Aker Systems was founded in 2017 by a team of experienced technology professionals who recognised an opportunity to provide highly secure enterprise data platforms to large organisations. Aker builds and operates ground-breaking, ultra-secure, high performance, cloud-based data infrastructure for the enterprise. Our proprietary technology solutions drive performance and reduce costs while helping our clients to improve the management and sharing of data across their organisations. In 2022, Aker Systems was proud to win the ‘Scale up Business of the Year’ award by the British Business Excellence Awards. In 2020 Aker Systems was recognised as a ‘One to Watch’ on the Sunday Times Tech Track and was also recognised at the Thames Valley Tech Awards 2020; winning the Thames Valley Tech Company of the year, the Emerging Tech Company and High Growth Tech Business categories. Most recently in September 2021, we were successfully acquired by a new investor (Abry Partners) who have a deep industry expertise in our field to support us in the next part of our journey and as we continue to grow and diversify as a business. We encourage people of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. We are committed to maintaining an inclusive, and supportive place for you do your very best work. Aker Systems designs, builds & operates advanced, ultra-secure data infrastructure, delivering data modernisation at enterprise scale to enable AI-driven transformation and seamless sharing of trusted data at scale, predominantly for highly regulated and Central Government clients in the UK. Aker has proven tech-enabled service offerings - covering the entire client lifecycle through strategic cloud & data capability leadership, secure cloud and data infrastructure modernisation, managed services in client environments and data & platform engineering. Aker powers AI digital transformation through trusted, enterprise scale data modernisation with proven mission critical, secure, trusted and real-time expertise & solutions. With deeply trusted relationships and influence, innovative technology and excellent delivery track record. Client Focus You will be working for national security and defence clients in the Southwest, across both short and long-lived programmes of work, as part of an Agile team of likeminded individuals that thrive on solving real-world problems, keeping the UK safe. Due to the nature of the work and the customers, you must hold enhanced DV Security Clearance. Duties & Responsibilities As a Solution Architect, you will help lead the development of a secure batch/real-time data-centric platforms and services for National Security and Defence clients leveraging the latest commercial and open-source technologies in private and public cloud environments. You will need to be client facing and be able to make complex designs seem simple to customers. Performs the necessary leadership, analysis and design tasks related to the development of a solution architecture Develops the solutions viewpoint, in which the business, information and technology viewpoints are synthesized into solutions that deliver capabilities. Analyses business drivers to determine corresponding change requirements. Designs and leads the implementation of solution architecture based on business requirements and IT strategies. Defines the principles to guide solution decisions for the Institute. Coordinates solution architecture implementation and modification activities. Facilitates and leads the evaluation and selection of software product standards, as well as the design of standard software configurations. Consults with application or infrastructure development projects to fit systems or infrastructure to Core Competencies The successful candidate will need to have experience as a senior solution architect across these core areas: Delivery - designing, delivering platforms and managed services at enterprise scale, specifically bespoke software solutions, particularly in streaming and cloud-native solutions. Data Platforms – designing modern data platforms with appropriate architecture coving Data Mesh, Data Fabric, Data Lake etc. Data/Analytics - solving enterprise data and analytics problems using technology Cloud - hands-on Public Cloud experience in either AWS/Azure/Google, both their 'services' and 'how' to work in the cloud such as DevOps-centric approach Security - having worked in sensitive data environments and ideally have experience facing off to cyber security specialists. Will need extensive experience: Skilled in designing distributed, event driven systems Demonstrable experience in designing large scale cloud migration projects/programmes with open source and commercial software within AWS, Azure or GCP Experience in and operating within a multi-disciplined team and clearly communicating complex technology solutions to technical and non-technical people Experience applying latest technologies to solve complex problems and to develop innovative data and analytical solutions Working knowledge of cloud orchestration and containerisation technologies, such as Docker and Kubernetes Working knowledge of CI/CD and Infrastructure-as-Code Understanding of NCSC Cloud Security Principles and its practical implementations Event processing and async messaging architectures (minimum 1 years) Aker Systems Attributes At Aker we work as a team, we are collaborative, hardworking, open, and delivery obsessed. There is no blame culture here: try things, and take responsibility for the outcomes. You are always part of the wider Aker. We help out our colleagues and take pride in successfully achieving difficult tasks. We run towards problems and help solve them. Communicate always, do so accurately and in a timely fashion. In return, we offer a competitive salary, 25 days holiday (excluding bank holidays), Company Paid Medical Insurance, Life Assurance (4x times basic salary), Pension scheme, Perks at Work, Cycle Scheme, Tech Scheme and Season Ticket Loan. Plus, a list of voluntary benefits including Dental Insurance, Critical illness cover, Virtual GP. Equal Opportunities Aker Systems fosters a diverse environment that encourages openness in its communications and is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, disability, veteran status or other personal characteristics. We embrace differences of opinion and diversity because they help challenge us and find new groundbreaking technical solutions.