Solution Architect

This is a senior technical opportunity to help shape secure, resilient and innovative technology solutions across the City of London Corporation and the City of London Police. You will work within a complex, multi-tenant Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 environment, supporting both corporate and policing requirements.

Reporting to the Head of Enterprise Architecture, you will play a key role in ensuring technology solutions are aligned with architectural principles, technical standards and, where relevant, UK policing technology and security standards.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead the design and development of technology solutions across Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365.

- Produce high-quality Architecture Patterns, High-Level Designs (HLDs), Low-Level Designs (LLDs) and supporting artefacts in line with TOGAF and ArchiMate.

- Design solutions that meet the distinct requirements of the City of London Corporation and City of London Police, including appropriate data segregation and security controls.

- Provide technical leadership to Solution Architects, Systems Engineers, Infrastructure Engineers and third-party suppliers on assigned projects.

- Present architectural designs, patterns and recommendations to the Technical Design Authority and Change Advisory Board.

- Review and assure architecture artefacts produced by internal teams and external suppliers.

- Identify, manage and track architectural risks, issues, assumptions and dependencies.

- Ensure solutions comply with agreed technical, security, governance and regulatory standards.

- Work closely with Business Analysts and stakeholders to translate business requirements into effective and deliverable technical solutions.

- Maintain awareness of developments in UK policing technology, cloud architecture, cyber security and emerging technologies.

- Support the Head of Enterprise Architecture in developing a coherent and enabling architecture across the City Corporation and City of London Police.

- Manage relationships with third-party architectural and technology suppliers, ensuring requirements and standards are met.

- Contribute to the continuous review and improvement of the City of London Police technology estate., You will have the opportunity to influence architectural direction, introduce modern technology solutions and contribute to secure, resilient services that support the City of London Corporation and City of London Police.

If you are an experienced Solution Architect ready to take on a senior technical role with real organisational impact, we would like to hear from you.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and as part of the selection process the successful applicant will be required to obtain a Basic Disclosure & Barring Service check.

Security Clearance

This role requires a NPPV 3 (Non police personnel) Vetting check. Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) or Security Check (SC) clearance may be required for specific engagements.

The City of London Corporation is currently undergoing a programme to ensure that our pay and reward practices are competitive and equitable across the whole organisation, to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the work that we do.

An experienced Solution Architect with significant experience working in a complex, regulated or public-sector environment.

- Experienced in delivering and managing enterprise-scale solutions using Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365.

- Highly knowledgeable in TOGAF and ArchiMate, with experience producing professional architecture documentation and schematic diagrams.

- Experienced in presenting and defending technical designs within a Technical Design Authority or similar governance environment.

- Confident providing architectural leadership and assurance across supplier-delivered programmes.

- Knowledgeable in Azure architecture, including Entra ID, Azure Policy, Defender for Cloud, Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Purview, Azure Firewall, Application Gateway and Azure Front Door, Azure native Functions and Logic App based automations.

- Experienced with Microsoft 365 technologies, Windows 11 build engineering including Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Teams and Defender XDR.

- Familiar with modern data and analytics architectures, including Microsoft Fabric, OneLake and Power BI.

- Knowledgeable in identity, zero-trust and cyber-security principles, including the NCSC Cloud Security Principles and ISO/IEC 27001.

- Able to understand and communicate emerging AI architecture and governance concepts, including Azure Foundry AI, Azure OpenAI, Microsoft Copilot, Copilot Studio, RAG, MCP and related governance capabilities.

- An excellent communicator who can explain complex technology clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

- Analytical and confident enough to challenge requirements, designs and supplier proposals where appropriate.

- Collaborative, accountable and comfortable working across business, technology, supplier and partner organisations.

- Innovative and forward-thinking, with a commitment to continual professional development.

- Ideally experienced within UK policing, central or local government, financial regulation or critical national infrastructure., You will ideally have a degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent demonstrable experience, together with ITIL Foundation certification and evidence of continued professional development.

The City of London Corporation's Digital & Information Technology Service (DITS) is seeking an experienced Solution Architect (City of London Police) to join its Enterprise Architecture function.