Head of Digital Architecture Strategy

BAE Systems; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense technology company in the UK is seeking a Head of Digital Architecture Strategy. This role involves aligning digital strategies with business objectives, fostering innovation, and directing change in digital architecture. Ideal candidates will have a degree in engineering or business management, alongside strong strategic and communication skills. The position offers extensive benefits, including flexible working arrangements and a competitive salary package.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Employee share plans

Flexible health and wellbeing benefits

Green car scheme

Private health plans

Shopping discounts

Annual incentive eligibility

Qualifications

• Experience in leading digitally led business change.
• Strong analytical and research skills.
• Technical or business professional qualification (e.g. CITP).

Responsibilities

• Align digital architecture strategy with business objectives.
• Evaluate and recommend emerging digital technologies.
• Foster innovation and ideation.
• Develop investment cases for digital capabilities.
• Direct enterprise-wide strategic architecture development.
• Communicate digital management strategy.
• Support management of digital consultancy services.
• Develop strategic relationships with stakeholders.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Technical knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Leadership experience

Collaboration experience

Education

Degree in Engineering, Computer Science or Business Management

Job description

Job Title: Head of Digital Architecture Strategy

Location: Warton - We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements - please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role

Salary: £91,400+ depending on experience with executive benefits

What you’ll be doing:

• Ensuring that the digital architecture strategy is fully aligned with the Air Sector business objectives and priorities
• Evaluating and recommending the incorporation of emerging and disruptive digital technologies to generate competitive advantage for the business.
• Fostering an environment for innovation and ideation to drive digital
• Development of compelling investment cases and budget submissions for digital capability development
• Directing the development of enterprise-wide strategic architecture and processes which ensure that the application of digital change is embedded in the management of the organisation
• Communication of the organisation’s digital management strategy
• Supporting the management provision of digital consultancy services through senior architects and analysts within the Architecture Practice
• Developing long term strategic relationships with internal and external customers/suppliers, partners and industry leaders

Your skills and experiences:

Essential

• Degree or equivalent hand on experience in engineering, computer science or business management.
• A comprehensive blend of strategic, technical and interpersonal skills
• Strong communicator and presenter
• Leadership and collaboration experience

Desirable

• Experience of digitally led business change
• Research and analysis
• Technical (e.g. CITP) or business professional qualification

Benefits:

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts - you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The Air Sector Digital Architecture team of over 70 architects and analysts works on high-profile, leading-edge military programmes requiring state of the art solutions, where you can be a catalyst for introducing innovation into its way of working and mindset. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to work on cutting-edge implementations of digital IT systems and next-generation military air platforms for world‑wide customers.

As a key member of the Architecture Practice Senior Leadership Team, you can help to shape the future of how the introduction of new and emerging digital technologies and practices into the business can provide a real step-change in our delivery performance and enable development of next generation products and services.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 11th December 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

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