> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/1245330-solution-architect-defence](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/1245330-solution-architect-defence). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Solution Architect - Defence - **Company:** Reed - **Location:** Gloucester, UK - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** £67,000.0 - £72,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Cyber Security, Routing, Technical Debt, Information Technology - **Published:** July 12, 2026 - **Apply:** https://find.jobs/jobs-near-me/apply/ats-redirect/?id=2869613446-2 ## About the Role * Minimum 8+ years of experience in IT Infrastructure, with a strong focus on infrastructure design, solution architecture, or enterprise engineering roles in complex environments. * Strong technical knowledge of Microsoft-based infrastructure and extensive hands-on experience with enterprise virtualisation technologies. * Proven experience designing and delivering on-premises and hybrid infrastructure architectures, including integration with public cloud platforms. * Strong understanding of enterprise networking principles, including segmentation, routing, firewall integration, and hybrid connectivity. * Demonstrable experience producing and assuring HLDs and LLDs within infrastructure transformation or modernisation programmes. * Strong communication skills with the ability to articulate complex infrastructure designs to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. * Awareness of Cyber Security tooling and configuration. ## Description Solutions Architect to play a strategic and hands-on role in the design, development, and governance of enterprise infrastructure solutions across secure on-premises, hybrid, and private cloud environments. This role is crucial within a highly regulated defence environment, focusing on Microsoft-based enterprise ecosystems alongside virtualisation, networking, and storage platforms. The successful candidate will define scalable, resilient, and supportable infrastructure architectures that meet both operational and business requirements. Day-to-day of the role: * Produce high-level and low-level infrastructure designs (HLDs and LLDs) across various environments, ensuring alignment with business, operational, and technical requirements. * Define and maintain enterprise infrastructure standards, reference architectures, and design principles covering compute, storage, networking, virtualisation, and hybrid integration. * Lead technical discovery activities to assess existing infrastructure environments, identify technical debt, dependencies, and opportunities for modernisation. * Translate business requirements into scalable and resilient infrastructure designs in collaboration with project managers, architects, and technical teams. * Provide architectural governance across the project lifecycle, ensuring solutions are reviewed and aligned to enterprise standards and technical direction. * Evaluate infrastructure technologies and architectural options, producing recommendations that balance performance, resilience, maintainability, cost, and operational impact. * Define infrastructure migration strategies, including workload placement, phased transition approaches, rollback planning, and service continuity considerations. * Produce and maintain architecture documentation, including HLDs, LLDs, reference architectures, and standards. * Identify, assess, and manage technical risks, assumptions, constraints, and dependencies throughout project delivery, ensuring appropriate mitigation strategies are defined. * Provide technical leadership and design assurance during implementation, ensuring delivered solutions remain aligned to the approved architecture. ## Related Videos - [What makes Cybersecurity different for critical infrastructure?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/571-what-makes-cybersecurity-different-for-critical-infrastructure) - [Creating a routing app with Google Maps API from scratch](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/831-creating-a-routing-app-with-google-maps-api-from-scratch) - [Resolving technical debts in software architecture](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1680-resolving-technical-debts-in-software-architecture) - [Thinking Differently - How to Make Money from Cyber Attacks & Cheats](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/745-thinking-differently-how-to-make-money-from-cyber-attacks-cheats) - [We (don't) need a software architect!?!](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/663-we-don-t-need-a-software-architect) - [Azure-Well Architected Framework - designing mission critical workloads in practice](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1529-azure-well-architected-framework-designing-mission-critical-workloads-in-practice) ## Related Articles - [What Are The Top Skills Required For Azure Developers?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/77-what-are-the-top-skills-required-for-azure-developers) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [Why Upskilling And Reskilling is Important For Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/428-why-upskilling-and-reskilling-is-important-for-developers) - [The Most Popular IT Jobs on the Market](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/376-the-most-popular-it-jobs-on-the-market) - [Events like RSAC Get You CISOs. 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