Solution Architect (Azure Cloud)

Overview:

Define, design, and govern the end-to-end technical architecture across cloud and on-premise systems, ensuring scalability, security, maintainability, and alignment with business and enterprise architecture objectives. The role is responsible for establishing Azure-based solution architectures, guiding delivery teams, and ensuring that technology decisions drive long-term value, resilience, and performance across the organisation.

Responsibilities:

Solution Architecture & Design

Design end-to-end solution architectures across applications, data, integrations, and infrastructure within Microsoft Azure environments

Define architectural patterns for cloud-native, hybrid, and distributed systems

Develop high-level and low-level designs (HLD/LLD), ensuring clarity for delivery teams

Ensure solutions are scalable, resilient, secure, and cost-optimised

Azure Cloud Architecture

Define and implement architecture using Azure services, including:

Compute: Azure App Services, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Azure Functions

Data: Azure SQL, Cosmos DB, Data Lake, Synapse Analytics

Integration: Azure API Management, Logic Apps, Service Bus, Event Grid

Security: Azure Active Directory (Entra ID), Key Vault, Managed Identities

Design for high availability, disaster recovery, and business continuity using Azure-native capabilities

Ensure effective use of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Bicep, ARM templates, or Terraform

Integration & System Design

Define integration patterns and system interactions across microservices and enterprise systems

Design APIs and event-driven architectures using REST, messaging, and asynchronous patterns

Ensure interoperability between legacy systems and modern cloud-based platforms

Technical Leadership & Governance

Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance to development and engineering teams

Review and approve solution designs and key technical decisions

Ensure alignment with enterprise architecture standards, governance frameworks, and design principles

Define and enforce architecture governance processes, design reviews, and checkpoints

Technology Evaluation & Innovation

Evaluate new technologies, frameworks, and tools within the Azure ecosystem

Conduct proofs of concept (PoCs) and recommend solutions based on business and technical fit

Drive adoption of cloud best practices, DevSecOps, and modern engineering approaches

Security, Compliance & Risk Management

Ensure compliance with security best practices, regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR), and organisational policies

Embed zero-trust architecture principles and secure design practices

Identify and mitigate technical risks, vulnerabilities, and architectural gaps

Stakeholder Engagement

Engage with business stakeholders, product owners, and leadership teams to understand requirements

Translate business needs into scalable and pragmatic technical architecture solutions

Communicate architecture decisions, trade-offs, and risks clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences

Delivery Support & Collaboration

Collaborate with Agile delivery teams, DevOps engineers, QA teams, and architects

Support programme delivery, roadmap planning, and release strategies

Provide guidance during implementation, integration, and deployment phases

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline

Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert

TOGAF or equivalent architecture certification

Azure DevOps / Security certifications (advantageous)

Essential skills:

Deep expertise in Microsoft Azure cloud platform

Strong knowledge of the Azure Well-Architected Framework, including reliability, security, cost optimisation, operational excellence, and performance efficiency

Strong knowledge of cloud-native architecture patterns and microservices-based design

Strong understanding of distributed systems design

Strong understanding of event-driven architectures

Strong understanding of API-first design principles

Ability to produce architecture diagrams, artefacts, and standards documentation

Strong understanding of Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

Familiarity with Docker containerisation and AKS/Kubernetes orchestration

Knowledge of Azure security services and identity management

Familiarity with DevSecOps practices and security automation

Knowledge of data governance, data pipelines, and real-time processing

Strong leadership and decision-making capability

Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills

Strategic thinking with attention to technical detail

Ability to balance innovation with delivery pragmatism

High level of accountability and ownership

Experience:

Experience with enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF)

Experience implementing CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps and GitHub Actions

Experience implementing secure design principles and compliance frameworks

Experience designing data platforms and integration architectures

Proven delivery of robust, scalable, secure, and future-proof architecture

solutions

Experience delivering highly resilient systems with minimal downtime and strong performance outcomes

Experience providing clear and consistent technical direction across multiple delivery teams

Experience driving adherence to architecture standards, governance, and best practices

Experience improving system performance, cost optimisation, and resource utilisation within Azure environments

Experience reducing technical debt through standardisation and modernisation initiatives

Experience aligning business objectives with technical solutions

Proven track record of delivering programme milestones and transformation objectives

Experience reducing architecture-related risks and security vulnerabilities

Experience ensuring compliance with enterprise, regulatory, and security standard

Benefits:

Collaborative working environment – we stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients and our peers through good times and challenges

We empower all passionate technology loving professionals by allowing them to their skills and take part in inspiring projects

Expleo Academy - enables you to acquire and develop the right skills by delivering a suite of accredited training courses

Competitive company benefits

Always working as one team, our people are not afraid to think big and challenge the status quo

#LI-BM1

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we have committed to:

Ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible

Communicating and promoting vacancies

Offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job

Anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments as required

Supporting any existing employee who acquires a disability or long term health condition, enabling them to stay in work at least one activity that will make a difference for disabled people

“We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age”.

We treat everyone fairly and equitably across the organisation, including providing any additional support and adjustments needed for everyone to thrive