of UK Residents. This role is ideal for a seasoned cloud architect who wants to broaden their experience into AI-Led architecture with an increased emphasis on data, automation & AI centric capabilities. You will lead the shaping of end-to-end solutions that are desirable, feasible, scalable, secure and data driven and play a key role in advocating for the adoption of AI & Automation where it can add real value. Working with government aligned delivery models, you will balance innovation with governance, assurance and operation resilience as key part of a multi-disciplinary teams who strive to turn intent and needs into pragmatic, deliverable architectures designed for long term sustainability of service.

Responsibilities:

• Design end-to-end cloud-native solution architectures across application, data, integration, and platform domains.
• Apply GDS Service Standards and cloud-first principles to ensure services are scalable, secure, and user-centred.
• Translate business and service requirements into coherent technical designs and architectural decision records.
• Shape data platforms, integrations, and automation capabilities that support efficient and resilient service delivery.
• Support the integration of AI-enabled components (e.g., decision support, automation, analytics, or LLM-based services) into broader enterprise architectures.
• Work closely with Business Analysts, engineers, AI specialists, and Delivery Managers to ensure designs are realistic and delivery-ready.
• Define and assure non‑functional requirements including performance, resilience, security, observability, and scalability.
• Provide architectural oversight through build and live service, supporting governance and assurance processes typical in public sector environments.

About the Candidate:

• Proven experience as a Solution Architect designing cloud-based digital services (AWS, Azure or equivalent).
• Strong understanding of modern architecture patterns across cloud, APIs, integrations, and data platforms.
• Experience operating within public sector or highly regulated environments, with awareness of governance and assurance requirements.
• An interest in — or early experience of — integrating AI or automation capabilities into enterprise systems.
• Ability to design scalable, secure solutions while balancing innovation with compliance and delivery pragmatism.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, able to communicate architectural decisions clearly to technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Familiarity with architecture frameworks (e.g. TOGAF) applied in a practical, delivery‑focused way.
• A growth mindset — motivated to expand your architecture capability into AI-enabled and data‑led solution design.

Reply is an Equal Opportunities Employer and committed to embracing diversity in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender, identity, pregnancy, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, medical history, skin colour, marital status or parental status or any other characteristic protected by the Law. Reply is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, please let us know of any Reasonable Adjustments you may need.