Solution Architect - Applications & Integration

Manchester - Hybrid, 1-2 days per week onsite
Six-month contract
Up to £650 per day - Inside IR35

We are looking for an experienced Solution Architect to support a portfolio of projects focused on improving services and the overall user experience across a research-intensive organisation.

This is a broad, hands-on architecture role. You will work across several projects, assessing business and technical requirements before designing appropriate application, data and integration solutions.

Key responsibilities:

* Assess functional and non-functional requirements.
* Produce high-level and low-level solution designs.
* Design application integrations, APIs and data flows.
* Advise stakeholders on the most appropriate technology and application solutions.
* Ensure designs align with established enterprise architecture principles.
* Take solutions through Technical Design Authority assurance.
* Work with the Enterprise Architect to develop the wider domain blueprint.
* Collaborate with business stakeholders, technical teams and third-party suppliers.

The portfolio includes electronic research notebooks, contract lifecycle management, research facility booking and accounting, and secure data processing and storage services.

We are looking for:

* Strong experience working as a Solution Architect within a complex organisation.
* Experience producing HLDs, LLDs, solution architecture documents and supporting diagrams.
* Broad application, integration and data architecture experience.
* Good knowledge of APIs, middleware, data flows and SaaS or COTS implementations.
* Experience working with a Technical Design Authority or Architecture Review Board.
* The ability to translate business requirements into practical, deliverable solutions.
* Excellent communication skills across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
* The flexibility to work across several projects in a changing environment.

Experience within higher education, research, the public sector or another similarly complex environment would be advantageous.

The successful candidate must be available to work onsite in Manchester for at least 1-2 days per week.