Solutions Architect

Salary: £76,000 - 94,000 per year

Requirements:

• We require proven experience in a similar role, with high awareness of relevant developments around associated technologies and frameworks.
• We require highly experienced capability in proposing and evaluating technical and commercial approaches to delivering prime contract capability and systems to defence customers.
• We require experience developing sensor and effector systems, including C2/GUI aspects.
• We require a good understanding of open and common standards/frameworks relevant to the solution space, such as SAPIENT, Land Data Model and GVA.
• We require the ability to develop white papers to shape and steer thinking within the stakeholder community.
• We require the ability to lead cost/benefit analysis to inform make/buy decisions for system solutions.
• We require experience working within the defence industry.
• We require experience working with customers/end-users at a senior commercial and technical level.
• We require experience estimating costs and technical risk for each solution approach.
• We require experience of the full life cycle for product and system development, from concept through to disposal.
• We require familiarity with open systems architectures/frameworks such as SAPIENT and LDM.
• We require experience of formal user requirements capture, traceability and compliance management methodology and tools.
• Experience using tools such as DOORS, Cameo and The MathWorks is desirable.
• We are keen to hear from candidates even if they do not have experience in all of the above.
• Successful candidates must be UK nationals.
• This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Governments Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS).
• Additional National Security Vetting controls may apply, including eligibility for Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV).

Responsibilities:

• We are responsible for SI Enterprise Architecture design.
• We identify technical solutions and architectures.
• We provide technical leadership in bids and external studies.
• We scope and participate in PV, and support Capability Management for product portfolios.
• We maintain high awareness of developments around C-UAS, associated technologies and frameworks.
• We propose and evaluate alternative technical and commercial approaches to delivering prime contract capability and systems to the customer.
• We maximise the value of our workshare.
• We generate white papers to shape thinking within the stakeholder community.
• We develop solution architectures for optimum cost effectiveness and URD compliance.
• We develop a combination of systems and software solutions.
• We work with Systems Architects and Systems Engineering to develop candidate system architectures and derive requirements at all system levels.
• We support the Bid Team with cost estimation of solutions.
• We perform cost benefit analysis of system component development versus COTS procurement.
• We contribute to the development of Enterprise Architectures for major campaigns and programmes.

Technologies:

• Support
• Security
• Architect

More:

We are Leonardo, a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security, with over 53,000 employees worldwide and 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. This is an exciting opportunity to join our Mission Systems C-UAS Team and help shape strategic direction within the Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems domain. The role is based at our dedicated site in Basildon with hybrid working, and we may consider our main sites in the South provided there is frequent travel to Basildon. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports wellbeing, career development, and work-life balance, including generous leave with up to 12 additional flexi-days, an award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution, free mental health support, financial advice, inclusion and diversity networks, a bonus scheme, access to more than 4,000 online courses, referral rewards, flexible benefits worth up to 500 annually, and flexible hybrid working. We are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace where our people help shape innovation, advance technology, and enhance global safety.

last updated 37 week of 2026