Enterprise Architect

Enterprise Architect - London £800 - £900 p/d (outside IR35) 3 month initial term, likely to extend Well-established, highly profitable and rapidly expanding engineering business is seeking an experienced Enterprise Architect to join them on a contract basis. Following a number of recent acquisitions, the organisation has an ambitious growth strategy with plans to acquire 8-10 businesses per year, creating significant demand for a scalable, secure and standardised enterprise technology landscape. This is a key strategic role within an organisation undergoing major digital transformation, where enterprise architecture will play a critical role in enabling growth, technology standardisation and successful M&A integration. Reporting to the Group IT Director, you will define and govern the organisation's enterprise architecture, ensuring technology investments align with business strategy, operational requirements and long-term objectives. You'll provide architectural leadership across major initiatives including digital transformation, cloud modernisation, AI adoption, application rationalisation and M&A integration. Responsibilities: * Define and maintain the Enterprise Architecture strategy, target-state architecture and multi-year technology roadmap * Establish architecture principles, standards, governance and Technical Design Authority (TDA) processes * Lead architecture workstreams across digital transformation and business change programmes * Drive application modernisation, platform consolidation, integration and technology standardisation * Lead technology due diligence and integration planning for mergers and acquisitions * Define enterprise architecture for cloud, infrastructure, applications, data, integration and security * Develop architecture strategies across Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365 and enterprise business systems * Support the adoption of AI technologies, including Microsoft Copilot, Power Platform and automation solutions * Ensure all solutions are secure, scalable, resilient and aligned with enterprise standards * Partner with senior stakeholders to shape technology strategy, investment decisions and future architecture Requirements: * Significant experience as an Enterprise Architect within a complex enterprise environment * Proven experience developing enterprise architecture strategies and target-state roadmaps * Strong knowledge of Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 * Experience across cloud, infrastructure, applications, integration, security and data architecture * Experience delivering large-scale digital transformation programmes * Strong experience supporting mergers, acquisitions and technology integration * Knowledge of enterprise architecture governance, Architecture Review Boards and Technical Design Authorities * Strong understanding of cybersecurity and Secure-by-Design principles * Experience evaluating AI technologies and enterprise automation solutions * Excellent stakeholder management, strategic planning and communication skills * TOGAF certified (or equivalent Enterprise Architecture certification)