Principal, Solution Architect - Systems

The Principal, Solution Architect is responsible for designing end to end solutions that solve business problems and supports the Technical Architect with implementation. The role involves leading the development of a portfolio of solutions, ensuring alignment with business objectives and architectural standards, and shaping future-state architectures to drive strategic outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Interpret and translate complex business and technical requirements into coherent architectural blueprints that achieve strategic business outcomes.
• Document solution architecture design and analysis work, ensuring alignment with both current needs and long-term objectives.
• Work closely with product owners and product managers to maintain a robust architectural runway that supports future product evolution.
• Collaborate with Technical Architects to transform high-level solutions into actionable, implementable designs and support delivery teams in understanding architectural intent throughout the product lifecycle.
• Lead the evaluation and ongoing development of future-state technology architecture by monitoring the current solution portfolio, identifying technical debt, legacy risks, and misalignment with business requirements.
• Analyse global and enterprise-wide trends—technological, economic, social, environmental, regulatory—and apply strategic insight to guide innovation, drive technology refreshes, and support the sustainable evolution of services and systems.
• Evaluate solution options, vendors, and platforms using tools such as cost/benefit analysis, proof of concepts, and RFP support, ensuring total cost of ownership (TCO) and fit-for-purpose design.
• Define, lead, and govern the implementation of solution architectures across business applications and technology domains.
• Develop long-term roadmaps and provide architecture guidance at both the enterprise and delivery levels to ensure solutions align with business capabilities, value streams, and strategic direction.
• Deliver enterprise-level designs and architectural artefacts (e.g. solution documents, reference models, scorecards), and provide expert consulting to teams throughout the development lifecycle.
• Partner with the PMO and project leads to track architectural alignment, facilitate architectural governance, and support a community of practice that promotes consistency, innovation, and adherence to architectural standards.
• Acts as the trusted advisor, defining, governing, and evolving architectures across Information Management, Knowledge Management, OGC, OCCO, Risk, Communications, and Editorial and Creative functions.
• Develops and maintains end-to-end solution designs spanning SaaS, Low/No Code, CMS, Information and Knowledge management, and custom development platforms using Azure services, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture standards, and security and regulatory requirements.
• Translates complex business needs into technology solutions that balance cost, risk, scalability and usability, while building strong partnerships with product owners, delivery teams, and business sponsors.
• Provides expert guidance on Adobe Experience Manager for digital experience and CMS platforms.
• Defines and governs Low/No Code solutions on Microsoft Power Platform, ensuring best practice adoption and data governance.
• Leads the evaluation of SaaS products and integrations for suitability, security and alignment with architectural principles.

Requirements

• Strong ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly, both in written and verbal formats, particularly when engaging with stakeholders
• Experience in capturing technical requirements and documenting them in written and pictorial (PowerPoint, Visio etc)
• Experience in engaging with business and IT stakeholders to gather requirements and ensure alignment between architecture and business goals.
• Experience working within Agile, DevOps, and product-aligned teams, contributing to sprint-based and continuous delivery
• Demonstrable experience working within TOGAF with deep understanding of its application
• Expertise in solution integration, process orchestration, and data flow design across enterprise systems.
• Demonstrable experience supporting enterprise change initiatives.
• Expert knowledge in knowledge management solutions.
• Practical expertise in Microsoft Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI) and governance models.
• Deep understanding of SaaS platforms, identity and access management (e.g. Microsoft Entra) and integration approaches.
• Strong grasp of enterprise integration patterns, APIs, middleware and event-driven architectures.
• Experience in leading solution architecture using Azure services
• Deep understanding of Java application design and development practices, enabling effective collaboration with engineering teams.
• Strong knowledge of data, security, compliance and risk with shared service functions.
• Proven capability in designing solutions across multiple technology domains in complex organisations.
• Demonstrated track record of delivering architecture in at least one of the relevant business areas: Legal, Compliance, Risk, or Communications/Marketing.
• Experienced in leading architecture on cross-functional projects, managing diverse stakeholders and influencing senior decision-makers.
• Extensive background in working with SaaS, Low/No Code and custom development solutions within enterprise environments.
• Ability to create and maintain architectural artefacts consumable by technical and non-technical audiences.
• Professional certifications desirable: TOGAF, Microsoft Certified (Power Platform, Azure Solutions Architect), Adobe AEM certifications.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous professional development in solution architecture and technology innovation, as reflected in certifications and training.

Skills

• Technical Requirements Definition
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Agile Methodologies
• DevOps Practices
• TOGAF
• Solution Integration
• Process Orchestration
• Data Flow Design
• Enterprise Change Management
• Knowledge Management
• Microsoft Power Platform
• Power Apps
• Power Automate
• Power BI
• Governance Models
• SaaS Platforms
• Identity and Access Management
• Microsoft Entra
• Enterprise Integration Patterns
• APIs
• Middleware
• Event-driven architecture
• Azure Services
• Java Application Design
• Data Security
• Compliance Management
• Risk Management
• Cross-functional Leadership
• Low Code Development
• No Code Development
• Architectural Artefact Development
• Solution Architecture leadership
• Technology and Innovation
• Azure Solutions Architect
• Adobe AEM

Languages

English