Technical Architects
Senior engineers who make system-level decisions and document them properly.
What technical architects actually do
A technical architect is a senior engineer who takes responsibility for how a system is structured, not just how individual components work. In practice, they spend their time making and recording decisions: which database, which architectural pattern, how services communicate, where state lives, and how the system behaves under load.
They produce architecture decision records (ADRs), system diagrams, and API contracts. They review code to check whether it fits the intended structure. They mentor other engineers on why the system is built the way it is. All our technical architects have 10 or more years of experience, with at least 3 years in architecture-focused roles.
System Design
Microservices vs monolith trade-off analysis based on team size and operational maturity, API design (REST and GraphQL), event-driven patterns with message queues, and database modelling for both relational and document data. Produces documented architecture decisions, not just whiteboard sketches that nobody can find six months later.
Cloud Architecture
Azure, AWS, and GCP infrastructure design. Infrastructure-as-code using Terraform so environments are reproducible and auditable. CI/CD pipeline design, environment parity strategy, cost optimisation, and scaling approaches. They can take a system from hand-configured cloud resources to fully code-defined infrastructure.
Security Architecture
Threat modelling, IAM design, secrets management, and OWASP compliance review. Security requirements are worked through at the start of a project, not added as a sign-off step at the end. They provide written guidance on what is in scope for a given risk profile and what controls are required.
Technical Leadership
Defining coding standards, running architecture review sessions, writing onboarding documentation for engineers joining an existing codebase, and mentoring mid-level developers on the reasoning behind architectural choices. They leave a codebase that a new engineer can understand without needing to find the person who originally wrote it.
What they deliver
Engagement types
Embedded in your team (2 to 5 days per week)
Works alongside your developers on an active project, making decisions in real time and reviewing work as it progresses. Best for projects where architecture decisions need to happen continuously rather than upfront.
Advisory and review
Periodic involvement to review architecture decisions, assess a specific technical choice, or provide a second opinion on a proposed approach. Typically a day or two per month.
Greenfield design sprint (2 to 4 weeks)
A focused engagement to produce the full architecture design and documentation before development begins. Delivers ADRs, system diagrams, API contracts, and an infrastructure plan. Useful when a project needs a clear foundation before a development team is brought in. Pairs well with our MVP Development and Full-Stack Development teams.
Common questions
Can they join a project that is already underway?
Yes. We have placed architects specifically to review and improve architectures that were already in progress. They start with a review of what exists before making any recommendations.
Full-time or part-time?
Most architect engagements are part-time (2 to 3 days per week) because the work involves thinking, documentation, and review as much as active delivery. Full-time placements are available for larger projects that need continuous architectural involvement.
What seniority level?
All our technical architects have 10 or more years of total engineering experience, with at least 3 years in roles where architecture was a primary responsibility, not a secondary part of a developer role.
Part of our Talent Solutions offering. Planning a new product? Our MVP Development and Full-Stack Development teams build it end-to-end.