Technical Architect

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