Principal Technical Architect

Home Office; Liverpool; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK Government department seeks a Principal Technical Architect to oversee the technical strategy across critical initiatives. You will guide architectural decisions, mentor other architects, and drive digital transformation initiatives. The role demands strong leadership, knowledge of modern technologies like cloud and AI, and the ability to balance risk with delivery timelines. You will ensure security and quality in all solutions. Flexible work options and significant benefits are offered.

Benefits

Flexible Working

Exceptional pension

Generous leave

Learning and development access

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing diverse technology landscapes and third-party suppliers.
• Expertise in agile methods and secure-by-design approaches.
• Track record of on-time delivery of solutions within budget.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver the overarching technical strategy with architectural decisions.
• Lead governance processes ensuring solutions remain secure.
• Facilitate stakeholder discussions on complex design challenges.

Skills

Leadership in delivering complex architectures

Strategic foresight for future technologies

Experience with diverse technology landscapes

Deep knowledge of engineering principles

Strong communication skills

Ownership of technical roadmaps

Job description

As a Principal Technical Architect, you will serve as a senior design authority, responsible for setting and governing the technical strategy across complex, high-impact programs. Your role will involve leading the architectural vision, proactively identifying opportunities for digital transformation, and optimising solutions to address both organisational and cross-government needs. You will collaborate with senior stakeholders, both technical and non-technical, to facilitate discussions that balance risk, complexity, and outcomes. Additionally, you will mentor other architects in this leadership position, ensuring that technology choices align with broader strategies and emerging best practices. With a genuine passion for next-generation technologies, you will drive innovation, security, and scalability, helping to shape the future of public services on an enterprise scale. This link opens a short video from members of the team talking about the projects they work on and their experience of working here: Working for Home Office Digital, As a Principal Technical Architect, you will define and execute the technical strategy for your responsibility, collaborating with senior leadership and diverse teams to ensure alignment with organisational, cross-departmental, and government-wide objectives. You will proactively seek opportunities to leverage emerging technologies, such as cloud, AI, and IoT, and ensure that technical solutions are secure, user-focused, and capable of adapting to evolving business needs. You will lead the design and review processes for complex systems and infrastructure, championing architectural best practices and governance. By bridging technical and business perspectives, you will resolve high-risk issues and shape initiatives that drive transformation. Your role includes guiding and inspiring other architects, facilitating professional growth, and establishing an environment where innovative thinking thrives.

What You'll Do:

• Own and deliver the overarching technical strategy, guiding architectural decisions that balance risk, complexity, and delivery timelines.
• Lead governance and assurance processes, ensuring solutions remain secure, robust, and aligned with enterprise architecture principles.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders to advocate for digital transformation initiatives, influencing decisions through clear, data-driven insights.
• Mentor and guide architects and engineering teams, nurturing a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Oversee integration of new systems, developing detailed plans that align with broader organisational and cross-government strategies.
• Assess current systems to identify areas for improvement, analyse potential risks, and promote emerging best practices in the field.
• Facilitate stakeholder discussions, serving as the key escalation point for complex or high-risk design challenges.
• Drive continuous improvement, incorporating lessons learned into future strategies and ensuring consistency in architecture across multiple domains. At the Home Office, your work has real-world impact, shaping the safety and security of millions.

We offer:

• Meaningful Work: Contribute to critical national security and public service initiatives.
• Career Growth: Benefit from tailored development frameworks and professional communities.
• Flexible Working: Balance your professional and personal life with hybrid work options.
• Diversity and Inclusion: Join a workplace where your unique background and talents are celebrated.
• Exceptional pension: Employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Generous leave: 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 with service), 8 public holidays, and 1 day for the King's Birthday.
• Flexible working: Options include full-time, part-time, compressed hours, job sharing, and a hybrid model (minimum 60% on-site).
• Learning and development: Access to training, technical accreditations, and funded qualifications (subject to approval).
• Recognition and inclusion: A culture that champions diversity, enhanced parental leave schemes, annual bonuses, and recognition awards.
• Learn more about our benefits: Benefits - Home Office Careers

Essential Skills:

• Shown leadership in delivering complex, innovative technical architectures at scale, inspiring technical excellence and forward-thinking design.
• Strategic foresight to anticipate future technologies and identify opportunities for transformation or optimisation.
• Experience managing diverse technology landscapes, including third-party suppliers, cloud environments, and cross-departmental teams.
• Deep knowledge of engineering principles, agile methods, DevOps, and secure-by-design approaches, ensuring robust, resilient solutions.
• Track record of delivering solutions on time and within scope, balancing budget, security, and quality considerations.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, translating complex technical concepts into clear, actionable insights.
• Ownership of technical roadmaps and strategies, ensuring solutions align with enterprise objectives and evolving user needs.