Satcom Architect

Our client, a leading UK defence organisation, is seeking an experienced
SATCOM Architect
to join the SATCOM Engineering Design Authority (SEDA) team. The successful candidate will lead the development, governance, and maintenance of the SATCOM programme architecture baselines, ensuring coherence across the system and alignment with the broader Defence Digital Enterprise Architecture.

This role is critical in shaping the SATCOM Architecture roadmap—from current (As-Is) to future (To-Be)—and providing Subject Matter Expertise (SME) across the full engineering lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the SATCOM architecture team within the SATCOM Engineering Design Authority.
• Own and evolve the SATCOM Architecture roadmap, guiding progression from current (As-Is) to future (To-Be) states.
• Develop, document, and maintain the SATCOM Programme's System Architecture.
• Capture and manage all architecture baselines in the authorised repository, ensuring accuracy and governance.
• Provide SATCOM architectural Subject Matter Expertise (SQEP) to design, development, assurance, and enterprise-wide integration activities.
• Interface with the wider End-to-End Enterprise Architecture and Defence Digital Architecture stakeholders.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience managing technical architecture processes for large, complex systems.
• Demonstrable experience developing, controlling, and governing architecture baselines, including system interfaces and dependencies.
• Experience defining and utilising
  Use Cases
  to translate user needs into system functionality.
• Solid knowledge of
  Satellite Communications Systems
  (military or commercial).
• Practical experience applying the
  NATO Architecture Framework (NAF)
  .
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate between technical and non-technical audiences.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Knowledge of
  Military SATCOM
  systems.
• Understanding of MoD engineering and delivery frameworks such as
  KiD
  and
  GEAR
  .
• Experience using architecture tooling including
  Sparx EA
  ,
  Bizzdesign
  (preferred), or similar.
• Familiarity with architecture modelling languages such as
  ArchiMate
  ,
  UML
  , and
  SysML
  (ArchiMate preferred).
• Understanding of the full Systems Engineering lifecycle (e.g., INCOSE, ISO/IEC
• Experience developing
  Service Architectures
  and end-to-end solutions.

Engagement Details

• Inside IR35 –
  via Umbrella or PAYE.
• On-site presence in
  South West UK
  required (hybrid options may be considered).
• Opportunity to work on major UK defence SATCOM programmes with long-term programme visibility.