Solution Architect - Cloud & Platforms

AWS Cloud Domain Solution Architect

About the Role

We're looking for an experienced AWS Cloud Domain Solution Architect to join our Solution Architecture & Design team.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering DS Smith's cloud, digital and data transformation strategy. As a trusted technical leader, you will work closely with business stakeholders, technology teams and strategic partners to design secure, scalable and cost-effective cloud solutions that enable innovation across the organisation.

The Solution Architecture & Design function supports the Cloud, Data and Digital Platform domains, partnering with internal teams and third-party suppliers to deliver modern technology solutions that create business value. In this role, you will act as a subject matter expert for AWS technologies, helping shape cloud strategy, architecture standards and future technology roadmaps across the business.

This position is ideal for someone who enjoys combining strategic technology leadership with hands-on architecture design, stakeholder engagement and technical governance.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Acting as the subject matter expert for AWS cloud technologies across the enterprise.
• Designing and architecting secure, scalable, resilient and cost-effective AWS solutions that support business objectives.
• Maintaining a security-first approach across all architecture activities, including security assessments of proposed solutions and SaaS providers.
• Creating and governing architecture documentation, including high-level and low-level designs.
• Providing technical oversight and assurance for third-party suppliers delivering cloud and digital services.
• Facilitating technical workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions across IT and business communities.
• Leveraging AWS services such as EC2, S3, Lambda, RDS, VPC and IAM to deliver enterprise solutions.
• Supporting infrastructure automation through Infrastructure as Code practices using tools such as Terraform and AWS CloudFormation.
• Conducting performance reviews, security assessments and cost optimisation activities across AWS environments.
• Providing technical leadership and guidance to engineers, developers, project teams and operational colleagues.
• Analysing emerging cloud technologies and market trends to identify opportunities and shape future strategy.
• Supporting the development of cloud transformation roadmaps and target-state architectures.
• Working closely with Enterprise Architecture and Security Architecture teams to establish standards and drive architectural governance.
• Influencing technology direction and helping evolve DS Smith's cloud and digital capabilities for the future.

About You

You're a strategic thinker with a strong technical foundation who enjoys solving complex business challenges through cloud technology. You can confidently engage stakeholders at all levels and translate business requirements into practical, scalable architectural solutions.

We're looking for:

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate or Professional certification.
• Strong experience designing and delivering cloud-based solutions using AWS technologies.
• Experience working across cloud, infrastructure, networking, digital, data and DevSecOps environments.
• Strong understanding of security principles and their application within cloud architecture.
• Experience delivering solutions within large, multinational and complex organisations.
• Ability to translate business requirements into technical architecture and solution designs.
• Experience working with Infrastructure as Code tools, including Terraform and/or AWS CloudFormation.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across technical and business teams.
• A customer-focused mindset with strong commercial awareness and business judgement.

Desirable Experience

• Experience supporting large-scale cloud transformation programmes.
• Knowledge of modern digital platforms, cloud-native architectures and enterprise integration patterns.
• Experience developing architectural standards, governance processes and technology roadmaps.
• Exposure to manufacturing, supply chain or multinational enterprise environments.
• Additional certifications across AWS, Security or Enterprise Architecture disciplines.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to join a highly visible architecture function at the heart of DS Smith's digital transformation journey. You'll help shape the organisation's cloud strategy, influence technology decisions at enterprise scale and work with some of the latest AWS technologies to deliver meaningful business outcomes.

About Us

We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people who challenge and support one another to create positive change.

To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bringing different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.

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