Solutions Architect - Data Platforms & API Migration

Location: Manchester (Hybrid)

Salary £80,000 - £90,000 DOE

About the Opportunity

A trailblazer in the legal sector is seeking a Solutions Architect with a specialist focus on legacy systems transformation, API‑centric design, and enterprise‑scale data platform migration. The company is recognised for embracing cutting‑edge technology and innovation, driving platform modernisation to support the professional services of the future.

This high‑impact, strategic architecture role offers the chance to lead on technology consolidation, shape future‑state data and application landscapes, and set a clear roadmap for unifying and migrating core business‑critical systems to modern SaaS and Azure‑based solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Application Portfolio Mapping: Catalogue and document all enterprise systems, with focus on legacy platforms and complex business interdependencies.
• Portfolio Analysis & Planning: Use data‑driven approaches to evaluate consolidation opportunities, identifying what to retain, retire or modernise.
• Consolidation Roadmap: Develop a technically robust engineering roadmap for migration and integration from on‑premises/legacy platforms to cloud‑based solutions, ensuring APIs and data flows are optimised.
• Target Architecture Design: Create scalable, resilient and secure architecture blueprints for a future‑state data and applications landscape using SaaS, microservices, and APIs.
• Integration & Migration: Lead integration strategy and data migration efforts, orchestrating the transition from legacy to modern platforms.
• Technology Evaluation: Recommend and standardise on tech stacks, APIs, and platforms aligned to business and security requirements.
• Architectural Governance: Establish standards and best practices, with robust attention to compliance and data privacy.
• Project Execution Support: Act as technical lead and advisor throughout project delivery phases, ensuring smooth migration and business continuity.
• Stakeholder Alignment: Engage with technical and business leaders to ensure all roadmaps support strategic business goals.

Required Experience

• Significant expertise in software, solutions, or application architecture, including large‑scale legacy migrations and API solutions.
• Prior experience within professional or legal services, or highly regulated environments.
• Proven track record delivering portfolio rationalisation and IT modernisation projects in complex organisations.
• Strong hands‑on experience with Azure and cloud‑native integration strategies.
• Deep understanding of API design, data migration, and enterprise systems integration.

Desirable

• Legal/FinTech/InsurTech/Professional Services sector experience.
• Experience with legal operations or industry‑specific platforms (such as workflow and data processing tools).
• Certifications in architecture frameworks (TOGAF, Zachman) & cloud platforms (Azure Solutions Architect Expert).

What’s on Offer

• Competitive and transparent salary and benefits, details discussed at interview.
• Culture of innovation, digital transformation, and continuous professional growth.
• Hybrid/flexible working and multiple major UK office options.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Statement

This company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. They do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. For more information hit Apply, or Call Chris Prendergast at DCS Recruitment on (phone number removed). DCS Recruitment and all associated companies are committed to creating a working environment where diversity is celebrated and everyone is treated fairly, regardless of gender, gender identity, disability, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital or transgender status, age, or nationality.