Job Description:

Enterprise Architect (Digital Engineering / Software Engineering)

Location: Reading, Berkshire
Rate: Up to £91.75/hour
Security clearance: Active SC is mandatory 

Overview

We’re recruiting for an Enterprise Architect to support digital engineering and software engineering activities across sensitive Ministry of Defence and aerospace programmes. This contract role will focus on integrating a Software Factory solution within a wider Digital Engineering environment—enabling secure, compliant delivery across the full lifecycle, including Digital Thread and Digital Twin outcomes.

What you’ll be doing

• Own and maintain high-level and low-level designs (HLD/LLD)
• Provide technical architecture leadership across people, process, and technology (Software Engineering)
• Integrate Software Factory capabilities into the broader Digital Engineering environment
• Support architecture governance, security, compliance and Secure by Design principles
• Translate enterprise policies/risk requirements into solution design standards, governance models, and compliance frameworks
• Lead/author RFIs and RFQs and support supplier engagement
• Drive reuse, best practice, innovation and continuous improvement across value streams
• Communicate architectural vision, progress, risks and obligations to technical and non-technical stakeholders

What we’re looking for (essential)

• Active SC clearance (DV desirable)
• Strong background in Enterprise / Business Architecture (typically 5+ years)
• Defence / aerospace delivery experience (MOD, Defence Digital, primes, or regulated environments)
• Architecture framework exposure such as TOGAF / ArchiMate (and/or equivalent)
• Experience architecting software development environments across the system engineering lifecycle
• Strong stakeholder management with Product Owners, Delivery Managers, Engineers, IT teams, end users, and suppliers
• Degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Computer Science / Engineering / IT / Maths)

Desirable experience

• Microsoft Azure (experience and/or certification)
• DevSecOps / CI/CD exposure
• Containerisation (e.g., Docker / Kubernetes)
• Agile delivery / SAFe
• Analytics tooling (e.g., Power BI), data warehousing concepts
• Security certs (e.g., CISSP) and/or professional recognition (e.g., Chartered Engineer)