At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design of impactful digital services for the UK's Public Safety sector.
- Company: Join Zaizi, a forward-thinking tech company making a real difference.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, professional development, and health perks.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.
- Why this job: Shape secure, scalable solutions that directly improve public services.
- Qualifications: Strong software engineering background and experience in solution architecture.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Zaizi is looking for an experienced Solution Architect to lead the design and delivery of mission-critical digital services that support the UK's Public Safety sector. This is an opportunity to work in one of the most exciting and meaningful areas of digital transformation, partnering closely with government operational teams to solve complex, real-world challenges that have a direct impact on frontline services and public outcomes. You’ll work with modern cloud-native architectures, open source technologies, and Agile and DevSecOps practices to shape scalable, secure, and resilient solutions. As a trusted technical leader, you’ll collaborate with multidisciplinary delivery teams, customers, and senior stakeholders to define architectural direction and drive successful delivery.
The ideal candidate will bring a strong software engineering background, having progressed into architecture through hands-on development experience. This practical foundation enables you to make pragmatic technical decisions, mentor engineering teams, and bridge the gap between strategy and implementation.
Role ObjectivesAs a Solution Architect, you will:
- Lead the architecture and technical design of secure, scalable, cloud-native solutions across multiple programmes.
- Work alongside government operational client teams to understand complex business challenges and translate them into practical, user-centred technical solutions.
- Support Agile delivery teams by providing architectural leadership, promoting engineering best practices, and helping teams adopt emerging technologies where appropriate.
- Own the resolution of complex, high-risk technical challenges, balancing delivery, security, operational resilience, and long-term maintainability.
- Collaborate with technical and business stakeholders to shape solution options, present recommendations, and influence architectural decisions at senior levels.
- Mentor and support other architects and engineers, fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous learning, and technical excellence.
- Work across multiple customer engagements, ensuring consistency of architectural standards while adapting solutions to individual client needs.
- Champion modern engineering practices, including cloud-native development, automation, DevSecOps, and continuous improvement.
- Build trusted relationships across Zaizi and our customers, proactively identifying opportunities to improve digital services and deliver greater value.
You will have significant commercial experience across many of the following areas:
- Solution Architecture and Technical Design
- Strong software engineering background with previous hands-on development experience
- Open Source technologies and frameworks
- Cloud platforms, ideally AWS
- Cloud-native architectures and distributed systems
- Security architecture and secure-by-design principles
- Identity and Access Management (OAuth2, OpenID Connect, IAM)
- Containers and container orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
- DevOps and DevSecOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and Infrastructure as Code
- Experience with one or more programming languages such as Golang, Java, JavaScript/TypeScript, or Python
- Experience working within Agile delivery environments and cross-functional engineering teams
We’re looking for someone who combines strategic thinking with technical depth. You’ll be equally comfortable discussing architecture with senior stakeholders, collaborating with customer operational teams, and working alongside engineers to guide implementation. You’ll be passionate about delivering technology that makes a real difference, enjoy solving complex technical challenges, and thrive in collaborative, fast-paced environments where innovation and continuous improvement are encouraged.
If you don’t meet all the requirements? Studies show that women and black, Asian and minority ethnic people are less likely to apply for a job unless they meet every qualification. So if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with the job description, we’d love you to still apply. You might just be the perfect person for this role, or another role here at Zaizi. We actively welcome applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, parents, carers, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. If you need any accommodations to support your specific situation, please feel free to let us know. For candidates who are neurodiverse or have disabilities, we are happy to make any adjustments needed throughout the interview process—just ask!
Salaries£90,000 - £115,000
SC Clearance:Zaizi works with UK Central Government departments on a range of projects. To be able to work on our customer projects, employees must be Security Cleared to a standard acceptable to our Government customers. Due to this restriction we can currently only recruit candidates who have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship and who have lived in the UK for the last 5+ years continuously.
Compensation- Competitive Pay: Salaries reviewed annually to ensure they reflect your performance and market value.
- Loyalty Pension: We invest in your future. Starting at a 5% employer contribution, we increase this by 0.5% every year after your third anniversary, up to a maximum of 8%.
- Protection: Comprehensive Group Life Assurance for peace of mind.
- Real Impact: Work on mission-critical projects that secure and improve the UK's digital infrastructure.
- Autonomy: A culture that empowers you to make decisions, prototype rapidly, and iterate towards success.
- Service & Community: We support those who serve. 10 paid days for Reservist Military Service.
- Time Off: 25 days annual leave + Bank Holidays, with the flexibility to Buy/Sell additional days to suit your lifestyle.
- Giving back: 2 paid volunteering days per year.
- Master Your Craft: Fully funded professional certifications (AWS, GCP, Agile, etc.) supported by 5 days paid study leave.
- Expand Your Horizons: An additional £500 annual “Personal Choice” fund to learn whatever inspires you—work-related or not.
- Support: Access to 1-2-1 professional coaching and team training to accelerate your career.
- Premium Health: Vitality Private Medical Insurance (includes Apple Watch, gym discounts, and rewards).
- Flexibility: Genuine hybrid working with a WFH equipment allowance to perfect your home setup.
- Wellbeing: Cycle to Work scheme and a commitment to sustainable, healthy working practices.
Solution Architect (SFIA 5) in London employer: Zaizi Ltd
Zaizi Ltd is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration within the Defence Tech sector. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide ample opportunities for professional development and a competitive compensation package, ensuring our team members feel valued and motivated. Located in a vibrant area, our culture promotes inclusivity and teamwork, making Zaizi a rewarding place to advance your career while contributing to national security.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Solution Architect (SFIA 5) in London
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Zaizi Ltd or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Zaizi Ltd.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Zaizi Ltd.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Zaizi Ltd that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Solution Architect (SFIA 5) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Zaizi Ltd.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Zaizi Ltd and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Zaizi Ltd
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Zaizi Ltd uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
