Enterprise Architect

Enterprise Architect
Reading / Hybrid (2/3 days a week onsite ideally)
6 months initially
£92ph inside IR35 / Umbrella
JOB DESCRIPTION
Enterprise Architect - Digital Engineering – Software Engineering
Active SC Clearance is Mandatory
Aerospace and Defence Experience – demonstrable background delivering architecture within MOD, Defence Digital, or UK aerospace environments.
Job Purpose
Enterprise Architect – Software Engineering is responsible for the integration of the Software Factory solution within the whole Digital Engineering environment. This will include all aspects of the architecture i.e. people, process and technology. To ensure the Software Factory solution architecture is optimised to fit the Digital Engineering environment and promote and manage any changes necessary to the overarching Digital Engineering architecture.
Validates the needs of the overarching Digital Engineering stakeholders are met by the Software Factory architecture solutions. This will include, but is not limited to, delivering a Digital Twin and Digital Thread for the wider system engineering team. Also, ensuring compliance with governance and standards and regulations whilst meeting Secure by Design principles for the whole system lifecycle.
As the focal point for Software Engineering architecture, the Enterprise Architect provides expert guidance and consultancy to Product Owners and Delivery Managers across the Digital Engineering team. Seek to Identify and implement opportunities for architecture reuse between the Digital Engineering value streams. Whilst managing Stakeholder expectations and impact on delivery.
Key Accountabilities and Objectives
Accountabilities include (but are not limited to):
• Develop and maintain High and Low elver designs (HLD and LLD).
• Write and manage RFI and RFQ.
• Technical architectural leadership across people, process and technology for Software Engineering.
• Support architectural governance, security, and compliance requirements.
• Drive reuse, innovation, and best practice across programmes and digital engineering.
• Support continuous improvement activities across architecture processes and platforms.
• Stay current with new technologies and industry best practices in architecture.
Lifecycle Management
• Ensure Enterprise Architecture requirements are implemented on time, within scope, and aligned with agreed risk posture and compliance objectives.
• Translate enterprise architecture policies and risk requirements into actionable solution design standards, compliance frameworks and governance models
• Prioritise tasks according to team objectives and delivery schedules.
• Work collaboratively with project, delivery and architecture teams.
• Escalate issues and risks appropriately.
• Contribute to estimates, planning, and workload management activities.
Governance
• Communicate Enterprise Architecture for software Engineering vision, compliance obligations, risks, and progress clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Collaborate with other architects and delivery leads to ensure alignment of architectural principles across domains and supply chain.
• Support regulatory, quality, and audit requirements related to security compliance and risk management.
• Coordinate Software Engineering architecture activities across internal teams and suppliers, ensuring clear ownership and accountability.
• Balance short-term delivery pressures with long-term architecture strategy and integrity.
• Support relationships with key technology vendors and solution providers
• Contribute to technology evaluations, proofs of concept, and strategic selection of tools and platforms
• Drive innovation in software engineering architecture and promote adoption of emerging technologies aligned with enterprise guardrails.
Qualifications
Essential Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Technology, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Industry certifications (e.g. TOGAF, AWS/Azure Architect, CISSP, ArchiMate).
• Demonstrable interest in IT architecture and software engineering.
Desirable Qualifications
• Microsoft Azure certification.
Skills and Experience
Essential
Application of industry standards (e.g. TOGAF, AWS/Azure Architect, CISSP, ArchiMate).
Experience working with MoD and Defence Prime system integrators and suppliers preferably in aerospace.
Architecting IT software development environments.
Experience working transnationally.
Experienced with SFIA Level 4/5 competencies (e.g. develop models, contribute to strategy, create roadmaps, etc.).
Familiarity with system, data and technical architecture.
Architecture across the full system engineering lifecycle.
Effective communication and management of stakeholders including Product Owners, Delivery Managers, Engineers, IT team and end users to ensure all needs are considered and expectations are managed.
Willingness to learn new technologies and engineering practices.
Desirable
Experience with Microsoft Azure.
Exposure to CI/CD or DevSec Ops practices.
Experience with reporting and analytics tools such as Power BI.
Knowledge of containerisation technologies such as Docker or Kubernetes.
Experience working in Agile delivery environments.
Exposure to data warehousing concepts and technologies.
Chartered Engineer or equivalent professional recognition.
SAFe or similar qualification or demonstrable experience.
Digital engineering concepts such as digital thread and digital twins.