Solution Architect

Location: Chittening

Solution Architect – Digital Engineering (Synthetics, ITEA & TLS) Reading – 2-3 days a week onsite Active SC clearance mandatory; DV preferred Up to £100 per hour Inside IR35 We are seeking an experienced Solution Architect – Digital Engineering to support a major defence and aerospace programme based in Reading. This role will focus on the integration and optimisation of the Virtual Environment architecture within a wider Digital Engineering ecosystem, ensuring that people, processes and technology work together to support complex systems engineering activities throughout the system lifecycle.

You will play a key role in shaping the architecture supporting Digital Twins, Digital Threads, virtual testing, qualification, certification and training environments . This is an excellent opportunity for an Enterprise Architect with experience in defence, aerospace or complex engineering environments to contribute to a major Digital Engineering transformation.

Key Responsibilities Develop, maintain and govern High-Level Designs (HLDs) and Low-Level Designs (LLDs) for Virtual Environment and Digital Engineering solutions. Lead architectural integration across people, processes and technology within the wider Digital Engineering ecosystem. Support the development of Digital Twin and Digital Thread capabilities across the systems engineering lifecycle. Enable virtual testing, simulation, integration, qualification and certification activities, supporting early identification of technical issues.

Ensure architecture aligns with enterprise standards, security requirements, regulatory obligations and Secure by Design principles. Translate enterprise architecture policies and risk requirements into practical solution designs, technical standards and governance frameworks. Identify opportunities for architecture reuse, innovation and continuous improvement across Digital Engineering work streams. Manage architectural dependencies, technical risks, stakeholder expectations and impacts on delivery. Support Requests for Information (RFIs), Requests for Quotation (RFQs), technology evaluations and supplier engagement.

Essential Skills and Experience Live security clearance (SC) - NON negotiable

Experience with real-time, time-domain simulation within a Digital Twin environment. Experience in flight simulation or synthetic environments More than five years' experience in Solution/Enterprise Architecture and/or Business Architecture. Demonstrable experience delivering architecture within MOD, Defence Digital or UK aerospace environments. Knowledge of enterprise, solution, system, data and technical architecture. Experience applying architectural frameworks and standards, such as TOGAF and Archi Mate, or equivalent industry practices.

Understanding of Digital Engineering concepts, including Digital Twins, Digital Threads and virtual environments. Experience working across the full systems engineering lifecycle.

Experience with real-time, time-domain simulation within a Digital Twin environment. Experience architecting IT software development environments. Exposure to CI/CD pipelines and Dev Sec Ops  practices. Knowledge of Docker, Kubernetes or other containerisation technologies. Experience working in Agile delivery environments, including SAFe or similar frameworks. Experience working with defence prime contractors, MOD system integrators and aerospace suppliers. If you are an Enterprise Architect with a strong background in defence or aerospace and experience in Digital Engineering, virtual environments, systems architecture or Digital Twin technologies, we would be keen to hear from you.