Principal Application Architect

Job Title: Principal Application Architect

Job Type: Permanent

Clearance Requirements: SC & NPPV3

We are the Information Intelligence Group (IIG) of CACI UK, a specialist technical consultancy providing bespoke solutions to solve complex operational problems. We are seeking an experienced Architect to provide client-side architectural assurance, governance and technical oversight across highly interesting and complex technology programmes.

The Architect acts as the client-side architectural authority, providing independent review, challenge and assurance of supplier-produced application designs and technical solutions. Working closely with Product, Architecture, Supplier and Delivery stakeholders, the role ensures solutions are aligned to business objectives, architectural principles and operational requirements, whilst providing expert recommendations to support technical governance and design authority decisions. The architect will provide expert architectural advice and recommendations to support informed decision-making and drive high-quality outcomes.

Due to the industries this role will be associated with, we require the successful candidate to be eligible for security clearance & NPPV
3. To qualify for this, you must be a British Citizen only and have lived permanently in the UK for the last 5 years.

• Act as the client-side lead for application architecture assurance activities.
• Review, assess and challenge supplier-produced architecture artefacts, designs and technical proposals.
• Provide independent architectural recommendations to support governance and design authority decisions.
• Ensure solutions align with business objectives, product strategy, architectural standards and security posture.
• Identify architectural risks, assumptions, dependencies and constraints, recommending appropriate mitigations.
• Support Technical Design Authority (TDA), Architecture Review Board and governance activities.
• Assess the impact of proposed changes across applications, integrations, security and operational processes.
• Ensure architectural decisions are documented, traceable and aligned to agreed outcomes.
• Review application architectures for scalability, maintainability, resilience and supportability.
• Assess application decomposition, service boundaries, APIs, integrations and data flows.
• Review non-functional requirements including performance, availability, security, auditability and operational stability.
• Evaluate design approaches and design options, recommending improvements where required.
• Ensure solutions align with wider enterprise architecture principles and future roadmap objectives.
• Support the definition and maintenance of architecture standards and patterns.
• Act as a trusted advisor to key stakeholders.
• Build constructive relationships with suppliers whilst maintaining independent challenge and assurance.
• Hold delivery partners accountable for architectural quality and compliance.
• Facilitate technical discussions and sessions with suppliers, engineers and business stakeholders.
• Support resolution of technical issues, architectural concerns and design disputes.
• Present findings, recommendations and technical assessments to senior stakeholders and governance forums.

• Ensure secure-by-design principles are considered throughout solution development.
• Review security risks and architectural implications of proposed designs.
• Support assurance activities relating to compliance, regulatory obligations and organisational standards.
• Contribute to risk assessments and impact analyses.

• Significant experience operating as an Application Architect, Solution Architect, Technical Architect similar architecture leadership role.
• Strong understanding of application architecture principles within complex enterprise environments.
• Demonstrable experience providing architecture assurance, technical governance and design review services.
• Experience operating as a client-side architect within supplier-led delivery models.
• Proven ability to review, challenge and assure third-party architecture deliverables.
• Strong understanding of application integration patterns, APIs,…