Digital Solution Architect in Reading, Berkshire

Digital Solution Architect
6 Months
Fully remote with very rare visits to site in Havant or Reading
£700 per day (Inside IR35)

My client in the utilities industry are looking for a Digital Solution Architect to join their fast-paced team on an initial 6 month contract.

Key Accountabilities
* Responsible for prioritising and managing own workload, and others as required
* Contributes to the Target Architecture, through the development of Architecture Deliverables (Vision, Intent, Runway, Decisions) and definition and maintenance of standards (the Technical Reference Model) by supporting Enterprise Architecture
* Maintain the Business Unit Architecture Baseline following releases of new solutions and products.
* Supports the development of the product planning including ensuring the phases are appropriate. For example, development of an architecture runway, key dependencies etc.
* Supports the budget development process for a solution to maximise the business case
* Delivers high-level solution models and solution architectures in line with business requirements, organisation and industry standards
* Ensures compliance of all high-level solution models and solution architectures to the Target Architecture, roadmaps, guardrails, IT principles and standards
* Ensures that their solution architectures maintain integrity within the context of the relevant product architecture
* Assesses the impact of changes to Product Backlogs against the existing architecture vision, intent and runway, and support the prioritisation of these changes
* Provides direction and guidance across the product lifecycle ensuring adherence to Architecture and Design standards and the Target Architecture, including management and repayment of technical debt
* Works with relevant stakeholders to understand the business requirements so that recommended solution options provide the best fit against requirements and budget
* Supports the Product Analyst to determine high-level functional requirements, maximising the use of standard or out-of-the-box features and capability
* Creates solution options and solution architectures, ensuring any deviations to the standards are handled through the Architecture Governance process
* Ensures solutions are secure by design and are built within defined security guidelines and guardrails
* Be accountable for the viability of proposed solutions and provides direction, advice and guidance on the appropriate approach to the solution throughout the product lifecycle
* Performs the technical design authority role throughout delivery ensuring that the detailed designs and solutions delivered align to the solution architecture, managing and resolving any design issues as they arise
* Uses commercial awareness to ensure that all investments made maximise the value of our IT investment
* Maintains an up-to-date understanding of the main technology base, and a general understanding of the other technology bases which together form the overall technical direction
* Keeps abreast of developments from strategic partners to ensure that the architectures are kept in line with standards and only deviate for commercial benefit
* Promotes and encourages enterprise and innovation throughout the delivery team, to look for new answers and delivery of a fresh approach
* Identifies the commercial impacts of decisions involving architecture and engage the appropriate people in coming to a sound commercial outcome
* Works with external suppliers to ensure that the appropriate technology direction is set with respect to systems, data and technical infrastructure
* Works and effectively communicate with a wide range of stakeholders in developing a solution that meets the needs of the business
* Sets up and maintains strong relationships with stakeholders by effectively managing expectations and inspiring confidence in delivery
* Develops, coaches, motivates, energises and inspires fellow team members

Essential Functional / Technical Skills
* Ideally an undergraduate degree in IT or a related discipline
* Experience in applying agile methodologies and supporting context, such as governance, process and culture
* Ability to develop an Architecture vision, intent and runway to delivery the right architecture components, at the right scope, at the right time.
* Knowledge in a minimum of two of the following technical disciplines:
1. Cloud Services covering Infrastructure/Platform/Software (as a service)
2. Application development, DevOps, CI/CD
3. Network design
3. Middleware
4. Servers and storage
5. Database management
6. Operations
* Knowledge of technology and platforms used, this includes specifics such as:
1. Azure Cloud Services in general
2. Azure Synapse
3. Web Content Management platforms, Headless CMS
4. Oracle Eloqua
5. Oracle Databases
6. Oracle Data Integrator
* Experience in applying agile methodologies and supporting context, such as governance, process and culture
* A demonstrable understanding of the company's business areas, the Energy industry and IT, gained from past experience as well as through social/professional networking
* A strong understanding of the business needs that drive the team's activities.
* An understanding of the team's area(s) of responsibility
* Knowledge of key aspects of the business
* Understanding of the enterprise's political climate and how to respond to the political challenges
* Ability to translate business needs into solution architecture requirements
* Strong understanding of network and data center architecture, as well as application development methodologies
* Ability to quickly comprehend the functions and capabilities of new technologies
* Understanding of APIs, Web services, Microservices, Serverless compute and other Modern cloud native application architectures
* High level knowledge of development processes, including but not limited to DevOps, Scrum, Kanban and lean development

Experience working on Key Projects / Activities Managed (Identify Impact, Effort, Cost, Time Invested)
* Input to financial dimensions for project level solutions ranging from £1M to £50M.
content below for Lead Solution Architect - business SME to edit as needed
* Responsible for ensuring the solutions architecture for a business unit is delivered against the budget set for the Product Road Map
* Role Holder will lead and manage the overall solution architect approach for a business unit
* The Role Holder will also function as a solutions architect within the pre-project phases of an IT program, including the development or oversight of future state designs including technology, solution, information and business architecture

Disclaimer:

This vacancy is being advertised by either Advanced Resource Managers Limited, Advanced Resource Managers IT Limited or Advanced Resource Managers Engineering Limited ("ARM"). ARM is a specialist talent acquisition and management consultancy. We provide technical contingency recruitment and a portfolio of more complex resource solutions. Our specialist recruitment divisions cover the entire technical arena, including some of the most economically and strategically important industries in the UK and the world today. We will never send your CV without your permission.