Lead Solutions Architect in Inverness

Base Location: You'll be expected to spend 50% of your working week in one of the following locations: Perth, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness.

Salary: £66,100 - £99,100 + car allowance + performance-related bonus and a range of benefits to support your finances, wellbeing and family.

Working Pattern: Permanent | Full Time | Flexible First options available.

The role involves providing technical leadership, facilitation, analysis and design expertise to develop the IT domain solution architecture for the Transmission Business Unit. You will report to the Head of Architecture and create high level solution models, domain roadmaps and solution architectures, including solution patterns/blueprints, to guide solution decisions for the IT domain aligned to business operations and RIIO-T3 investments needs.

• Subject Matter Leadership: Enhance and enrich the IT domain target architecture including vision, roadmap and guardrails. Provide IT domain solutions architecture direction and guidance to the Transmission Business Unit. Work with relevant stakeholders to understand the business requirements so that recommended solution options provide the best fit against requirements and budget. Propose changes in process, policy and guardrails as they relate to the architecture framework and methodology.
• Solutions Architecture: Deliver high-level solution models and solution architectures in line with business requirements, organisation and industry standards. Collaborate with SSE Group enterprise architects, infrastructure, networks and security teams in the development of architecture deliverables. Ensure compliance of all high-level solution models and solution architectures to the target architecture, roadmaps, guardrails, IT principles and standards and that any deviations to the standards follow the Architecture Governance process. Ensure solutions are secure by design and are built within defined security guidelines and guardrails to protect the Transmission Business Unit from cyberattack and data loss.
• Architecture Governance & Assurance: Ensure projects comply with architectural governance processes. Represent projects at governance boards as required. Assure the delivery of projects to ensure they remain aligned to agreed architectures.
• Industry Awareness: Maintain an up-to-date understanding of the main technology base, and a general understanding of the other technology bases which together form the overall technical direction. Keep abreast of developments from strategic partners to ensure that the architectures are kept in line with standards and only deviate for commercial benefit.
• Communication, Engagement and Innovation: Engage with a range of stakeholders in developing solutions that meet the needs of the business. Promote and encourage enterprise and innovation throughout, look for new answers and delivery of a fresh approach.

You have a Bachelor's degree in computer science, system analysis or a related study, or equivalent experience, with extensive experience in IT domain solutions architecture in asset intensive industries, ideally in energy and more so in power. You should have the ability to understand the long-term business strategy and goals, along with short-term perspectives of situations. You must be able to translate business needs into solution architecture requirements. Practical experience of agile development processes, including but not limited to DevOps, Scrum, Kanban and lean development is essential, as well as the ability to estimate the financial implications of proposed solutions architectures. Strong stakeholder management skills, using strong influencing skills and a deep understanding of business objectives to shape the strategic direction of Transmission’s IT domain solutions architecture are required. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are also necessary.

About SSE: SSE’s purpose is to provide energy needed today while building a better world of energy for tomorrow. We do this by developing, building, operating and investing in electricity infrastructure and businesses needed in the energy transition. Our Transforming for Growth investment plan sees us investing £33bn in critical electricity infrastructure across the five years to 2030. Our IT division powers growth across all SSE business areas by making sure we have the systems, software and security needed to take the lead in a low carbon world. They provide expertise, advice and day-to-day support in emerging technologies, data and analytics, cyber security and more.

Flexible benefits to fit your life include discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships, wellbeing benefits like a free online GP and 24/7 counselling service, interest‑free loans on tech and transport season tickets, or a new bike with our Cycle to Work scheme, as well as generous family entitlements such as maternity and adoption pay, and paternity leave.

Work with an equal opportunity employer. SSE will make any reasonable adjustments you need to ensure that your application and experience with us is positive. Please contact David.Brickell@sse.com / 01738 275 846 to discuss how we can support you. We're dedicated to fostering an open and inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed and especially welcome applications from those who may not be well represented in our workforce or industry.