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.
Solution Architect
18 month fixed term contract
Location: Manchester
Salary:£75,800 - £88,300
Working Arrangements; Hybrid – minimum two days a week in the Manchester office
Introduction
AQA is looking for an experienced solution architect to support a major customer portfolio during a period of reform and change. This is a chance to help shape architecture for work that directly supports how AQA manages relationships with schools, colleges and other centres, while contributing to an architecture function that is evolving and maturing.
Purpose of the Role
You’ll join the Enterprise Technology architecture team and work closely with business, portfolio, project and technical colleagues to understand what needs to change, shape practical solution options and guide delivery. A key focus will be the customer data platform and wider customer journey work, including sales, marketing and customer support systems. Your work will help AQA make better use of customer data, improve services for centres and support learners
of all abilities through effective, joined-up technology decisions.
Key Responsibilities
In this role, you'll be responsible for:
- Shaping solution architecture across the customer portfolio, including as-is and to-be analysis, roadmaps, options appraisals and high-level designs.
- Working with business stakeholders, project teams, suppliers and technical teams to turn objectives into clear, deliverable and proportionate technology solutions.
- Supporting architecture governance by helping define patterns, guide low-level designs and make sure solutions align with AQA’s standards, security requirements and wider technology strategy.
What We Are Looking For
You’ll thrive in this role if you’re an established architect who can work with ambiguity, bring structure to complex customer-focused change and build trusted relationships across business and technology teams.
- Experience as a solution, application or enterprise architect, with recent architecture experience in your role title or core responsibilities.
- Strong knowledge of customer, CRM, sales, marketing or customer service systems, ideally with experience of customer data platforms or similar application-led change.
- A good understanding of application and data architecture, with the ability to connect business goals, customer journeys, integration needs and technical delivery.
- Confidence creating architecture artefacts such as vision statements, roadmaps, high-level designs, options papers and design patterns.
- A pragmatic, collaborative style, with the ability to influence stakeholders, work with suppliers and keep delivery moving in a fast-paced environment.
What’s in It for You
This role gives you meaningful, varied work with the space to influence both a key portfolio and the future direction of architecture at AQA.
- You’ll help shape customer journey change linked to reform
- You’ll have the opportunity to influence architecture maturity, working patterns and standards as the function continues to evolve.
- A 35‑hour working week with flexible, hybrid working
- 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30), plus Christmas closure days
- Excellent pension (up to 11.5% employer contribution)
Diversity and Inclusion Statement
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 actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes, and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.
Application Process
To apply, please submit your CV through the AQA careers site. Applications close on Sunday 12 July 2026. Interviews:
- First stage: a short Teams interview
- Final stage: a face-to-face interview in Manchester,
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Recruitment Agencies
We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.
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Full Job Description
Summary
Purpose:
In your role as Solution Architect you will operate within the (Enterprise Technology) Enterprise Architecture team working closely with the Enterprise Architect. You will lead on the delivery of Solutions Architecture services, designing and ensuring delivery of IT solutions that meet business requirements.
You will provide solution architecture consultancy support to colleagues and business stakeholders, providing effective and pragmatic advice, guidance, direction and architectural liaison between technology and business stakeholders shaping and guiding solution delivery in the drive to deliver proportionate and effective solutions that meet desired business outcomes.
You will deliver a solution architecture service and approach that positively influences and evolves the information technology landscape across both Enterprise and Assessment technology areas of the business, providing overarching architectural oversight and compliance assurance.
You will support the delivery of effective architectural strategies within Enterprise Technology that promote proportionate and effective solutions and will engage with key stakeholders across Assessment Technology and (where appropriate) wider group entities to ensure alignment and oversight of approaches.
You will maintain and apply high levels of technology knowledge and architectural expertise in the production of architectural designs and approaches ensuring attainment of business objectives whilst balancing deliverability, architectural principles and alignment to the wider AQA strategy and objectives.
You will establish, lead on and champion coherent corporate wide architecture model(s) and standards where appropriate, taking ownership of, and resolving (or escalating), related issues or concerns you identify.
You will design, implement, guide and support the delivery of technology solutions to address business requirements and liaise between technology / business stakeholders, peers and colleagues both within the team and across the wider business.
You will maintain and apply a high level of technology design knowledge in the production of solution architecture designs and solutions and demonstrate appropriately commensurate levels of knowledge and expertise across other related architectural areas.Landscape:
The Enterprise Technology Division sits within the Corporate Services Division, enabling the centralised delivery of core corporate services. In addition, Enterprise Technology operates in close partnership with Assessment Technology and Programme Management, collectively delivering the full IT service portfolio of current operations to future change programmes.
Enterprise Technology consists of the following functions:
Service Delivery
Enterprise IT Services (Core IT Delivery teams - desktop, systems & infrastructure)
Enterprise Applications
Architecture & Security
Architecture & Security consists of:
Architecture (including Enterprise oversight)
Security & Risk
Security Operations (including Security Operations Centre)
Data Protection & Compliance
The Architecture team compromises of 5 team members delivering into the roles of:
Enterprise Architect
Information Architect
Solution Architect(s)
Due to the nature of the role and function, stakeholder engagement with colleagues / teams within other AQA UK locations may be required.
