Principal Tech Architect - .NET/Azure, Next.js Lead

Civil Aviation Authority; Gatwick; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

The Civil Aviation Authority is seeking an experienced hands-on Technical Architect or Principal Engineer to provide technical leadership across a portfolio of digital services. This role combines architecture, engineering, and delivery, working with software teams, product managers, security specialists and operations to design secure, reliable services for regulatory functions.

Expect ~70% architecture and leadership and 30% hands-on engineering, with focus on Next.js, .NET, and Azure.

Qualifications

• 5+ years designing enterprise cloud-based web apps and services.
• Experience with React/Next.js and server-side rendering.
• Strong API design and backend experience with C# and .NET.
• Knowledge of Azure services and secure, scalable architectures.
• Experience with CI/CD, testing, security, and observability.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain architecture principles, standards, and patterns across multiple digital services.
• Produce designs and technical guidance for secure, resilient, and maintainable services.
• Identify risks, dependencies, and opportunities early with product and delivery teams.
• Lead architecture spikes and proofs of concepts; prototype novel approaches.
• Review designs and code to improve quality across teams; mentor engineers.
• Promote automation, modern engineering practices, and AI-assisted tooling within governance controls.

Skills

5+ years enterprise cloud design

React/Next.js

C#/.NET API design

Azure cloud platform

CI/CD and testing

Security and compliance

Tools

Azure App Service

Azure Functions

Azure SQL

Key Vault

Service Bus

API Management

Job description

The Civil Aviation Authority is seeking an experienced hands-on Technical Architect or Principal Engineer to provide technical leadership across a portfolio of digital services. This role combines architecture, engineering, and delivery, working with software teams, product managers, security specialists and operations to design secure, reliable services for regulatory functions.

Expect ~70% architecture and leadership and 30% hands-on engineering, with focus on Next.js, .NET, and Azure.