Technical Solutions Architect - AWS | Event-Driven | IAM - SC Cleared at Layer7, Manchester, 6 Months, £600 per day

Location: Manchester/Leeds/Newcastle (Hybrid)

Work Pattern: Hybrid

Rate: £600 per day Inside IR35

IR35 Status: Inside IR35

Clearance: Active SC Clearance

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Technical Solutions Architect (SFIA 5) to support a Central Government Department on a hybrid contract running from 7 July 2026 (or ASAP thereafter) to 31 March 2027, based across Manchester, Leeds or Newcastle. Operating at senior level, you will design and model complex technical solutions, with a strong emphasis on event-based architecture and public cloud delivery on AWS. Working within an Agile and DevOps environment, you will present and justify design decisions to technical governance forums and a wide range of stakeholders. You will also assure the quality of other services and systems, ensuring technical work aligns with the broader strategy for government. Active SC Clearance is required for this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and model complex technical solutions using recognised architecture patterns, modelling techniques, tools and standards
• Design event-based architectures, applying patterns including publish-subscribe and data streaming
• Architect public cloud solutions with a strong emphasis on AWS, covering cloud hosting, containerisation and networking design patterns and best practices
• Embed Agile and DevOps delivery methodologies and best practices across the engagement
• Design Identity and Access Management solutions aligned to technical standards such as OAuth and OIDC
• Present designs to technical governance forums and secure assurance for proposed approaches
• Justify and communicate design decisions clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Assure the quality of other services and systems, ensuring technical work fits the broader strategy for government

Essential Skills

• Strong commercial experience operating as a Senior Technical or Solutions Architect at SFIA Level 5
• Expertise in architecture design and modelling techniques, patterns, tools and standards
• Hands-on experience designing event-based architectures, including publish-subscribe and data streaming patterns
• Strong public cloud experience, especially AWS, covering cloud hosting, container and networking design patterns and best practices
• Solid working knowledge of Agile and DevOps delivery methodologies and best practices
• Demonstrable experience of Identity and Access Management and related technical standards such as OAuth and OIDC
• Confident presenting to technical governance forums
• Proven ability to justify and communicate design decisions to a range of technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Experience assuring service and system quality, ensuring technical work aligns with the broader strategy for government
• Previous experience working within the UK Public Sector
• Active SC Clearance

Nice To Have

• AWS certification (eg Solutions Architect Associate or Professional)
• Experience delivering within Central Government
• Experience defining or assuring enterprise and strategic technical roadmaps
• Experience mentoring or leading other architects and engineers