Job Description
ICT Architect (Expert)
Gent & Brussels, Belgium (Hybrid)
Full-time Contract | Freelance / Consulting Assignment
Start Date: 1 June 2026
Contract Duration: Until 15 July 2027
Application Deadline: 27 May 2026
We are looking for an experienced ICT / Solution & Development Architect to define and drive the architectural direction of critical public sector digital platforms. In this role, you will ensure technical coherence, scalability, maintainability, and long-term evolution of applications within a high-impact government digital ecosystem.
You will work closely with product owners, technical analysts, and development teams to translate business needs into robust technical architectures, while actively guiding design decisions and ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture standards.
Role Focus
Define and steer architectural direction for digital applications and platforms
Ensure scalability, maintainability, and technical coherence across systems
Translate business requirements into robust system designs and technical solutions
Support platform evolution and integration across government data systems
Contribute to roadmap planning with technical epics and architectural work packages
Document architectural decisions and provide clear technical guidelines
Collaborate with enterprise architects and architecture governance teams
Promote sustainable design principles and avoid technical debt
Key Responsibilities
Design end-to-end architectures for applications such as automated advisory systems and data integration platforms
Define and oversee system integrations (APIs, REST, SOAP, event-driven systems)
Guide development teams through architectural decisions and trade-offs
Ensure alignment with governance frameworks and architecture standards
Contribute to system lifecycle management and platform evolution
Support implementation of rule-based systems and data-driven services
Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure delivery consistency
Evaluate technology choices with a focus on long-term sustainability
Maintain architecture documentation (models, diagrams, specifications)
Required Experience & Skills
Must-Have
8+ years of experience as a specialist architect or enterprise architect
Strong experience in Java / Spring Boot ecosystems
Deep knowledge of API design (REST and SOAP)
Experience with architectural modelling tools and methods:
ArchiMate
TOGAF
UML
Sparx EA
Strong understanding of business processes and system design principles
Experience with project management aspects (planning, costing, coordination, estimation)
Fluency in Dutch (CEFR C2 level required)
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with linked data / semantic web technologies (RDF, JSON-LD)
Experience with MAGDA or similar government data platforms
Messaging systems: RabbitMQ, Kafka
Test-driven development (TDD)
Tools like WireMock
Agile and systems thinking methodologies
Strong background in distributed architectures and integration platforms
Ideal Candidate
You are a pragmatic and experienced architect who balances technical depth with business understanding. You prefer structured, well-reasoned architectural decisions over trends, and you thrive in environments where reliability, governance, and long-term sustainability are critical. You are comfortable guiding teams, making final design decisions, and aligning multiple stakeholders around a shared technical vision.
Additional Information
Hybrid working model (Brussels & Ghent)
Expected workload: ~4000 hours
Minimum 50% onsite presence (Brussels fixed day Monday)
Strong focus on ownership, collaboration, and delivery mindset
Candidate weighting: 50% quality / 50% price
Must comply with sustainability (DNSH) EU funding requirements
Interviews expected within 2 weeks after deadline
Apply
If you are passionate about enterprise architecture, large-scale government platforms, and building robust digital ecosystems, we would love to hear from you.
