Technical Solution Architect (Networks)

Technical Solution Architect (Networks)
Location: Wokingham – 5 days onsite with travel at short notice
Start Date: ASAP
Contract Rate: £540 per day inside IR35
Working Pattern: Potential on-call/weekend support as required
Duration: 6 to 12 months initially
Clearance: Must be SC Cleared
Role Overview
Our client is seeking a highly skilled Technical Solution Architect (Networks) to design, implement, and deliver secure, scalable, and high-performing network solutions across enterprise environments. This role requires close collaboration with stakeholders, delivery teams, and third-party vendors to translate business requirements into robust technical architectures while ensuring compliance with best practices and security standards.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead technical analysis at project feasibility stage, contributing to business cases and technical documentation
* Design and produce high-level and low-level network architectures covering infrastructure, integration, data, and security requirements
* Troubleshoot complex network environments and recommend improvements and optimisations
* Develop and contribute to IT roadmaps, standards, patterns, and reference architectures
* Ensure solutions align with security policies, compliance requirements, and industry best practices
* Represent architecture designs to governance bodies and stakeholders, addressing risks, assumptions, and constraints
* Support pre-sales activities including solution design and estimation
* Lead technical workshops with internal teams, stakeholders, and external vendors
* Work with third-party suppliers to ensure alignment with architectural standards
* Oversee network modelling, planning, installations, and upgrades
* Provide leadership and guidance to technical teams and collaborate with offshore delivery teams
Skills & Experience
* 10+ years’ experience in network architecture and solution design
* Strong expertise in Cisco networking (Routing & Switching, LAN/WAN, MPLS, BGP, OSPF, QoS, Traffic Engineering)
* Proven experience designing and configuring MPLS and MPLS VPNs (L2/L3)
* Strong troubleshooting skills across Cisco environments
* Knowledge of Firewall technologies (particularly Fortinet)
* Experience with network monitoring and logging tools (Wireshark, SolarWinds, or equivalent)
* Deep understanding of IPSEC, GRE, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS protocols
* Ability to produce HLD and LLD documentation and create architecture diagrams (Visio required)
* Strong understanding of cybersecurity principles and secure network design
* Experience delivering network refresh and upgrade projects in live environments
* Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to explain technical concepts in clear business terms
* Experience working in Agile and/or Waterfall environments
* Proven ability to lead teams, manage competing priorities, and deliver under tight deadlines
* Excellent collaboration skills across cross-functional and distributed teams
If you have the relevant skills and experience, please do apply promptly to be considered