Principal Solution Architect

About this job

Principal Solution Architect

Defence | National Security | Secure Information Exchange

Location: UK (Remote / Location Independent with UK travel)

Salary: Competitive + Excellent Benefits

Shape the future of Defence capability

This isn't a traditional Solution Architecture role.

You'll play a leading role in developing the next generation of defence capabilities, working alongside senior military, government and industry stakeholders to design innovative technical solutions that support complex operational environments.

Our client is an established UK cyber security and secure information exchange specialist delivering mission-critical technology into Defence, Government and other highly regulated sectors. Due to continued growth, they're looking to appoint an experienced Principal Solution Architect to provide technical leadership across complex defence experimentation, capability development and multinational programmes.

The Role

As a senior technical authority, you'll lead solution architecture activities across major programmes, ensuring operational requirements are translated into robust, scalable and secure technical solutions.

You'll work across technical strategy, customer engagement, innovation and delivery, influencing future capability whilst providing architectural leadership across multiple workstreams.

This is a genuine opportunity to shape nationally important programmes while working alongside some of the UK's leading defence specialists.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead solution architecture across Defence experimentation and capability development programmes
• Define architecture strategy, governance and design principles
• Provide technical leadership across complex multi-disciplinary teams
• Work closely with MOD, NATO and allied stakeholders
• Support innovation, concept development and future operational capability
• Review and approve solution designs and technical architectures
• Mentor Solution Architects and technical specialists
• Support bids, customer engagement and business growth activities.

About You

You'll bring significant experience within Defence, National Security or other complex Government environments and will be comfortable operating as both a technical leader and trusted customer advisor.

You'll ideally have experience in:

• Solution Architecture
• Defence or National Security programmes
• Secure or classified environments
• Systems Engineering and systems integration
• Technical governance or Design Authority
• Customer-facing technical leadership
• Leading architecture teams
• Business development or technical bid support.

Experience with Secure by Design, Information Assurance, Defence Standard 05-138, ISO 27001 or the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework would be advantageous, alongside exposure to programmes such as Defence BattleLab, Dstl experimentation, Federated Mission Networking or Multi-Domain Integration.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to work on genuinely meaningful programmes where your technical leadership will directly influence future defence capability.

You'll join a collaborative organisation that combines deep technical expertise with the agility of an established SME, giving you the chance to make a real impact rather than becoming one architect amongst hundreds.

The role offers:

• Remote-first working
• Interesting, technically complex programmes
• Exposure to emerging defence technologies
• Senior stakeholder engagement
• Opportunities to influence technical strategy
• Long-term career development
• Competitive salary and benefits.

Suitable Backgrounds

We'd be keen to hear from candidates currently working as:

• Principal Solution Architect
• Lead Solution Architect
• Enterprise Architect
• Chief Architect
• Lead Systems Architect
• Defence Architect
• Principal Systems Engineer
• Technical Director
• Defence Consultant
• Senior Solution Architect