Senior Solution Architect

Every minute of every day, Smiths Detection’s threat detection and security screening technology helps to protect people and infrastructure, making the world a safer place. 

Smiths Detection, a global leader in the development, manufacture and management of security and detection solutions designed to make the world a safer place. Our technology provides threat detection and screening solutions for customers in our key markets: aviation, ports and borders, defence, and urban security.

Our expertise spans 21 global offices, seven manufacturing sites and five R&D centres, with a global network of 3,000 dedicated colleagues contributing towards over 40 years at the frontline of advances in safety and security.  

This results in careers built on variety and the opportunity to work on a range of state-of-the-art solutions, where you can develop your knowledge and experience every day.

We are looking for a Senior Solution Architect who can combine strategic architectural leadership with deep, hands-on technical capability.

If you’ve worked in manufacturing or industrial engineering environments, understand how technology interacts with real-world equipment and operations, and enjoy diving into complex technical challenges, this is the opportunity to shape the architecture of a global enterprise.

About the Role

This is a senior, high visibility role that owns the architecture for some of our most critical platforms and programmes. You will drive design decisions, align technology with business goals, and ensure our systems are secure, scalable, resilient, and future proof.

Unlike traditional “slideware” architecture roles, this position requires 40–60% hands on work. You’ll produce architectural artefacts, work closely with engineers, and solve complex technical problems involving cloud, on-prem, data, security, and integration layers.

Your manufacturing background will help you understand:

• Operational technology constraints
• System interoperability challenges
• Equipment data flows, sensors, controls, and automation
• High availability and high reliability environments
• Real world dependencies between hardware, software, and field operations

This context is critical as we modernise legacy systems, shift to cloud services, and architect new digital capabilities for our global footprint.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture Leadership

• Own end‑to‑end solution architecture for major programmes, from initial discovery through delivery and transition to support.
• Develop high quality artefacts including HLDs, LLDs, NFRs, integration designs, data models, reference architectures, and ADRs.
• Govern architectural decisions across multi-disciplinary teams and ensure alignment with enterprise standards.

Hands-on Technical Ownership (40–60%)

• Produce detailed design materials and guide engineers through implementation.
• Review code level or configuration level technical detail where required.
• Troubleshoot complex integration or performance challenges in collaboration with engineering teams.

Cloud, Integration & Data Architecture

• Architect solutions across Azure, M365, API Management, iPaaS, event-driven and message-based integrations.
• Define patterns for system interoperability, especially where digital platforms interface with manufacturing or hardware systems.
• Ensure robust data lineage, classification, governance, and security controls.

Security-by-Design

• Embed secure design principles across IAM, authentication, encryption, segmentation, threat modelling, and auditability.
• Partner with Cyber Security teams to drive risk-reduced, compliant architectures.

Operational Readiness & Service Design

• Design for resilience, observability, recovery, monitoring, and long-term maintainability.
• Ensure solutions are supportable in a 24/7 operational environment with global users.

Vendor & Partner Governance

• Challenge supplier designs, ensuring cost-effectiveness, technical integrity, and alignment with our architectural patterns.
• Evaluate third‑party solutions and contribute to commercial/technical assessments.

Cross-Functional Influence

• Work with Engineering, Product, PMO, Cyber, and business leaders to balance strategy, delivery, and risk.
• Communicate complex technical concepts in clear, outcome-focused language.

Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Essential
  • Extensive experience as a Solution Architect in large-scale, complex enterprise or hybrid cloud environments.
  • Strong experience architecting solutions on Microsoft platforms (Google, Azure, M365, Power Platform) and associated integration tooling (API Management, iPaaS, event-driven architectures).
  • Proven ability to create high-quality design artefacts (HLD, LLD, NFRs, data and integration diagrams, ADRs).
  • Deep understanding of enterprise security controls IAM, zero trust, encryption, data protection, logging, segmentation.
  • Strong background working with global SI partners, SaaS providers, and multi-vendor delivery landscapes.
  • Experience in separation/carve-out programmes and transitional state architecture planning.
  • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Desirable
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
  • Cloud and architecture certifications (Azure/AWS, TOGAF, SABSA).
  • Familiarity with DevOps, IaC, CI/CD, container platforms, and cloud-native patterns.

We offer…

Join us and we’ll help build your career, with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business, both locally and globally. You’ll experience an inclusive environment, with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. You’ll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle, offering you and your family support from a health and wellbeing, financial and lifestyle perspective.

Join us and work for a world-leader, with the benefits and training to reward your dedication and skills. Be part of a team where we are making the world a safer place.

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)