Solution Architect - job 1 of 2

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future.  

As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity. 

Our teams of interdisciplinary experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results. 

We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. And we have deep expertise in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport.  

Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands. 

PA. Bringing Ingenuity to Life. 

Are you passionate about using innovative technology to solve some of the world’s most complex business problems?

We are currently looking for Solution Architects to join our collaborative team, driving business transformations through strategic insights to enable lasting change through pragmatic use of technology. Contribute to innovation and PA's mission for a more positive human future in a tech-driven world.

Work with our clients to design and deliver their most complex business and technical solutions. Working through the full delivery lifecycle, our Solution Architects bring a hands-on, delivery focus across all domains and leading technologies to our clients. 

We are currently operating a discretionary hybrid working model which is designed to help you plan your work and your life. We want our people to come into the office at least two days a week.

As a Solution Architect and technology leader in our Digital & Data team, you will:

• Work directly with PA and client colleagues to define robust technology solutions based upon our clients’ needs. Sometimes you’ll even need to help our clients understand what those needs are as they start their digital transformation journey. Many of our clients are FTSE 100 companies, large government departments or critical national infrastructure providers and you can expect to get involved in projects that have genuine impact from day 1.  
• Own, create and assure key architecture artefacts such as: Key Design Decision, Technical Options Paper, High Level Design, Low Level Design, Reference Architecture and Roadmap. To do this, you’ll need to deploy a range of consulting and stakeholder management skills to inform, engage and influence colleagues and decision makers from across our client’s businesses.
• Support our client’s senior leaders to help shape their case for change, typically leading on cost estimation and supporting creation of detailed planning and benefits realisation for the technology solutions you design.
• Work closely with Engineering teams, often taking a lead SME role helping to define the vision, establish Architectural Guardrails, Architecture Runways and Detailed Designs as well as unblocking the team as issues arise. Whilst operating as a Solution Architect, you will likely come from a hands-on Software Engineering background with experience leading engineering teams to deliver applications and services, enabling you to quickly build credibility.
• Rapidly understand and effectively communicate complex technical ideas to board-level business leaders and their teams. You’ll use your technical writing and presentation skills to do this supported by productivity tools such as: PowerPoint, Word, Visio
• Be confident using your architecture skills and experience across the full range of architectural domains, with a specialism in at least one: Business, Data, Application, Technology and Security
• Bring to bear a clear understanding and practical application of architecture and delivery methodologies such as: TOGAF, Zachmann, MODAF or SAFe
• Use your understanding and application of architecture modelling tools and frameworks to communicate your ideas: UML, ArchiMate, Ardoq, and others.
• Design and deliver architecture solutions within governance and target operating models, using a range of ways of working and delivery methodologies: Waterfall, SAFe, Scrum, Kanban
• Commit yourself to continuous improvement and professional development. Everyone’s experience is different so we’re not prescriptive about this. Certifications in appropriate methodologies and cloud technologies are advantageous: AWS, Azure, GCP, TOGAF, SAFe
• Thrive in a trust-based, inclusive environment that values excellence, innovation and curiosity. To support you, we’ll provide a number of career accelerators including training opportunities – both business and technical, focused mentoring and the variety of engagements needed to really invest in your consulting skills and take your work to the next level!  

We’re technology agnostic, using the right tools for the job at hand, and you’ll have access to our strong partnerships with AWS, Azure and GCP. We’re interested to hear from Solution Architects with experience across the majority of leading vendors including Azure, AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Oracle, IBM, Salesforce and more.

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Life At PA encompasses our peoples' experience at PA. It's about how we enrich peoples’ working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose led meaningful work. 

Our purpose guides how we work with our clients and our teams, and support our communities, to deliver insight and impact, solving the world’s most complex challenges. We're focused on building a workplace that values human difference and diverse mindsets, and a culture of inclusion and equality that unlocks the potential in our people so everyone can be their best self. 

Find out more about Life at PA here. 

We are dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, social and financial well-being of our people. Check out some of our extensive benefits: 

• Health and lifestyle perks accompanying private healthcare for you and your family 
• 25 days annual leave (plus a bonus half day on Christmas Eve) with the opportunity to buy 5 additional days 
• Generous company pension scheme 
• Opportunity to get involved with community and charity-based initiatives 
• Annual performance-based bonus 
• PA share ownership 
• Tax efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn) 

We’re committed to advancing equality. We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief veteran status, or other by any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups. 

Adjustments or accommodations - Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us on [email protected]