Integration Architect - Croydon - 12 months

Job Title: Integration Architect
Location: Croydon (1 day per week on-site)
Contract Length: 12 months
IR35 Status: Inside IR35
Security Clearance: Active SC Clearance required
Start Date: Urgent/ASAP
SFIA Level: 6

Role Overview

We are looking for an experienced Integration Architect to design and oversee end-to-end integration solutions across a large-scale, secure government programme. The successful candidate will provide both strategic and hands-on technical leadership, ensuring robust, scalable, and secure integration between multiple platforms, systems, and data sources.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the overall integration architecture, ensuring alignment with enterprise strategies and best practices.
• Define and implement integration patterns, ensuring consistency, reusability, and scalability across systems.
• Lead API design, development, and management activities (REST, GraphQL, OpenAPI).
• Work with messaging and event-driven platforms such as Kafka, RabbitMQ, or Azure Service Bus.
• Design and guide integrations involving SaaS, COTS, and Legacy systems.
• Ensure integrations meet required security and compliance standards, including OAuth2, OpenID Connect, and certificate management.
• Collaborate closely with architects, developers, and business stakeholders to deliver high-quality integration solutions.
• Provide technical direction, mentoring, and governance for integration development teams.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Proven experience as an Integration Architect or Senior Integration Engineer.
• Strong understanding of integration patterns, architecture design principles, and best practices.
• Hands-on experience with API management and Middleware/iPaaS platforms (eg MuleSoft, Boomi, Azure Integration Services).
• Proficiency with data formats and protocols such as JSON, XML, SOAP, HTTP, and SFTP.
• Experience with messaging and event platforms (Kafka, RabbitMQ, or Azure Service Bus).
• Solid understanding of security frameworks (OAuth2, OpenID Connect, TLS/certificates).
• Excellent communication, documentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Desirable Skills

• Experience with microservices and event-driven architectures.
• Knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Experience implementing CI/CD pipelines and integration automation.
• Background in regulated or large enterprise environments.
• Relevant architecture certifications (eg TOGAF, MuleSoft, or Azure Integration certifications).

Additional Information

This position is inside IR35 and requires an active SC Clearance.
Due to high demand, interviews will be scheduled at short notice.