Lead Cloud Solutions Architect

Manchester has become one of the United Kingdom’s strongest technology hubs, and at Pete Wilson Technology Solutions, we help organisations modernise complex systems through secure, scalable cloud architecture.

We are looking for a Lead Cloud Solutions Architect who can take ownership of major cloud transformation programmes and guide clients through technical change. You will work closely with engineering teams, delivery managers, security specialists, and senior stakeholders to design practical solutions that support long-term business growth.

This is a hands-on senior role for someone who can set technical direction, lead architecture decisions, and turn complex requirements into reliable cloud platforms.

Why Work With Us?

The Environment:

Our Manchester team works in a collaborative and professional setting close to the city centre. We support focused work, open communication, and flexible ways of working across technical and client-facing teams.

Meaningful Projects:

You will contribute to cloud transformation projects that improve performance, resilience, security, and operational efficiency for established organisations.

Technical Influence:

You will have the authority to shape architecture standards, recommend technologies, and influence delivery decisions from the early planning stage through implementation.

Modern Technology:

Our projects use leading cloud platforms, infrastructure automation, container technologies, modern security practices, and scalable application architecture.

Professional Growth:

You will receive support for relevant certifications, technical conferences, leadership development, and continued learning across cloud architecture and emerging technologies.

Key Responsibilities:

Cloud Architecture:

Design secure, scalable, and highly available cloud solutions based on business, technical, and regulatory requirements.

Technical Leadership:

Provide architectural direction to software engineers, cloud engineers, DevOps specialists, and infrastructure teams throughout the delivery lifecycle.

Solution Assessment:

Review existing platforms, identify technical risks, and recommend suitable migration, modernisation, or optimisation strategies.

Cloud Migration:

Lead the planning and design of cloud migration programmes, including application dependencies, data movement, security controls, and operational readiness.

Architecture Governance:

Create and maintain architecture standards, technical documentation, design principles, and decision records.

Security and Compliance:

Ensure cloud solutions follow appropriate security, identity, data protection, resilience, and compliance requirements.

Stakeholder Management:

Present technical recommendations to clients and internal stakeholders in a clear and commercially practical way.

Cost Optimisation:

Assess cloud usage and architecture decisions to improve performance while controlling infrastructure and operational costs.

Team Development:

Mentor architects and senior engineers, lead technical reviews, and support the development of architecture capability across the organisation.

At least 7 years of experience in cloud engineering, infrastructure, software architecture, or technology consulting, including significant experience leading cloud solution design.

Cloud Platforms:

Strong practical experience with Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, or Google Cloud Platform. Experience across more than one cloud environment is advantageous.

Architecture Knowledge:

A strong understanding of cloud-native architecture, networking, identity management, containers, serverless technologies, APIs, data platforms, and distributed systems.

Infrastructure Automation:

Experience with infrastructure as code and automation tools such as Terraform, Bicep, CloudFormation, Ansible, or similar technologies.

Security:

Knowledge of cloud security principles, access controls, encryption, monitoring, business continuity, disaster recovery, and regulatory compliance.

Communication:

You can explain complex technical decisions clearly to engineers, project teams, clients, and non-technical stakeholders.

Leadership:

You are confident leading technical discussions, resolving architecture disagreements, and guiding teams through complex delivery challenges.

Mindset:

You are commercially aware, delivery focused, and pragmatic. You can balance technical quality, security, cost, deadlines, and business priorities.