Time left to apply End Date: January 31, 2025 (9 days left to apply)
Job requisition id JR5010
Closing Date: 2025-03-03
Job Specification
Solution Architect
Overview
The Solution Architect is responsible for working within projects delivering the overall end-to-end high level design, to ensure technology change supports the business drivers and benefits. The SA is a bridge between business stakeholders and technical teams, translating functional needs into architectural blueprints and ensuring that solutions are scalable, secure, and cost-effective. The role involves evaluating technology options, selecting products, and addressing complex challenges to deliver end-to-end solutions that meet standards.
Duties & Responsibilities
* Works closely with the Domain Architect & Enterprise Architect to understand the technology roadmaps to meet business needs (as well as understanding Southern Water’s guidelines, standards and principles to work within)
* Works closely with the Domain Architect to shape initiatives, options analysis, and estimates before initiatives become projects
* Works on multiple projects and/or major programmes to provide the following ‘architectural services’:
o Architectural Assessment – Provides shaping, options and estimates to initiatives (pre-project)
o RFP / Production Selection – Reviews technology products & vendors that may be able to deliver a system into the landscape to provide business value to an initiative
o High Level Design – Is responsible for writing the end-to-end high-level design, taking all stakeholders with them and taking through QA and governance processes.
+ Options Analysis – Provides high level technology options and recommendations to solve problems.
+ Stakeholders and Coordination - Works with all digital functions/owners that contribute to the HLD (e.g. Infra, Security, Data etc)
+ Risks – identifies risks / issues from an architectural perspective.
+ Governance – ensures all parties (business & digital) are well informed throughout the design phase and seeks formal sign off in the appropriate governance forum
o Design Assurance – works with delivery/engineering teams to explain the end-to-end design and oversees/QAs detailed design. Helps solutionise when detailed issues come up before delivery & updates HLD accordingly.
o Advice & Guidance – being a trusted advisor to the business and tech teams when they have questions.
* Will run programme design authority meetings, where on a major programme, and guide decisions and actions
Other activities
* Contributes to helping shape patterns, standards etc
* Helps drive continuous improvement within the function
* Contributes to team meetings, engagement and internal initiatives
Required Knowledge & Experience
* Min 3 years of experience in a similar Solution Architect role
* Experience of government and/or utilities (esp water) desirable but not necessary
* Proficiency in systems design, integration, and architecture principles
* Ability to assess complex business and technical requirements and identify both options & recommended solutions
* Capacity to design scalable, sustainable, and future-proof architectures, end-to-end
* Ability to produce clear and detailed architectural documentation
* Strong communication and interpersonal skills & strong stakeholder engagement
* Collaborative in approach, especially across domains and digital functions.
* Has worked in both a waterfall and agile environment
* Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities
* Ability to work across cross-functional teams and manage varying & changing demands
We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications so if you are interested in the position please do send your application over today to ensure consideration.
Every Body Welcome
We value diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to facilitate your participation in the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to let us know. We are dedicated to ensuring that all candidates have an equal opportunity to showcase their skills and experience.
We Succeed Together
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, because delivering water for life is our core purpose. To achieve this, we need 24/7 support in place to resolve incidents quickly and efficiently. All our employees understand the importance of out-of-hours incident support – because when problems appear, fixing them is our top priority. That’s why our people join together and support when and however needed to make sure our customers get the service they deserve. Joining the Southern Water family means you’ll become part of our incident support team. During your interview, your manager will speak to you about any incident support rotas that apply to your position.
Benefits
* Company and performance-related bonus
* Generous pension with up to 11% company contribution
* Life assurance payment equal to four times your annual salary
* Health benefits through a Cash Plan
* Two paid community volunteering days a year
* 25 days annual holiday
* Occupational health service
* Perkbox benefits offering discounts and savings on several products and experiences
* Study support may be available for job-related qualifications
* We offer competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work options
Need Flexibility in Your Work?
Does this opportunity excite you but you’re not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that ‘normal’ office hours aren’t possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’ll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role? #LI-Hybrid
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