Senior Solution Architect

Senior Solutions Architect Location: London Hybrid: 2 days per week onsite Rate: £650 per day Contract: Initial 6 months IR35: Inside IR35 About the Role A London Council is seeking an experienced Senior Solutions Architect to lead the design and delivery of secure, scalable and cloud first technology solutions across a major digital transformation programme. This is a senior level technical leadership role, responsible for shaping enterprise architecture, defining solution strategies and ensuring technology solutions align with organisational standards, security frameworks and modern digital delivery practices. You will work closely with Digital Services, project delivery teams, suppliers and senior stakeholders to deliver complex cross platform solutions across cloud, infrastructure, integration and Microsoft technologies. Key Responsibilities * Lead the architecture and design of enterprise scale digital and cloud solutions * Define solution architectures aligned to enterprise architecture principles and GDS standards * Design secure and scalable Azure based environments across hybrid cloud infrastructures * Deliver cloud first strategies across infrastructure, applications, integrations and identity management * Work across full solution lifecycle from discovery through to implementation and support * Design and implement Azure networking solutions including VNets, VPNs, ExpressRoute and network security * Support application modernisation, API integration and cloud native service delivery * Design and manage secure integration solutions using API Management, Service Bus and Event Grid * Implement governance, RBAC, Azure AD, Conditional Access and security best practices * Ensure solutions align with GDPR, ISO27001, Cyber Essentials and NIST frameworks * Drive automation and CI/CD practices using Azure DevOps and GitHub Actions * Produce high quality architecture documentation, technical specifications and solution diagrams * Work collaboratively with developers, infrastructure teams, analysts and third party suppliers * Provide technical leadership and mentoring to project teams and junior architects * Support cost optimisation, monitoring and operational governance across Azure estates Required Experience * Proven experience working as a Solutions Architect, Enterprise Architect or Technical Architect within large scale environments * Strong experience designing enterprise and cloud solutions within Microsoft Azure * Experience delivering solutions across hybrid cloud and on premises environments * Strong understanding of Microsoft 365 technologies including Teams, SharePoint and Exchange Online * Experience with Azure App Services, Azure Functions, Logic Apps and Azure SQL * Knowledge of cloud native architectures, microservices and API led integration * Experience implementing CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions * Strong understanding of networking, security and Zero Trust principles * Experience with Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Application Insights and Security Centre * Strong understanding of Azure AD, RBAC, Key Vault and identity management * Experience working within agile delivery environments * Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills * Public sector or local government experience would be highly desirable Desirable * Experience working within GDS aligned environments * Knowledge of containerisation and Kubernetes * Relevant Microsoft Azure certifications * Experience working on large scale digital transformation programmes *Rates depend on experience and client requirements