Solution Architect - Active SC required

Location: Harlow, Essex (3 days per week onsite)

Duration: 12-month contract

Inside IR35

Role details:
Our client, a leading organisation in the Defence & Security sector, is currently seeking a highly skilled IT Solution Architect for a contract position. This role offers hybrid working based out of Harlow, with an expectation of at least 3 days a week onsite.

We require a candidate holding active SC clearance.

Key Responsibilities:

We are seeking a highly skilled Solution Architect to join our clients Architecture Team within the Digital Technology function. This role will be a key contributor to a major global ERP and connected systems transformation programme, operating in a highly regulated environment.

Working under the direction of the Lead Architect, the Solution Architect will serve as a trusted point of reference for the programme, helping translate business vision into robust technology designs while ensuring architectural coherence across applications, data, security, and integration landscapes.

Architecture & Design:-

• Develop high-quality solution architectures that align with enterprise standards and support the global ERP transformation and its connected systems.
• Ensure solutions meet functional and non-functional requirements, including performance, scalability, availability, and regulatory compliance.
• Produce architecture artefacts such as logical and physical diagrams, design decisions, roadmaps, and interface specifications.

Collaboration & Technical Leadership:-

• Work closely with the Lead Architect to ensure architectural consistency and alignment with strategic
• technology direction.
• Act as a point of architectural guidance for programme teams - clarifying solution intent, resolving design queries, and managing architectural risks.
• Engage business stakeholders, product owners, engineering teams, vendors, and security partners to ensure clarity and buy-in for architectural outcomes.

Data & Security:-

• Ensure data flows, data models, and data governance requirements are well understood and appropriately addressed in solution designs.
• Embed security-by-design principles, working with cybersecurity teams to ensure compliance with regulatory and internal security frameworks.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to privacy, data protection, and system integrity.

Integration & Connected Systems:-

• Design integration patterns for ERP and satellite systems using modern integration platforms, APIs, messaging, and workflow capabilities.
• Ensure end-to-end process coherence across ERP and connected applications (e.g., HRIS, CRM, manufacturing systems, reporting platforms).

Governance & Compliance:-

• Apply enterprise architecture principles (TOGAF or similar) to ensure traceability, alignment, and structured decision-making.
• Support architecture governance forums, design reviews, and adherence to architectural standards.
• Ensure solutions meet the requirements of a highly regulated environment, including auditability, traceability, and compliance.

What we are looking for in you:

Essential:-

• Active SC clearance
• Proven experience as a Solution Architect working on large-scale transformation programmes, ideally global and multi-year.
• Strong understanding of ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Dynamics) and their integration across the enterprise ecosystem.
• Competence with enterprise architecture frameworks such as TOGAF, Zachman, SAFe, or equivalent.
• Demonstrable experience in:
  • Application architecture
  • Data architecture, governance, and modelling
  • Security architecture fundamentals
  • API and integration architecture
• Experience working in highly regulated sectors.
• Ability to create clear, concise architectural documentation and communicate complex concepts to diverse stakeholders.

Desirable skills:-

• Experience in cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, or GCP) relevant to ERP and integration workloads.
• Familiarity with global operating models and distributed delivery teams.

If you are an experienced Solution Architect looking to make an impact within a highly regulated environment, we would love to hear from you. Apply now to take on this exciting opportunity.