Key relationships
Key internal (AQA Education and AQA Milton Keynes) relationships
Enterprise Technology functions
AQA Assessment Technology architecture and development teams
AQA Education business functions
Key external relationships
Third party technology providers
Relevant third-party providers
Other teams within the AQA Group (e.g. AlphaPlus and Doublestruck)
Activities:
To maintain the required knowledge and expertise in the following architectural areas and take the lead in the area of Solution Architecture, supporting colleagues in delivery across the areas of Solution and Domain Architecture in the fulfilment of business requirements and delivery of Enterprise Technology priorities.Business Architecture
Information/Data Architecture
Application Architecture
Technology Architecture
Develop, take ownership of, and maintain policies, procedures, guidance and standards that make up the IT Strategy & Enterprise Architecture management system, evolving them in line with business drivers and goals to establish robust yet flexible and adaptive controls.
Support the Enterprise Architect in refreshing and implementing the AQA technology strategy, leading on specific areas as required.
Active participation, contribution, control, and management of architectural community, forums, and design authorities.
Directly contribute to the definition and verification of adherence to technical standards covering areas such as Application, Infrastructure and Integration architectures, Security and Access Control, Resilience and Reliability, Processing, Storage and Network architectures etc.
Take ownership, work with, and support business stakeholders and Enterprise Technology colleagues in the design and delivery of appropriately scoped architectural solutions ensuring that what is proposed satisfies business requirements and quality, cost and time criteria and is in line with current architectural standards ensuring buy-in to the proposed solution propositions.
Undertake purposeful 'horizon scanning' ensuring that AQA is positioned well to be able to benefit from emerging technologies, architectures and standards. Research and explore opportunities for solutions to meet AQA’s business objectives and develop clear cost benefit analysis for the adoption of particular approaches.
As part of the evolution of the IT strategy, establish and regularly review clear technology roadmaps and associated systems life cycles ensuring that AQA is able to identify technology opportunities and manage technology and architecture related risks effectively.
Review all systems solutions implemented across Enterprise and Assessment Technology areas of the business to ensure compliance with the IT strategy and related Enterprise Architectural policies, quantifying and proposing mitigations to any risks identified through effective operation of a ‘design control’ governance function.
Ensure architecture and standards maintained by the architecture team are fully compliant with all statutory and regulatory legislation.
Develop and maintain architectural artifacts of all systems, their interdependencies, technical profiles and their position in the estate.
Develop and maintain high levels of technical expertise across all relevant areas to support good architectural design. Ensure aspects such as compatibility with current and future business strategy, integration with existing systems, support of business processes including usability and performance and ease of maintenance are key areas of focus in any designs.
Guide and support Enterprise Technology team members through relevant transformational activities, ensuring that team members remain motivated and engaged.
Collaborate with programme and project management functions in order to establish product roadmaps, delivery plans, identify and advise on architectural cross project / portfolio dependencies including recommendations to address such items.
Drive professional development and actively facilitate cross skilling.
Ensure full compliance with all AQA policies and other legislative requirements, including but not limited to HSE / Equal Opportunities / Information & Cyber Security / Data Protection related legislation and policies.
Where business needs dictate to undertake other responsibilities which are of a commensurate level and may be outside the terms of this role profile.
To be successful in this role, you will need to know:
Proven solution architect with a strong track record of related IT expertise and delivery across a number of practices within the IT industry.
Expert working knowledge and understanding of Enterprise applications frameworks, Service Oriented Architecture, Enterprise architecture, Information modelling and design frameworks, Physical Infrastructure and deployment models, Architecture and design frameworks such as TOGAF, ZACHMAN etc
Expert knowledge and understanding of Mainstream computing platforms and architectures, Operating systems, Databases, End user computing platforms, Networks and communications, Cloud computing delivery platforms (IaaS, PaaS & SaaS), Virtualisation, Integration services, architecture design standards, development methodologies.
Extensive experience of enterprise class organisations with cloud / mixed IT footprints and related modernisation of corporate architecture and application of appropriate governance
Expert knowledge and understanding of implementing technical changes in existing legacy IT estates
Possess a broad understanding of and experience in working within programme and project management methodologies and governance
Experience of operating with and within hybrid support functions - internal and external / 3rd party organisations
Responsive to short-term challenges / priorities whilst holding to clear strategy and direction
Direct experience of working and communicating effectively with peers, sponsors and business stakeholders at all levels both organisationally and across large scale programmes / IT developments
Organises, plans and designs effectively whilst retaining focus on the bigger picture
Ability to frame solution architecture trends and opportunities within AQA’s strategic objectives
Proven expertise in identifying and improving high level processes and ways of working
Aptitude for sharing and embedding best practice
Skills to build rapport and influence across a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders
Conversant with and able to navigate major corporate structures including regulatory environment, financial management and budgeting, programme / project delivery and information security and risk management practices
Excellent delivery credentials, with a flexible, pragmatic “can do” attitude and a resilient ability to deliver rapid and effective solutions within a dynamic environment
