Senior Solutions Architect – Network / SD-WAN

Senior Solutions Architect – Network / SD-WAN

£700 per day (Inside IR35) | Mostly Remote | Policing Environment

A UK policing organisation is seeking a Senior Solutions Architect to provide technical leadership and architectural oversight across a portfolio of complex network and infrastructure programmes.

This is a customer-side role, focused on setting direction, assuring supplier delivery, and supporting internal architects. It is not hands-on; the emphasis is on leadership, governance, and informed decision-making within a secure and highly regulated environment.

Context

You will play a lead role across significant transformation activity, including:

• A large-scale network modernisation programme transitioning from Cisco DMVPN/MPLS to Fortinet SD-WAN

• Engagement with the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP)

• Managed service transition, including supplier onboarding and offboarding

Responsibilities

• Provide architectural leadership across network and on-premises infrastructure

• Assure and challenge supplier designs to ensure alignment with strategy and security standards

• Provide direction and oversight to internal Solutions Architects across multiple workstreams

• Oversee managed service transitions, maintaining service continuity and design integrity

• Act as a senior escalation point for complex technical and delivery issues

• Ensure solutions align to secure-by-design principles and OFFICIAL (SENSITIVE) requirements

Experience Required

• Experience leading WAN modernisation programmes (MPLS to SD-WAN)

• Strong Fortinet SD-WAN expertise

• Experience overseeing supplier transitions within managed service environments

• Cisco LAN expertise, including Catalyst Centre and ISE

• Broad on-prem infrastructure knowledge (IBM servers/storage, VMware, Hyper-V, Avaya Voice, CCaS)

• Experience working within secure or policing environments

• Ability to lead through complexity and provide direction on challenged programmes

• Demonstrable experience assuring third-party delivery

Desirable

• Awareness of Airwave/TETRA and ESMCP

• Exposure to Microsoft Azure

Additional Information

Due to the nature of the environment, candidates will be required to undergo appropriate police vetting. Experience working within similarly secure or regulated settings will be important.

This role would suit a senior architect with a strong infrastructure background who is comfortable operating at programme level within a mission-critical environment.

We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates, please apply at your earliest convinience.