Solution Architect - Secure ICT & Interoperability

Location: Hybrid – 4 days per week on site at MOD Corsham Rate: Up to £760/day IR35 status: Inside IR35 Contract dates: 01/10/2026 to 31/03/2028 Closing date: 15th September 2026 at 10:00 Security clearance: Current SC Clearance required, with candidates prepared to undergo DV clearance Overview Our customer, a large defence organisation, is seeking an experienced Solution Architect to provide architectural leadership for the OpNET programme, supporting the design, development, integration, validation and transition of Federation Mission Networking (FMN) Spiral 6 Data Centric Interoperability (DCI) capabilities. The role is responsible for translating operational and interoperability requirements into coherent technical solutions, ensuring alignment with FMN Spiral 6 standards, NSoIT(D) architectural principles, security policy and coalition interoperability objectives. The Solution Architect will work across stakeholders, engineering teams, security specialists and programme leadership to define and govern the technical solution throughout the delivery lifecycle. Programme Context The New Style of IT (Deployed) – NSoIT(D) – programme is delivering OpNET , a new C4 capability across the SECRET, Mission SECRET and OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE security domains. The programme aims to deliver a highly secure, technologically advanced and evolutionary communications and information service that connects war-fighters and enables information advantage across the operational landscape. Key Responsibilities Lead the development of architecture and design artefacts including High-Level Designs (HLDs), Low-Level Designs (LLDs), architectural options assessments and technical roadmaps. Review FMN Spiral 6 standards, guidance and existing interoperability design patterns to determine applicability to OpNET capability development. Engage with users, stakeholders, security specialists and engineers to elicit requirements and identify technical constraints, assumptions, dependencies and risks. Define solution architectures supporting coalition interoperability, information exchange, metadata-based information handling and policy-based information control. Architect and document solutions supporting Federated Identity and Access Management (FIAM), Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), trust frameworks and Data Centric Security capabilities. Ensure architectural compliance with FMN Spiral 6 requirements, NSoIT(D) architectural principles and security policies. Support technology selection, integration planning and the incorporation of approved hardware, software and interoperability services. Provide technical governance and design assurance throughout build, integration, testing, validation and demonstration activities. Review and approve detailed engineering designs to ensure alignment with architectural intent and programme objectives. Support interoperability testing, FMN compliance validation and Authority-witnessed demonstrations. Produce technical risk assessments, design recommendations, reference architectures and reusable FMN Spiral 6 DCI design patterns. Support governance activities including design reviews, risk reviews, change control processes and stakeholder reporting. Produce and maintain architecture documentation, technical reports, configuration records and transition recommendations to support future capability development. Provide support for Live Ops as required. Essential Skills, Qualifications and Experience At least 5 years demonstrable experience in Solution Architecture roles delivering complex infrastructure, networking, interoperability or secure information systems within the last 5 years. Demonstrable experience designing and delivering enterprise-scale technical solutions from concept through implementation and transition. Strong experience producing and maintaining High-Level Designs (HLDs), Low-Level Designs (LLDs), architectural decision records and supporting technical documentation. Detailed understanding of enterprise and solution architecture principles and frameworks. Experience designing secure solutions within Defence, Government, NATO or other regulated environments. Strong understanding of interoperability architectures, federation concepts and coalition information-sharing requirements. Experience developing architectures that support information exchange across multiple security domains. Knowledge of Data Centric Security principles, policy-based information control, metadata-based handling controls and auditability requirements. Experience with Identity and Access Management (IAM), Federated Identity and Access Management (FIAM) and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) models. Strong understanding of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), digital certificates, certificate trust chains and associated cryptographic principles. Experience conducting architecture assessments, technical risk assessments and technology evaluations. Experience working with engineering teams through design, build, integration, testing and operational handover phases. Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to communicate effectively at both technical and senior leadership levels. Experience delivering against challenging timescales within large and complex organisations. Competency in MS Office Suite. Desirable Skills, Qualifications and Experience Experience working within Defence Digital, MOD, NATO, FMN or coalition interoperability programmes. Knowledge of Federation Mission Networking (FMN) standards, particularly FMN Spiral 6. Experience with OpNET, NSoIT(D), Mission Partner Environments or similar Defence networking and interoperability capabilities. Experience delivering accredited secure solutions within UK Government or Defence environments. Experience developing Data Centric Interoperability (DCI) solutions and reference architectures. Knowledge of Zero Trust Architecture and Secure by Design principles. Experience with policy enforcement technologies, trust frameworks and information-sharing governance models. Familiarity with virtualised, cloud and hybrid infrastructure environments. Experience supporting security accreditation activities and production of security artefacts. Experience delivering within Agile (SAFe) and Waterfall projects. Knowledge of Atlassian toolsets including JIRA and Confluence. A Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems or Cyber Security university-based education at Bachelors or Masters level. TOGAF, BCS, CISSP, SABSA or equivalent architecture/security certification. Chartered Engineer Status. Additional Information Base working site is MOD Corsham. 4 days per week on site are required. Current SC Clearance is required, with candidates prepared to undergo DV Clearance.