Lead Solution Architect

At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education and we’re committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it’s our people who make this happen.

Lead Solution Architect

Permanent

Manchester: £73,600 - £85,700

Milton Keynes: £76,600 - £89,200

Hybrid – 2x days a week in the office

Introduction

You’ll join AQA at an exciting point in our transformation journey, where technology is central to how we improve the assessment experience for learners, teachers, and internal users. As Lead Solution Architect, you'll shape the solutions that underpin our digital products and services, working across a diverse and evolving technology landscape. You’ll help us modernise how assessments are designed, delivered, and supported, while enabling teams to innovate with clarity and confidence. You’ll play a key role in building a strong architectural capability—creating ways of working, championing best practice, and guiding the organisation to make decisions that balance ambition, practicality, and long‑term value.

Purpose of the role

You’ll lead the Solution Architecture function within Assessment Technology, defining and evolving the standards, principles and frameworks that guide how solutions are created across the organisation. You’ll support wider architectural alignment by working closely with the Enterprise Architect, Lead Data Architect and Lead Cloud Architect, ensuring decisions reflect AQA’s strategic direction. You’ll enable product, engineering, and business teams to shape solution options effectively—simplifying complexity, aligning technology choices to outcomes, and building shared understanding across senior stakeholders.

Key responsibilities

In this role, you'll be responsible for:

• Defining and maintaining solution architecture standards, principles, and frameworks.

• Leading and managing a team of Solution Architects, supporting their development and embedding best practice.

• Collaborating across product, technology, and business domains to evaluate solution options and shape clear recommendations.

• Providing architectural oversight and governance across initiatives, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture, data strategy, and security policies.

What we are looking for

You’ll thrive in this role if you:

• Bring solution architecture experience across complex or multi‑domain environments.

• Are confident engaging with senior stakeholders and translating architectural thinking for non‑technical audiences.

• Have a strong technical background and understanding of modern architectural practices, especially cloud-native approaches

• Are collaborative, inquisitive, and comfortable challenging thinking constructively.

• Can lead, mentor, and inspire a team—even if you’ve not had formal line management responsibilities before.

What’s in it for you

You’ll have the chance to:

• Shape the future of solution architecture at AQA and influence enterprise‑wide decision‑making.

•25 days’ annual leave, rising to 30 with service, plus bank holidays and extra closure days at Christmas

•a 35-hour working week with flexible working arrangements

•an excellent contributory pension scheme (6%–11.5% depending on your contribution)

•life assurance, BUPA PMI, and health cash plan

At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone—regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background—is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

Application process

To apply, submit your CV and complete the application form. Closing date for applications will be Thursday 9th April. The advert may close early, so please apply as soon as possible. Interviews will be a two stage process and will include an initial MS Teams call and followed by an in person interview at either our Manchester or Milton Keynes office.

Recruitment Agencies

We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.

Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.

Full Job Description

Summary

Purpose:
To lead the Solution Architecture function within Assessment Technology, establishing and evolving architectural standards, principles, and practices. The Lead Solution Architect will manage a team of Solution Architects, guiding them to design and deliver scalable and effective solutions to complex business challenges. This role requires a solid technical foundation, strong leadership, and the ability to apply structured thinking to recommend solution approaches that align with strategic goals.Landscape:
The Architecture and Innovation Department supports the Executive Director of Assessment Technology in shaping the future of assessment delivery. The Lead Solution Architect plays a critical role in defining architectural direction, collaborating across teams to ensure solutions are fit-for-purpose, and enabling transformation through well-articulated architectural approaches
Activities:
Define and maintain the standards, principles, and frameworks for the Solution Architecture function.
Lead and manage a team of Solution Architects, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Work across the technology and product landscape to identify and evaluate solution options for business problems.
Apply critical thinking and structured analysis to articulate recommended solution approaches to stakeholders.
Ensure architectural alignment with enterprise architecture, data strategy, and security policies.
Work closely with Product Team and Technical Architecture to capture proposed solutions ensuring effective handover of solution into detailed design and delivery
Provide architectural oversight and governance across projects and initiatives.
Represent Solution Architecture in strategic forums and contribute to enterprise-wide planning.
Mentor team members and support their professional development.
Promote reuse, adherence to patterns, principles and alignment with strategy where appropriate.
Drive innovation in architectural practices and emerging technologies.
Engage proactively with stakeholders across business and technology domains to understand needs, communicate architectural vision, and influence decision-making.
Facilitate workshops, presentations, and discussions to align stakeholders on solution direction and trade-offs.
Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, translating architectural concepts into business-relevant insights.
To be successful in this role, you will need to:
Have a strong technical background and understanding of modern architectural practices, especially cloud-native approaches.
Be comfortable guiding architectural decisions without needing deep technical specialism in every domain.
Communicate complex ideas clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
Lead with a strategic mindset and align architecture with business outcomes.
Be proactive, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
Exhibit strong leadership and team-building capabilities.
Be inquisitive and open to exploring new technologies and methodologies.
Have a strong sense of ownership and accountability
Qualifications
Computing degree or equivalent level of business computing experience and/or Professional accreditation (BCS etc.)
Experience in managing, understanding and articulating logical and domain level data models.
Skills
Strategic and analytical thinking.
Good understanding of cloud-native architectures and integration patterns.
Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
Ability to lead and inspire technical teams.
Commercial awareness and ability to balance technical and business priorities.
Experience
Experience in solution architecture across complex, multi-domain environments.
Proven track record of delivering architectural frameworks and guiding solution delivery.
Experience in leading architecture teams and influencing senior stakeholders.
Familiarity with agile delivery models and product-based architectures.