Lead Solution Architect

Location: Durrington

## Lead Solution Architect Apply locations:
Worthingposted on:
Posted Todaytime left to apply:
End Date:
August 21, 2026 (17 days left to apply) job requisition :
JR8677
** Closing Date
***
* Job Title:

Lead Solution Architect
***
* Location:

Durrington (Hybrid)
**** Contract Type:
Permanent
**** Salary:
Competitive depending on skills and experience
** The
** Lead Solution Architect
** is accountable for the leadership, quality, and effective deployment of Solution Architecture across the organisation. The role ensures that architecture support is aligned to demand, consistently delivered to a high standard, and aligned with Enterprise Architecture direction through effective governance and decision-making. This role provides line management for Solution Architects, owns resourcing across initiatives, and drives capability development and architectural consistency across all solution architecture activity and technical governance.

This role ensures delivery alignment to enterprise architecture strategy and roadmaps through governance and assurance.
** Solution Architecture Leadership
*** Lead and manage the Solution Architecture function across the organisation
* Establish and embed consistent solution architecture practices, standards, patterns, and ways of working, aligned with Enterprise Architecture direction
* Act as the final delegated authority for solution design, assuring quality, consistency, and alignment with Enterprise Architecture direction
** People Management & Capability Development
*** Line manage Solution Architects, including performance, development, and engagement
* Coach and mentor architects to improve capability and influence
* Identify capability gaps and support recruitment and development plans
** Demand & Resource Management
*** Own allocation of Solution Architects across initiatives
* Work with demand management to ensure early visibility and engagement
* Ensure adequate architecture coverage for intake, assessment, shaping, and delivery
* Manage capacity planning and resolve resource conflicts
** Architecture Delivery & Assurance
*** Ensure quality and consistency of architecture artefacts (e.g. HLDs, Impact Assessments, Solution Options)
* Act as a quality gate for solution designs prior to governance
* Ensure alignment to architecture principles, patterns, and standards
** Governance & Stakeholder Engagement
*** Lead solution architecture and technical governance forums, ensuring timely, high-quality decisions and clear outcomes
* Act as the escalation point for solution-level design decisions, providing final delegated decisions where appropriate and escalating exceptions for resolution
* Build strong relationships with programme, product, engineering, and business stakeholders  
** Skills & Competencies
** The candidate must have significant skills & competency in IT Architecture which include the following:
* ** Solution Architecture** **–
** Leads the development and assurance of solution architectures across multiple initiatives.
* ** Leadership
- ** Provides leadership for the Solution Architecture practice, setting delivery priorities, assuring quality, and enabling effective governance in line with Enterprise Architecture direction.
* ** People Management** **–
** Manages, develops, and mentors Solution Architects, supporting performance, growth, and retention.
* ** Enterprise IT Governance** **–
** Applies governance to architecture decisions, ensuring consistency, compliance, and reuse.
* ** Systems Design** **–
** Reviews and assures system designs for quality, scalability, and supportability.
* ** Stakeholder Relationship Management** **–
** Builds and maintains effective stakeholder relationships.
* ** Decision Making & Design Authority** **–
** Makes timely, well-evidenced architecture decisions, balancing risk, cost, delivery, and strategic alignment.
* ** Architecture Assurance & Risk** **–
** Assures solutions against principles and non-functional requirements (e.g. security, resilience, performance), identifying and managing design risks and technical debt.
* ** Commercial & Vendor Management** **–
** Evaluates vendor/third-party solutions and commercial options, assuring fit, value, and…