Solution Architect (Azure Cloud) in Milton Keynes

Overview
Define, design, and govern the end-to-end technical architecture across cloud and on-premise systems, ensuring scalability, security, maintainability, and alignment with business and enterprise architecture objectives. The role is responsible for establishing Azure-based solution architectures, guiding delivery teams, and ensuring that technology decisions drive long-term value, resilience, and performance across the organisation.

Responsibilities

• Solution Architecture & Design
  Design end-to-end solution architectures across applications, data, integrations, and infrastructure within Microsoft Azure environments. Define architectural patterns for cloud-native, hybrid, and distributed systems. Develop high-level and low-level designs (HLD/LLD), ensuring clarity for delivery teams. Ensure solutions are scalable, resilient, secure, and cost-optimised.
• Azure Cloud Architecture
  Define and implement architecture using Azure services, including:
  Compute: Azure App Services, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Azure Functions.
  Data: Azure SQL, Cosmos DB, Data Lake, Synapse Analytics.
  Integration: Azure API Management, Logic Apps, Service Bus, Event Grid.
  Security: Azure Active Directory (Entra ID), Key Vault, Managed Identities. Design for high availability, disaster recovery, and business continuity using Azure-native capabilities. Ensure effective use of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Bicep, ARM templates, or Terraform.
• Integration & System Design
  Define integration patterns and system interactions across microservices and enterprise systems. Design APIs and event-driven architectures using REST, messaging, and asynchronous patterns. Ensure interoperability between legacy systems and modern cloud-based platforms.
• Technical Leadership & Governance
  Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance to development and engineering teams. Review and approve solution designs and key technical decisions. Ensure alignment with enterprise architecture standards, governance frameworks, and design principles. Define and enforce architecture governance processes, design reviews, and checkpoints.
• Technology Evaluation & Innovation
  Evaluate new technologies, frameworks, and tools within the Azure ecosystem. Conduct proofs of concept (PoCs) and recommend solutions based on business and technical fit. Drive adoption of cloud best practices, DevSecOps, and modern engineering approaches.
• Security, Compliance & Risk Management
  Ensure compliance with security best practices, regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR), and organisational policies. Embed zero-trust architecture principles and secure design practices. Identify and mitigate technical risks, vulnerabilities, and architectural gaps.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  Engage with business stakeholders, product owners, and leadership teams to understand requirements. Translate business needs into scalable and pragmatic technical architecture solutions. Communicate architecture decisions, trade-offs, and risks clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Delivery Support & Collaboration
  Collaborate with Agile delivery teams, DevOps engineers, QA teams, and architects. Support programme delivery, roadmap planning, and release strategies. Provide guidance during implementation, integration, and deployment phases.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline.
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert.
• TOGAF or equivalent architecture certification.
• Azure DevOps / Security certifications (advantageous).

Essential Skills

• Deep expertise in Microsoft Azure cloud platform.
• Strong knowledge of the Azure Well-Architected Framework, including reliability, security, cost optimisation, operational excellence, and performance efficiency.
• Strong knowledge of cloud-native architecture patterns and microservices-based design.
• Strong understanding of distributed systems design.
• Strong understanding of event-driven architectures.
• Strong understanding of API-first design principles.
• Ability to produce architecture diagrams, artefacts, and standards documentation.
• Strong understanding of Infrastructure as Code (IaC).
• Familiarity with Docker containerisation and AKS/Kubernetes orchestration.
• Knowledge of Azure security services and identity management.
• Familiarity with DevSecOps practices and security automation.
• Knowledge of data governance, data pipelines, and real-time processing.
• Strong leadership and decision-making capability.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strategic thinking with attention to technical detail.
• Ability to balance innovation with delivery pragmatism.
• High level of accountability and ownership.

Experience

• Experience with enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF).
• Experience implementing CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps and GitHub Actions.
• Experience implementing secure design principles and compliance frameworks.
• Experience designing data platforms and integration architectures.
• Proven delivery of robust, scalable, secure, and future-proof architecture solutions.
• Experience delivering highly resilient systems with minimal downtime and strong performance outcomes.
• Experience providing clear and consistent technical direction across multiple delivery teams.
• Experience driving adherence to architecture standards, governance, and best practices.
• Experience improving system performance, cost optimisation, and resource utilisation within Azure environments.
• Experience reducing technical debt through standardisation and modernisation initiatives.
• Experience aligning business objectives with technical solutions.
• Proven track record of delivering programme milestones and transformation objectives.
• Experience reducing architecture-related risks and security vulnerabilities.
• Experience ensuring compliance with enterprise, regulatory, and security standards.

Benefits

• Collaborative working environment – we stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients and our peers through good times and challenges.
• We empower all passionate technology loving professionals by allowing them to expand their skills and take part in inspiring projects.
• Expleo Academy – enables you to acquire and develop the right skills by delivering a suite of accredited training courses.
• Competitive company benefits.
• Always working as one team, our people are not afraid to think big and challenge the status quo.

Equal Opportunity
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. We treat everyone fairly and equitably across the organisation, including providing any additional support and adjustments needed for everyone to thrive.