Technical Architect - £575+ per day Inside IR35 - South West

Technical Architect Contract Type: Inside IR35 Rate: £575+ per day Location: On-site (South West England) Duration: 3 months Clearance: HLC (Highest Level Clearance) Exalto Consulting is supporting a confidential public sector programme to identify an experienced Technical Architect. This role sits within a secure, high-impact environment where infrastructure reliability, security and clarity of design are critical. This opportunity will suit someone who is comfortable taking ownership of complex infrastructure design, working closely with delivery teams, and providing clear technical direction in a regulated setting. The role You will lead the design and assurance of infrastructure solutions across virtualisation, networking and identity platforms. The focus is on delivering systems that are secure, resilient and fit for long-term operation. You will work alongside engineers, operations teams and stakeholders to translate requirements into practical, well-governed solutions. What you'll be doing Leading end-to-end infrastructure design, from high-level concepts through to detailed implementation Defining and maintaining architecture standards, patterns, and best practices Deg solutions based on VMware Cloud Foundation, covering compute, storage, and lifecycle management Providing deep technical input into NSX-T, including network virtualisation and micro-segmentation Deg secure network architectures across data centre and hybrid environments Overseeing identity and access solutions, including Active Directory and ADFS Supporting both Windows and Linux platform design and integration Producing clear, structured documentation (HLDs, LLDs, and supporting materials) Acting as a technical authority during delivery, helping resolve complex issues Working with stakeholders to ensure solutions meet operational, security and compliance requirements What we're looking for Essential experience Proven experience as a Technical Architect or Senior Infrastructure Architect Strong background in: VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) NSX-T Data Centre Enterprise networking (routing, switching, firewalls) Identity and Access Management (Active Directory, ADFS) Windows Server and Linux environments Experience producing high-quality architecture documentation (HLDs and LLDs) Ability to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical audiences A pragmatic, delivery-focused approach with strong attention to detail Desirable experience Hybrid or multi-cloud environments Automation and infrastructure as code Security architecture, including zero trust principles Experience working in large or highly regulated organisations Security requirements Due to the nature of the work, strict security criteria apply: Active HLC (Highest Level Clearance) is essential and must be transferable Clearance must be within validity limits and recently used in a government or similarly secure environment Sole British nationality is required (no dual nationality) Candidates must meet all national security vetting criteria Please ensure these requirements are fully met before applying, as they cannot be sponsored or transferred post-offer. About Exalto Consulting At Exalto Consulting, we focus on placing experienced professionals into roles where their expertise has real impact. We take a straightforward, respectful approach - providing clear information, timely communication and honest guidance throughout the process.