Senior Solution Architect

Job requisition ID:

Role: Senior Solution Architect (Technology)

Purpose of the Role

The Senior Solution Architect is the technical authority within the programme, responsible for defining architecture patterns, governing solution integrity, and driving the safe and scalable execution of a complex, multi-track infrastructure transformation. This encompasses Oracle database upgrade, VMware removal, and the migration of workloads from Azure VMware Solution (AVS) to native Azure IaaS.

Operating as a trusted technical adviser to both the client and the delivery team, the role bridges strategic architecture design with hands-on problem-solving — continuously refining the solution as new constraints, dependencies, and risks are identified across the programme. The ideal candidate brings deep Oracle expertise, strong Azure cloud architecture skills, and a proven consultancy background in enterprise-scale transformation.

Programme Context & Technical Scope

This role sits within a strategic infrastructure EOL and transformation programme. The three core technical workstreams are:

Workstream

Scope & Complexity

Oracle Upgrade

Version uplift of Oracle database estate; performance analysis, schema remediation, dependency mapping, and upgrade path execution across complex enterprise environments

VMware Removal

Decommission of on-premises or AVS-hosted VMware layer; workload assessment, re-platforming strategy, and migration sequencing to eliminate VMware dependencies

AVS → Azure IaaS

Migration of virtualised workloads from Azure VMware Solution to native Azure IaaS (VM, storage, networking); architecture redesign for cloud-native patterns, performance, and cost optimisation

Key Responsibilities

Architecture Leadership & Governance

·        Provide technical authority and architecture governance across all programme workstreams, ensuring consistency, scalability, and resilience of the overall solution

·        Define and maintain solution architecture patterns, design standards, and best practices for Oracle, Azure IaaS, and hybrid environments

·        Own the technical design documentation and architecture decision records (ADRs), keeping them current as the solution evolves

·        Continuously refine the architecture as new issues, dependencies, and risks are identified across the programme lifecycle

·        Ensure all solution designs meet security standards, compliance requirements, and risk mitigation frameworks

·        Facilitation of workshops and requirements discovery bringing teams together to align on value driven business outcomes

Oracle Upgrade Strategy & Execution

·        Lead the definition and execution planning for the Oracle database upgrade strategy, including version assessment, upgrade path selection, and go/no-go criteria

·        Perform in-depth analysis of the Oracle database estate alongside Oracle SMEs, identifying performance issues, risks, inefficiencies, and version-specific constraints

·        Develop technical recommendations and mitigation strategies for issues uncovered during analysis, including schema changes, deprecated feature remediation, and compatibility fixes

·        Design workarounds and optimisation approaches for complex Oracle challenges, adapting the solution iteratively as new problems emerge during execution

·        Validate Oracle upgrade outcomes through structured performance benchmarking, regression testing governance, and post-upgrade health checks

VMware Removal & Workload Re-platforming

·        Lead the technical strategy for VMware decommissioning, covering workload inventory, dependency mapping, and VM re-platforming prioritisation

·        Assess each workload’s characteristics (performance, latency, licensing, OS, connectivity) to determine optimal re-platforming approach: lift-and-shift, re-platform, or re-architect

·        Define and govern the migration sequencing plan, managing technical interdependencies and minimising service disruption during the removal of the VMware layer

·        Identify and resolve technical blockers arising from VMware-specific configurations, custom networking, and storage dependencies

AVS to Azure IaaS Migration

·        Working collaboratively with the Microsoft CAF team you will:

·        Architect the migration from Azure VMware Solution (AVS) to native Azure IaaS, leveraging Azure Migrate, ASR, and related tooling

·        Redesign workload architectures for Azure-native patterns where appropriate — including compute sizing, managed disk selection, virtual networking, and availability zone placement

·        Define and enforce networking migration patterns, including VNET design, NSG rulesets, private endpoint configurations, and ExpressRoute / VPN continuity

·        Manage Azure landing zone readiness, ensuring governance controls, RBAC, tagging policies, and security baselines are in place before workload migration

Required Skills Experience

·        12–18+ years in solution architecture or technical leadership roles, with a consistent track record of delivery in large-scale enterprise transformation programmes

·        Deep, hands-on Oracle expertise: performance tuning, version upgrades (e.g. 11g to 19c), migration planning, schema analysis, and post-upgrade remediation

·        Proven Azure cloud architecture experience: IaaS design (VM, storage, networking, identity), Azure Migrate, ASR, landing zones, and hybrid connectivity

·        Direct experience delivering VMware workload migrations — including AVS, vSphere, and vCenter environments — to cloud-native or IaaS targets

·        Strong understanding of enterprise security principles: identity & access management, network security, encryption at rest/in transit, and compliance frameworks

·        Background in consulting or professional services, with experience producing client-facing architecture artefacts and presenting to senior technical audiences

·        Exposure to regulated industries — BFSI, Capital Markets, or Enterprise Transformation environments strongly preferred

·        Serve as the senior technical point of contact for client architecture and engineering stakeholders, communicating complex decisions with clarity and confidence

·        Translate technical findings and recommendations into structured, client-ready artefacts: architecture documents, risk assessments, decision papers, and executive summaries

·        Provide technical oversight of third-party vendors and Oracle SMEs, reviewing their recommendations and ensuring alignment with the programme architecture

·        Support the Senior Delivery Lead with technical input to programme governance, steering committee updates, and risk escalations

·        Contribute to pre-sales and bid activity where required, providing technical solution design, estimating, and architecture narrative for proposals

Qualifications

·        Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert — Essential

·        Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) or Oracle Database Administrator certification — Essential

·        VMware Certified Professional (VCP) or equivalent — Desirable

·        TOGAF 9 or equivalent enterprise architecture framework certification — Desirable

·        Degree-level education in Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline — Desirable