Technical Architect

Description:

MERITUS are recruiting for an SC Cleared Technical Architect / Solution Architect to join our client delivering secure, large-scale technology programmes within the Defence and Central Government sector.
TECHNICAL ARCHITECT - 12 MONTH CONTRACT - UP TO £800 PER DAY - INSIDE IR35 - READING (2 DAYS ON-SITE) - SECTOR: DEFENCE / GOVERNMENT

As a Technical Architect, you will lead the design and assurance of complex, secure systems across major government programmes. You will ensure architectural integrity across the full delivery lifecycle, working closely with engineering, delivery, and security teams to design scalable, compliant, cloud-based solutions.

Lead technical design of large-scale, complex systems
Define and govern solution architecture and technical designs
Ensure alignment with security, performance, scalability, and compliance standards
Work closely with engineering, delivery, and business stakeholders
Provide technical governance, assurance, and risk evaluation
Design cloud-based solutions using Azure and/or AWS
Produce architectural documentation, models, and prototypes
Ensure compliance with OWASP, NCSC, and GDPR standards
Contribute to architecture governance, standards, and best practices
Support stakeholder engagement, bids, and technical assurance activities
Mentor junior engineers and architects

Skills / Experience Required:

Proven experience as a Technical Architect / Solution Architect in Defence, Government, or secure environments
Active SC Clearance (essential)
Strong experience delivering complex, enterprise-scale systems
Knowledge of secure development lifecycles (SSDLC)
Experience with OWASP, NCSC Cloud Principles, GDPR
Strong cloud experience (Azure and/or AWS)
Background in microservices, APIs, and integration patterns
Experience with DevOps and CI/CD pipelines
Strong knowledge of IAM technologies (OAuth, SAML, OpenID Connect, AD, LDAP)
Experience with Java or .NET development environments
Strong stakeholder management and communication skills

Desirable Skills:

Defence / MOD / Army programme experience
TOGAF or enterprise architecture frameworks
Data architecture or real-time integration experience (APIs, streaming, IoT)
AI or emerging technology delivery
Cloud certifications (Azure / AWS)
SFIA-aligned environments

This is an excellent opportunity to join a high-profile programme delivering critical technology solutions across the Defence sector, with the opportunity to work on large-scale transformation initiatives in a highly secure environment