Solutions Architect - #1717096

Role: Solutions Architect

Location: Leeds (Hybrid)

Salary: £65,000

Lead Cloud & Architecture Transformation for a Financial Services Organisation

Are you a technically hands-on Solutions Architect with experience in modernising Legacy systems and a passion for cloud-native design?

We're supporting a Financial Services company on a multi-year transformation programme as they evolve their platform architecture and modernise a key business-critical solution used across the Financial and Professional Services sector.

This is a fantastic opportunity to shape the future of solution architecture within a business that has a real appetite for change. You'll help bring structure, governance, and modern cloud thinking into an organisation that's transitioning from traditional development practices to a modern, scalable technology ecosystem.

What You'll Be Working On

You'll be Embedded primarily in a platform team that delivers services to major financial institutions (think large UK banks and other FS clients) helping them streamline critical digital transactions.

Specific responsibilities include:

• 
  Cloud Modernisation: Lead the architecture design of a Legacy .NET-based platform, moving it to Microsoft Azure, building cloud-native capabilities along the way.


• 
  Architecture Governance: Help design and implement governance frameworks, design authorities, and target-state architectures across the wider group.


• 
  Legacy System Uplift: Introduce new functionality to existing systems while ensuring scalability, compliance, and long-term maintainability.


• 
  Data Architecture & Compliance: Work on establishing data flow mapping, data classification, and compliance with industry regulations (eg, ISO27001).


• 
  Security by Design: Collaborate with security teams to ensure secure architectures, incorporating NFRs and supporting remediation from pen test results.


• 
  Collaborative Delivery: Act as a technical bridge across development teams, infrastructure, security, and senior business stakeholders, internally and externally.

What You'll Bring

We're looking for someone who can both zoom in to solve technical challenges and zoom out to shape strategic architectural direction. Ideal experience includes:

• 
  Cloud Experience: Hands-on experience designing or migrating solutions to Microsoft Azure. Familiarity with cloud-native architecture patterns and principles.


• 
  Technical Breadth: Strong understanding of the Microsoft stack (.NET, C#, SQL Server) and how to evolve monolithic applications into scalable services.


• 
  Architecture Methodologies: Experience with structured design approaches, such as ArchiMate, UML, or similar modelling techniques.


• 
  Governance & Risk: Exposure to regulated environments (eg, financial services, insurance, legal tech) and architectural risk management.


• 
  Infrastructure & DevOps: Understanding of on-prem infrastructure, cloud adoption patterns, and Infrastructure-as-Code approaches.


• 
  Strong Communication: Confident working with both highly technical teams and non-technical business users. Able to present at TDA/design forums and guide decision-making.

Why Apply?

• 
  Shape a Cloud-First Future: Be at the heart of a strategic transformation from on-prem to fully cloud-native solutions.


• 
  Make an Impact: You'll have the mandate to influence architecture group-wide.


• 
  Real Variety: Start by focusing on a high-value platform, then expand your influence across other business units and services.


• 
  Collaborative Culture: Join a tight-knit IT team where your voice will be heard and your work truly matters.

This role is perfect for someone who thrives on bringing structure to ambiguity, enjoys working with Legacy and modern tech, and wants to drive forward meaningful change in a supportive, delivery-focused environment.