Solutions Architect

Who you are

• Ideally, you’ll have led significant elements of product and system delivery and change. Experience as a technical domain subject-matter expert is important, and you should have worked as a Solutions Architect or as part of a solutions architecture team on complex solutions.
• A solid background in applying enterprise and domain architecture, influencing stakeholders, and conducting trade-offs across requirements and solution spaces is essential. Knowledge of multiple architecture and delivery frameworks, along with experience of embedding these tools and techniques, is also expected,
• Well-developed soft skills are key to supporting communication and decision-making, including curiosity, teamwork, and problem-solving.
• Being an effective communicator and influencer, with experience negotiating trade-offs across requirements and solution spaces, is important. A commitment to continual learning and development is also important

What the job involves

• Our architects are critical to MI6’s success. They work directly with operational teams on some of the biggest challenges to national security. There is a constant need to develop and maintain capabilities that provide us with mission advantage in a rapidly changing, technology- and data-driven world. Using agile and lean methodologies to innovate, deliver, and upgrade products, our architects tackle unique and fascinating challenges across data analytics, knowledge systems, operational communications, and technical operations capabilities - problems you are unlikely to have encountered before
• Working in multi-disciplinary teams alongside engineers, product owners, and business analysts, our architects provide design authority across the organisation. They lead the systems-engineering approach for specific product areas, balancing tactical delivery with strategic goals to create new capabilities and continually improve existing ones. This involves shaping solutions by tailoring architecture processes to address product risks at scale, developing and communicating technology roadmaps and key design decisions, managing technology risk throughout the product lifecycle, and ensuring coherence across the wider product ecosystem through integration and release oversight
• Many of our architects are deployed directly into mission teams, working closely alongside operational officers to develop deep subject matter expertise in specific geographical areas. This may involve opportunities to travel and work with our overseas intelligence partners
• You will also find opportunities in enterprise roles - building shared capabilities, collaborating with partners on data and technology sharing, and creating the platforms that allow us to rapidly onboard new capabilities. You will generally move between different teams throughout your career in line with your aspirations and organisational priorities
• You will be given the time to explore, prototype, and test emerging technologies, and to develop new skills. You will build a solid background in applying enterprise and domain architecture, influencing stakeholders, and conducting trade-offs across requirements and solution spaces - developing the well-honed soft skills of curiosity, teamwork, and problem-solving essential for leading multi-disciplinary teams

Benefits

• Merit awards – we have a merit award system to recognise exceptional contributions by individuals or team
• Flexible working – opportunities to work part-time, compressed hours or as a job share are available, dependent on the role and business needs
• Pension – we understand the importance of saving for retirement and offer a desirable pension scheme, which gives you a guaranteed pension based on career average earnings
• Annual leave – our employees are entitled to 25 days annual leave, rising to 30 days after five years’ service. In addition to this, employees are entitled to public and privilege holidays. Part-time employees receive the same entitlement calculated on a pro-rata basis
• Maternity and paternity leave – we offer maternity and paternity leave over and above the statutory entitlements
• Voluntary service leave – we offer special leave for our employees who wish to undertake voluntary work
• Rented accommodation loan – moving house to take up an offer of employment can be expensive. We offer new joiners the opportunity to take out an interest-free loan of up to £2,500, via our benevolent fund, to assist with the financial burden of relocating into privately rented accommodation. You will be sent an application for the loan at the point of receiving a final offer of employment
• Season ticket loan – we recognise that travel expenses from your home to the office can be significant, so we offer an interest-free season ticket loan which can be used for travel, car park costs or the purchase of a bicycle
• On-site facilities – there is a gym, restaurant, and coffee bar at some locations
• Clubs and societies – we offer a range of sports clubs, fitness classes, societies, and language training facilities
• Childcare Vouchers – we offer two childcare voucher schemes which provide a simple and cost-effective way for employees to receive help towards the cost of childcare
• Eye Voucher Scheme – we offer eye care vouchers and a financial contribution towards prescription glasses
• Physiotherapy – we offer subsidised in-house physiotherapy
• Personal learning – all our staff can undertake professional development to improve their skills and performance in the workplace