Solution Architect (Azure Cloud)

Define, design, and govern the end-to-end technical architecture across cloud and on-premise systems, ensuring scalability, security, maintainability, and alignment with business and enterprise architecture objectives. The role is responsible for establishing Azure-based solution architectures, guiding delivery teams, and ensuring that technology decisions drive long-term value, resilience, and performance across the organisation.

• Solution Architecture & Design
  • Design end-to-end solution architectures across applications, data, integrations, and infrastructure within Microsoft Azure environments
  • Define architectural patterns for cloud-native, hybrid, and distributed systems
  • Develop high-level and low-level designs (HLD/LLD), ensuring clarity for delivery teams
  • Ensure solutions are scalable, resilient, secure, and cost-optimised
• Azure Cloud Architecture
  • Define and implement architecture using Azure services, including:
    • Compute: Azure App Services, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Azure Functions
    • Data: Azure SQL, Cosmos DB, Data Lake, Synapse Analytics
    • Integration: Azure API Management, Logic Apps, Service Bus, Event Grid
    • Security: Azure Active Directory (Entra ID), Key Vault, Managed Identities
  • Design for high availability, disaster recovery, and business continuity using Azure-native capabilities
  • Ensure effective use of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Bicep, ARM templates, or Terraform
• Integration & System Design
  • Define integration patterns and system interactions across microservices and enterprise systems
  • Design APIs and event-driven architectures using REST, messaging, and asynchronous patterns
  • Ensure interoperability between legacy systems and modern cloud-based platforms
• Technical Leadership & Governance
  • Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance to development and engineering teams
  • Review and approve solution designs and key technical decisions
  • Ensure alignment with enterprise architecture standards, governance frameworks, and design principles
  • Define and enforce architecture governance processes, design reviews, and checkpoints
• Technology Evaluation & Innovation
  • Evaluate new technologies, frameworks, and tools within the Azure ecosystem
  • Conduct proofs of concept (PoCs) and recommend solutions based on business and technical fit
  • Drive adoption of cloud best practices, DevSecOps, and modern engineering approaches
• Security, Compliance & Risk Management
  • Ensure compliance with security best practices, regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR), and organisational policies
  • Embed zero-trust architecture principles and secure design practices
  • Identify and mitigate technical risks, vulnerabilities, and architectural gaps
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Engage with business stakeholders, product owners, and leadership teams to understand requirements
  • Translate business needs into scalable and pragmatic technical architecture solutions
  • Communicate architecture decisions, trade-offs, and risks clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Delivery Support & Collaboration
  • Collaborate with Agile delivery teams, DevOps engineers, QA teams, and architects
  • Support programme delivery, roadmap planning, and release strategies
  • Provide guidance during implementation, integration, and deployment phases

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
• TOGAF or equivalent architecture certification
• Azure DevOps / Security certifications (advantageous)

• Deep expertise in Microsoft Azure cloud platform
• Strong knowledge of the Azure Well-Architected Framework, including reliability, security, cost optimisation, operational excellence, and performance efficiency
• Strong knowledge of cloud-native architecture patterns and microservices-based design
• Strong understanding of distributed systems design
• Strong understanding of event-driven architectures
• Strong understanding of API-first design principles
• Ability to produce architecture diagrams, artefacts, and standards documentation
  Strong understanding of Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
• Familiarity with Docker containerisation and AKS/Kubernetes orchestration
• Knowledge of Azure security services and identity management
• Familiarity with DevSecOps practices and security automation
• Knowledge of data governance, data pipelines, and real-time processing
• Strong leadership and decision-making capability
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Strategic thinking with attention to technical detail
• Ability to balance innovation with delivery pragmatism
• High level of accountability and ownership

• Experience with enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF)
• Experience implementing CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps and GitHub Actions
• Experience implementing secure design principles and compliance frameworks
• Experience designing data platforms and integration architectures
• Proven delivery of robust, scalable, secure, and future-proof architecture
• solutions
• Experience delivering highly resilient systems with minimal downtime and strong performance outcomes
• Experience providing clear and consistent technical direction across multiple delivery teams
• Experience driving adherence to architecture standards, governance, and best practices
• Experience improving system performance, cost optimisation, and resource utilisation within Azure environments
• Experience reducing technical debt through standardisation and modernisation initiatives
• Experience aligning business objectives with technical solutions
• Proven track record of delivering programme milestones and transformation objectives
• Experience reducing architecture-related risks and security vulnerabilities
• Experience ensuring compliance with enterprise, regulatory, and security standard

• Collaborative working environment – we stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients and our peers through good times and challenges  
• We empower all passionate technology loving professionals by allowing them to expand their skills and take part in inspiring projects   
• Expleo Academy - enables you to acquire and develop the right skills by delivering a suite of accredited training courses  
• Competitive company benefits
• Always working as one team, our people are not afraid to think big and challenge the status quo 

#LI-BM1

• As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we have committed to:
• Ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible
• Communicating and promoting vacancies
• Offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job
• Anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments as required
• Supporting any existing employee who acquires a disability or long term health condition, enabling them to stay in work at least one activity that will make a difference for disabled people

“We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age”. 

We treat everyone fairly and equitably across the organisation, including providing any additional support and adjustments needed for everyone to thrive