KGS UK - IC - AD (Grade B) - Lead Solution Architect FY27

Lead Solution Architect — IT Risk Mitigation Programme We need a Lead Solution Architect for a large IT obsolescence programme at a Tier 1 UK retail bank. Your job: design the fastest, cheapest, safest path to upgrade or replace obsolete infrastructure — and drive those designs through a governance culture that instinctively pursues perfection over pace. You'll lead 5–10 architects and PMs, and influence 50–100 client SMEs, architects and managers. You'll need to argue and win exceptions to the bank's target blueprints, justified by the cyber and operational risk being mitigated. You'll own:

• Solution designs across the end-to-end infrastructure stack — app, DB, OS, hypervisor, network, storage, middleware
• Design approvals and exception cases through client governance
• Trade-off decisions across resilience, attack surface, cost, and speed
• Technical leadership of a blended architect and PM team

You'll bring:

• Deep hands-on infrastructure architecture pedigree across the full stack
• Real-world delivery scars — not ivory tower design work
• Mastery of infrastructure cluster technologies, middleware, ETL and integration