Solutions Architect

Salary; £75k

Location

Leeds, Manchester

Permanent

The Solutions Architects that make up the SA team are currently based in the Manchester office. Realistically, the role could be performed from either the Leeds or Manchester offices.

The IT Strategy & Delivery Team

The Solution Architects form part of the IT Strategy, Architecture & Analysis team. This function sits within the IT Strategy and Delivery Team. This team is responsible for setting the direction for the use and investment in technology that supports the business strategy, and delivery of the new IT solutions that underpin the required business change. The IT Strategy and Delivery Team is made up of an IT Strategy, Architecture & Analysis function, Programme & Portfolio Management, Project Engineering, Applications Development, Business Intelligence and Testing.

The Role of the Solutions Architect

The Solutions Architect will be responsible for working with delivery projects and programmes and translating their requirements into a technical design for delivery as a working solution. They will be responsible for leading the technical design stage of the project or programme and also participating in all subsequent delivery phases to ensure that the design is implemented, documented and is workable to the agreed set of requirements.

The Solution Architect may also be involved in the training and knowledge transfer to the IT Teams to ensure that the new solution can be supported. The Solution Architect in the business providing a complementary and independent role to the Project Engineering Team who will work with them but on the detailed design and implementation.

Duties

Working alongside the Business Analysts to understand business drivers and business requirements to determine corresponding enterprise system.

Design and lead the implementation of a solutions architecture across a group of specific (or individual) business applications or technologies.

Create and document appropriate technical functional and non-functional requirements.

Design and build data models to fulfil the strategic data needs of the business and in compliance with data policies.

Analyse the technology industry, competitors and market trends to determine opportunities for the Firm.

Provide consulting support to IT teams (e.g. Project Engineering) on projects to ensure technical solutions are aligned to technical standards and the architecture principles.

Monitor the current-state solution portfolio to identify technical debt (deficiencies through aging of the technologies) or misalignment with business requirements.

Understand technology trends and the practical application of new or emerging technologies to enable new business operating models.

Define architecture principles, guidelines, standards and solution patterns to ensure solution decisions are aligned with the enterprise's future-state architecture vision. Be an advocate of these architecture products and of the architecture practice.

Maintain the IT design authority governance process (ITDAB) to ensure solutions architecture assurance and compliance of new projects with principles and standards.

Work with colleagues across the IT department to curate, develop and maintain relevant IT roadmaps (technical, networking, cyber, application etc.) highlighting the evolution of the Firms technology state.

Facilitate the evaluation and selection of software and technology products through the creation of technology assessments (covering architecture, authentication, application, data, integration and maintenance and uptime).

Identify the organisational impact (for example, on skills, processes, structures or culture) and financial impact of the solutions architecture.

Document all solution architecture design and analysis work through the creation of Solution Architecture Reports (SAR's).

Work closely with the Business Change team to ensure the execution of plans corresponds with what is being promised to business stakeholders.

Create IT technology assessments in response to new ideas and work requests that are raised throughout the firm.

Capabilities & Experience

A successful applicant will need the following combination of competences and experience:

Technical

Bachelor's degree in computer science, system analysis, software development, business information systems or a related study, or equivalent experience

Minimum of five years of experience in at least two IT solution development disciplines, including technical architecture, data architecture, network management, application development, middleware, database management or operations. An understanding of the application of master data management across multiple IT systems is highly desirable.

Trusted and respected as a thought leader who can influence and persuade IT leaders.

Able to balance the long-term (“big picture”) and short-term implications of individual decisions and wider goals.

Highly collaborative and supportive of business and of its ideals and strategies.

Having worked in a similar Solution Architecture role with similar duties within an IT Service.

Exposure to multiple, diverse technologies and processing environments. Knowledge of applications used in Legal services would be advantageous.

Good understanding of strategic and new and emerging technology trends, and the practical application of existing, new and emerging technologies to new and evolving business and operating models

Understanding of agile methods and processes, and capability of supporting agile project teams by providing advice and guidance on opportunities, impact and risks, taking account of technical and architectural debt.

An understanding of Architecture toolsets would be advantageous.

Non-Technical

Ability to build and maintain relationships to develop trust and understanding between all stakeholders including technical teams, suppliers and business customers to ensure the smooth running of project and programme delivery

Ability to pro-actively anticipate and solving problems – a key part of the role is seeing where problems might arise during an IT project and finding solutions before they go 'live' and disrupt the organisation.

Excellent communication & influencing skills – you'll need to be adept at listening to, understanding and explaining concepts to non-technical business customers, management and technical colleagues.

Dealing with pressure – solution architects have a lot of responsibility and need to be able to deliver results in high-pressure circumstances.

Prioritisation and time management – IT projects often have tight deadlines and missing them can have significant consequences