Solution Architect – Government Tenders & Application Modernization

Role Summary

The Solution Architect leads end-to-end solution design for public sector opportunities and translating business needs into secure, scalable target architectures and modernization roadmaps (e.g., legacy-to-cloud, microservices, API enablement, DevSecOps). The role supports the full tender lifecycle (RFI/RFQ/RFP) and ensures the proposed solution is compliant, deliverable, and cost effective.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead solution architecture for government/public sector bids and delivery engagements, covering application, integration, data, security, and infrastructure domains.

• Own technical tender responses: interpret tender requirements, build compliance matrices, write solution sections, prepare assumptions/clarifications, and support bid presentations and demos.

• Define application modernization strategy and roadmap, such as:

  • Rehost / replatform / refactor / replace options and decision criteria.
  • Modularization, domain decomposition, API-first enablement, event-driven patterns.
  • Cloud/hybrid designs, landing zone alignment, and migration waves.

• Produce architecture deliverables: solution blueprint, target state, transition state, integration design, security design, reference architecture, and architecture decision records.

• Ensure solutions align with government security and compliance needs (identity, access control, encryption, logging/audit, vulnerability management) and internal governance.

• Collaborate with commercial and delivery teams to create cost models (TCO/ROI), estimates, BOMs, and implementation plans that are realistic and competitive.

• Manage stakeholders across government users, IT teams, vendors, and subcontractors; communicate complex architecture decisions clearly to non-technical audiences.

Application Modernization Scope

• Legacy modernization assessment: app portfolio analysis, dependency mapping, technical debt, and modernization suitability scoring.
• Cloud-native enablement: containerization, Kubernetes/managed services, CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure-as-code, and automated testing.
• Microservices and integration: service boundaries, API gateway, messaging, and observability (logs/metrics/traces).
• Data modernization: schema/API changes, data migration strategy, data quality, performance tuning, and cutover/rollback planning.
• Security-by-design: threat modelling, secure SDLC, OWASP controls, secrets management, and compliance evidence preparation.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering/Information Systems (or equivalent experience).
• At least 15+ years in IT delivery, including 6 years or more in solution/application architecture. Individual with less experienced but high potential will also be considered.
• Demonstrated experience supporting SOA QPS5, government/public sector tenders (RFI/RFQ/RFP), including writing technical proposals and participating in bid workshops/presentations.
• Proven hands-on experience delivering application modernization initiatives (legacy refactor, platform migration, API enablement, DevSecOps adoption).
• Strong understanding of modern architectures (cloud/hybrid, microservices, event-driven integration) and enterprise integration patterns.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Architecture certifications (e.g., TOGAF) and/or cloud certifications (AWS/Azure/GCP Architect) are preferrable.
• Experience with government security/compliance frameworks, tender scoring models, and bid governance.
• Experience with large-scale modernization projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in Chinese and English.