Power Platform Solution Architect in Portsmouth

Clearance: (requires NPPV Eligibility)

Role Overview:

We are looking for a Power Platform Solution Architect with deep expertise in Power Automate, RPA and the wider Microsoft Power Platform to lead the design and delivery of automation solutions for our clients. You will be responsible for end-to-end solution architecture across Power Apps, Power Automate, RPA, Dataverse and Azure services, working closely with business stakeholders, product owners, and engineering teams to turn requirements into secure, scalable and supportable solutions. This role combines hands-on technical leadership with architecture, governance, and stakeholder engagement. You should be comfortable moving between high-level solution design, detailed technical discussions, and client-facing demos/workshops.

Requirements

• Solution Architecture & Design: Own the end-to-end solution architecture for Power Platform and RPA engagements (Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Automate Desktop, Dataverse, Power Pages, integrations). Translate business requirements and process maps into target-state automation designs and solution blueprints. Define patterns for automated workflows, RPA bots, integrations, and data models, ensuring solutions are modular, reusable, secure and maintainable. Select the right tool for the job within the Microsoft ecosystem (Power Automate Cloud flows vs Desktop flows vs Logic Apps vs traditional integration). Produce and maintain solution artefacts: architecture diagrams, sequence diagrams, data flows, integration contracts, non-functional requirements.
• Power Automate & RPA Delivery: Design and oversee the build of Power Automate cloud flows and Power Automate Desktop RPA flows to automate both API-based and UI-based processes. Work with business and SMEs to identify automation candidates, assess feasibility, and prioritise the RPA backlog based on value vs effort. Define best practices for automation (error handling, logging, retries, exception management, monitoring, alerting). Guide development teams on building robust, idempotent, and scalable workflows that align with organisational standards. Ensure RPA implementations include clear fallback/manual processes, and are aligned to operational support models.
• Power Platform Governance & Standards: Contribute to or establish a Power Platform Centre of Excellence (CoE) model, including guardrails, policies and standards. Define and enforce environments strategy, DLP (Data Loss Prevention) policies, and security roles (Dataverse and Azure AD). Develop reusable components, templates, and solution accelerators to speed up delivery and improve consistency. Define ALM (Application Lifecycle Management) processes for Power Platform using tools such as Azure DevOps / Git, solution layering, and pipelines. Support the creation of governance documentation, standards, and design patterns across the platform.
• Integration & Data Architecture: Design integrations between Power Platform and line-of-business systems (Dynamics 365, SAP, Salesforce, bespoke APIs, on-prem systems). Define and optimise Dataverse data models and relationships, with a strong focus on performance, data quality and scalability. Work closely with integration teams on Azure Integration Services (API Management, Logic Apps, Service Bus) where required. Ensure data is handled in line with security, data protection and regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, PCI where relevant).
• Technical Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the technical lead for Power Platform and RPA on projects, guiding developers and configuration specialists. Run discovery workshops, process walk-throughs and solution design sessions with business and technical stakeholders. Provide clear options and recommendations (with trade-offs) to senior stakeholders and decision-makers. Support pre-sales and bid/proposal work: estimates, technical write-ups, high-level solution options and client presentations. Deliver demos and proof-of-concepts to showcase what is possible and de-risk the solution approach.
• Quality, Security & Compliance: Embed secure-by-design principles across all Power Platform and RPA solutions. Ensure solutions comply with organisational and regulatory standards (e.g., information security, GDPR, auditability). Define testing strategies for automations (unit tests, integration tests, UAT, production validation). Work with Operations/Support to ensure monitoring, logging, and support models are in place and documented.
• Continuous Improvement & Thought Leadership: Keep up to date with the latest Power Platform, Power Automate and RPA features and recommend how they can benefit the organisation. Identify opportunities to standardise, simplify and industrialise automation delivery. Mentor junior team members and build internal capability in Power Platform and RPA. Contribute to internal best-practice guides, accelerators, patterns and re-usable assets.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Technical: Extensive, hands-on experience as a Solution Architect / Senior Consultant on Microsoft Power Platform engagements. Strong expertise in: Power Automate (Cloud) – automated, instant, scheduled flows; approvals; connectors; error handling; governance. RPA with Power Automate Desktop – UI-based automation, desktop flows, attended/unattended scenarios. Power Apps – Canvas and/or Model-driven apps; component libraries; responsive design. Dataverse – tables, relationships, security roles, solution layering, performance considerations. Power Platform ALM – solutions, environments, pipelines, branching, CI/CD with Azure DevOps/GitHub. Good understanding of Azure services relevant to Power Platform solutions (e.g., Azure Functions, Logic Apps, Azure API Management, Key Vault, Service Bus). Experience integrating Power Platform with enterprise systems via standard connectors, custom connectors and REST APIs. Solid understanding of authentication & authorisation in Microsoft 365 / Azure AD (service principals, app registrations, OAuth). Knowledge of AI Builder and/or use of AI in flows and apps is an advantage.
• Architecture & Design: Proven experience designing end-to-end solutions, including non-functional requirements (performance, resilience, availability, security, scalability). Ability to produce clear, concise architecture documentation (HLDs, LLDs, data flow diagrams, integration designs). Experience making design trade-offs and presenting architectural options with pros/cons to stakeholders.
• RPA & Process Automation: Strong background in process discovery, mapping and optimisation for automation. Experience delivering RPA solutions in production, with monitoring, resilience and clear support models. Understanding of RPA governance: process selection, value assessment, risk assessment and controls.
• Ways of Working: Comfortable working in Agile / hybrid environments (Scrum, Kanban), including sprint planning, backlog refinement and demos. Experience working in multi-vendor / multi-team environments, coordinating across different suppliers and internal teams. Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, including non-technical audiences.

Desirable Experience

• Experience delivering solutions for public sector, healthcare, policing, education or regulated industries.
• Exposure to Dynamics 365 (CE/CRM, Customer Service, Sales, or F&O) and its integration with Power Platform.
• Experience contributing to or establishing a Power Platform CoE, including policies, standards and adoption frameworks.
• Knowledge of other RPA platforms (e.g., UiPath, Blue Prism, Automation Anywhere) and migration to Power Automate.
• Experience with Power BI and analytics as part of end-to-end automation and reporting solutions.
• Microsoft certifications such as: PL-600: Microsoft Power Platform Solution Architect, PL-400: Power Platform Developer, PL-200: Power Platform Functional Consultant.

Personal Attributes

• Consultative mindset – able to challenge requirements constructively and propose better options.
• Strong communicator – able to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Pragmatic – balances best practice with delivery constraints and timelines.
• Collaborative – works effectively with cross-functional teams and external partners.
• Ownership mindset – takes responsibility for overall solution outcomes, not just technical components.