Overview

This Senior Solution Architect (Microsoft) will report to the Architecture Manager and work within the Information Systems team based in our London office. You will be a permanent employee. UK Power Networks is constantly improving its IT systems to effect business change, deliver efficient processes and system modernisation. You will increase effectiveness in our existing operations, deliver superior customer service and user experience, and provide a solid and agile platform fuelling our innovation and digitalisation goals.

We’re looking for a Senior Solution Architect to improve our core Azure, M365 applications and Power Platform estate. You will help define and communicate the current and target state architectures across the enterprise and modernise capabilities such as Microsoft Fabric and Power Platform in favour of traditional 3‑tier applications. Your role will be to develop and manage platform architecture lifecycle, drive reference models, reference architectures, technical design, design patterns, reusable frameworks and best practices with the goal of providing best‑in‑class systems. You will ensure the AS‑IS business capabilities are documented and the Microsoft reference architectures and design patterns are maintained within UKPN’s Enterprise Architecture Tool.

You will help decide, shape and advise on the best use of technology across multiple customer journeys and departments, leading the design of solutions that maximise alignment with the primary product set with minimal customisation.

Dimensions

• Direct reports: none.
• Budget: none directly, influencing £5m in solutions and projects.
• Portfolio: IT Technology.

Principal Accountabilities

• Influence technology strategy by collaborating with business teams and leadership to understand needs and ensure agreement on technical solutions.
• Engage with business counterparts in aligned directorates to become a trusted advisor and solution partner.
• Provide recommendations to maximise the value of technology assets via implementation, access and utilisation.
• Overall responsibility for the design and assurance of activities across Microsoft Azure, M365, Power Platform and working across the organisation:
  • Lead the technical design authority to resolve design problems and ensure delivery follows architecture principles.
  • Ensure approval of technical design with the UKPN Architecture Review Board.
  • Be an advocate of standardisation and minimal customisation of the chosen solutions.
  • Institutionalise a robust design assurance process with suppliers to ensure delivery aligns with system requirements and IT standards.
  • Ensure all business capability models and design patterns are delivered via existing Enterprise Architecture tools for effective collaboration and information dissemination.
  • Support the department in areas including data migration, environments (dev/QA/Prod), interface design, legacy retirement, data archiving, code and documentation standards.
  • Work with business and IT partners building credibility as a trusted advisor.
• Lead complex and technically challenging architectural transformations, coordinating technical SMEs across multiple vendors and internal technology teams.
• Lead design and implementation of enterprise solutions and roadmaps for different technology domains.
• Produce roadmaps that allow frequent and incremental delivery of value to the technology landscape.
• Perform architecture assessments of the existing technology landscape to identify gaps and provide remediation recommendations.
• Ensure proposed solutions comply with UKPN architecture principles and cyber‑security standards.
• Recommend technology solutions that align with UKPN’s strategic goals and roadmap.
• Maintain technical documentation, including architecture diagrams and specifications.
• Collaborate with partners, scrum masters, project managers and product owners to define technical solution designs.
• Translate roadmaps into packages of work that allow frequent incremental delivery of value to be included in change programmes/projects.
• Track, analyse and monitor technology performance metrics of technology solutions and products.
• Seek and use feedback while supporting adaptive design and agile engineering practices to guide program and team cooperation towards a shared technical vision.
• Coach junior team members across technical, strategy and delivery.

Nature & Scope

We are looking for a first‑hand approach to provide direction and guidance, ensuring that architecture strategy and projects align with the organisation’s goals, and architecture and security principles and standards. Additionally, you will help communicate the technology strategy to senior leaders and the broader business. You will lead the specification and design of next‑generation solutions, contributing to the technology landscape and business capabilities to support the successful development of the Enterprise Architecture strategy.

You will play an important role in a diverse team, collaborating with cloud architects, infrastructure and network architects, security architects, data science specialists, solution developers and business stakeholders including business leads and engineers. The primary goal of this role is to deliver an optimal solution architecture by implementing strategies and projects to ensure UK Power Networks remains the leading UK DNO.

Knowledge, Experience & Qualifications

• Knowledge of the cloud, digital front‑end, back‑end applications and middleware.
• Knowledge of cyber‑security architecture, networking, access and identity management.
• Expertise in complex systems integration, data architecture and analytics.
• Expertise in API standards and protocols for building and integrating complex systems.
• Explain complex technical concepts to colleagues up to senior leadership level.
• Excellent collaboration and partner management skills.
• Experience developing architectures, designs and proposals for action.
• Experience working with business solution vendors, technology vendors and products within the market.
• Understanding of industry architecture frameworks, such as TOGAF or ArchiMate.
• Experience as a Senior Solution Architect or similar role in a complex IT environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems or a STEM field (or equivalent project‑related experience).
• Experience with Microsoft Azure, M365, Dynamics and Power Platform.
• Knowledge of Azure cloud platform components and offerings.
• Experience with large‑scale transformation projects.
• Understand and sensitivity to a complex company partner environment.
• Experience integrating on‑premises applications with cloud SaaS products.
• Experience with Agile and working in an Agile team.
• Expertise in API standards and protocols for building and integrating complex systems.
• Knowledge of digital front‑end, back‑end applications and middleware.
• Knowledge of cyber‑security architecture, system integration, access and identity management.
• Experience of developing, syndicating and communicating architectures, designs and proposals for action.
• Experience capturing business capabilities, reference architectures in an Enterprise Architecture tool/repository.
• In‑depth experience designing and implementing solutions utilising Microsoft Azure platform and components.
• Experience as a Senior Architect or similar role in a large IT environment.
• Experience applying Enterprise Architecture frameworks such as TOGAF or ArchiMate.
• Experience leading the review of technical designs to approve their implementation.
• Experience providing oversight and advice to other architects or vendors undertaking the design of new or redesign of existing systems.
• Business acumen, and ability to communicate to executives, business domain stakeholders and technical staff alike.
• Experience in the utilities and electricity distribution industry would be beneficial.
• Ability to assess changing technologies and apply them to our needs.
• Understanding of Agile methodologies with experience working in an Agile team.

Key Behaviours & Competencies

• Experience of communicating between technical and non‑technical staff and suppliers.
• Ability to turn business problems into a solution design.
• Ability to seek out opportunities to create effective change and to help people make informed decisions.
• Exceptional communication skills to convey complex information with enthusiasm to a wide audience.
• Ability to influence and persuade peers and leadership.
• Ability to understand the long‑term and short‑term perspectives of situations.
• Ability to quickly comprehend the functions and capabilities of innovative technologies.

Health & Safety Responsibilities

Managers and supervisors carry both legal and company responsibilities for ensuring the health and safety of their employees, those under their control and those who might be affected by the work undertaken, i.e. public, visitors and employees of other organisations. This includes briefing individuals working for them and ensuring there is the necessary understanding, competence and application of requirements to work safely and without harming the environment.

Compensation & Benefits

You will attract a salary of £90,000 and a bonus of 7.5%. This role can also offer blended working after the probationary period (6 months) – 3 days in the office and 2 days remote.

Close Date: 17/04/2026

Additional benefits:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Reservist leave – additional 18 days full pay and 22 days unpaid.
• Personal pension plan – personal contribution rates of 4% or 5% (UK Power Networks will make a corresponding contribution of 8% or 10%).
• Tenancy loan deposit scheme, season ticket loan.
• Tax‑efficient benefits: cycle to work, home & tech, and green car leasing schemes.
• Occupational health support.
• Switched On – scheme providing discount on hundreds of retailers' products.
• Discounted gym membership.
• Employee assistance programme.