Principal Solution Architect

Smiths Group designs, manufactures and delivers smarter engineering solutions for mission-critical applications, solving some of the world's toughest problems for our customers, our communities and our world. For over 170 years, Smiths Group has been pioneering progress by improving the world through smarter engineering.

We serve millions of people every year, to help create a safer, more efficient and better-connected world, across four major global markets: Energy, General Industry, Security & Defence, and Aerospace. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs 14,600 colleagues in over 50+ countries.

This pioneering spirit continues to drive us today, underpinned by our powerful culture. Improving our world is what we do, how we think, and how we will continue to use our passion for technology and engineering to tackle our customers biggest challenges today and in the future. We're looking for people with curious minds. Who want responsibility and relish a challenge. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting out, our global scale and focus on growth means we have some great career opportunities for you. There's never been a better time to join Smiths.

Visit us at - www.smiths.com

Job Purpose:

This is a high visibility role that owns the architecture for some of our most critical platforms and programmes. You will evaluate business demands, lead workshops, drive design decisions, align outcomes business goals and strategic objectives, and ensure our systems are secure, scalable, resilient, and future proof.

Duties:

• Evaluate business demand submissions within their business process context for feasibility, architectural alignment, and strategic value.
• Govern architectural decisions across multi-disciplinary teams and ensure alignment with enterprise standards Guide implementation by collaborating with IT delivery teams to ensure solution integrity and practical feasibility.
• Own end‑to‑end solution architecture for major programmes, from initial discovery through delivery and transition to support.
• produce architectural artefacts including HLDs, LLDs, NFRs, integration designs, data models, reference architectures, and ADRs
• produce, high-quality documentation including requirement summaries, solution proposals, and impact assessments.
• Work closely with vendors and partners, Challenge supplier designs, ensuring cost-effectiveness, technical integrity, and alignment with our architectural patterns.  Evaluate third‑party solutions and contribute to commercial/technical assessments.
• Maintain compliance with architectural governance, security, and industry regulations.
• Monitor and maintain knowledge on emerging tech trends, including low-code strategies, to advise on continuous process improvement and modernisation.

Essential:

• Extensive experience as a Solution Architect in large-scale, complex enterprise or hybrid cloud environments
• Deep understanding of business applications across both SaaS and on-premises environments.
• Strong experience architecting 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.
• Background in with DevOps, IaC, CI/CD, container platforms, and cloud-native patterns
• Strong background working with global SI partners, SaaS providers, and multi-vendor delivery landscapes.
• Familiarity with architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF, BCS Enterprise Architecture) and governance processes.
• Experience operating within large, complex IT environments with diverse application portfolios.
• Skilled at translating business needs into robust technical requirements and solution architecture.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Desirable:

• Experience with ERP’s, Engineering & Manufacturing Applications, BMC Helix, and similar enterprise systems
• Experience with Microsoft Azure architecture and design principles
• Familiarity with integration patterns and middleware technologies (e.g., SAP Integration Suite, Sales Force Mulesoft)
• Background in solution support/DevOps
• Experience in manufacturing or engineering sectors is a plus

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• Cloud and architecture certifications (Azure/AWS, TOGAF, SABSA).
• Business Analysis certification

 

Diversity & Inclusion:

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, 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 Detection, 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)

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)