Lead Solution Architect

• Employment Type: Full Time, continuing role as Lead Solution Architect within our Research Solutions domain within UNSW IT
• Excellent salary package available
• Location: Kensington campus in NSW (Hybrid Flexible Working)

About UNSW:

UNSW isn't like other places you've worked. We're a large organization with a diverse and talented community; a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter. It's the reason we're one of the top 50 universities in the world and a member of Australia's prestigious Group of Eight. If you want a career where you can thrive, be challenged and do meaningful work, you're in the right place.

UNSW IT is part of UNSW's Operations Division and provides high quality, sustainable, flexible products and state-of-the-art technology services to UNSW. Our priorities are to drive innovative architectures that enable UNSW's digital future and be a trusted partner of the University.

The Lead Solution Architect for Research Solutions leads the architectural vision and design for the Research domain within UNSW IT. This role manages a team of Solution Architects, guiding the development of solution designs across IT projects, and plays a key role in shaping and maintaining architecture roadmaps in collaboration with Enterprise Architecture and the Division of Research and Enterprise, particularly Research Technology Services.

The role will report directly to the Head of Research Solutions.

Specific accountabilities for this role include:

• Understand business drivers and business capabilities (future and current state), and determine corresponding enterprise system designs and change requirements to deliver the goals of UNSW
• Lead the design & architecture of end-to-end solutions across a domain of specific business applications or technologies based on our enterprise technology strategy and business requirements
• Monitor the current-state solution portfolio to identify deficiencies through aging of the technologies used by the application, or misalignment with business requirements.
• Ensure solutions architecture assurance and compliance with Enterprise Standards and target state across all team deliverables
• Partner with Enterprise architecture to define, principles, guidelines, standards, roadmaps and initiate new strategic directions where necessary.
• Lead and mentor a team of Solution Architects to develop a business outcome focussed architecture capability
• Actively work with Enterprise Architecture and take a lead role in the Architecture Competency centre to build architecture practice
• Facilitate the evaluation and selection of software product standards and services, as well as the design of standard and custom software configurations.

The Ideal candidate will have:

• 3-5 years of demonstrated experience leading solution architecture functions, including managing architectural practices, developing blueprints and documentation, conducting design reviews, overseeing quality assurance, and advising on risks, quality, and solution alternatives.
• Demonstrated experience applying solution architecture within Agile environments, with knowledge of modern delivery practices such as DevOps.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, negotiation, and influencing skills, with the ability to build effective relationships, navigate complex discussions involving stakeholders with diverse viewpoints, and tailor messages to different audiences to achieve timely outcomes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify root causes, develop scalable solutions, and assess both short- and long-term implications, including financial impact.
• Demonstrated experience in research IT or domain architecture, particularly in designing security and integration patterns for hybrid and cloud-centric environments (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS), is highly regarded.
• An understanding of Cloud (SaaS, PaaS and IaaS), and on-site deployment and integration architectures (API, messaging, iPaaS)
• Demonstrated application of solution architecture into Agile projects and modern practices such as DevOps.
• Strong presentation skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to structure and articulate messages to different audiences at all levels.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, ensuring that the underlying problem is understood, and a robust approach / solution is developed.
• An understanding of and commitment to UNSW's aims, objectives and values in action, together with relevant policies and guidelines.
• Knowledge of health and safety responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety.

Benefits and Culture

• Flexible Working Options (work from home, flexible hours etc)
• Career development opportunities
• 17% Superannuation contributions and additional leave loading payments
• Additional 3 days of leave over Christmas period
• Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness)

For further details on the benefits, please visit 

How to Apply: please apply through the portal, we would like you to submit a full application including resume and addressing the who you are section.

Applications close : Monday 29th of September at 11.30pm

Get in touch

Jen MacLachlan, Talent Acquisition – UNSW IT

Please apply through the application portal and not via the contact above.

UNSW is committed to equity diversity and inclusion. Applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTIQ+ community; and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, are encouraged. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff. The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.