Senior Technical Architect

DWP Digital; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Civil Service Pension (28.97% employer

Holidays 26–31 days

Broad benefits package

Job summary

DWP Digital is seeking a Senior Technical Architect to shape the architecture behind large-scale workplace technology and AI transformations in government. You will lead across SharePoint, Microsoft 365, Teams and Copilot, delivering secure, scalable designs that enable better collaboration for 90,000+ colleagues and citizens across the UK.

You'll work with delivery teams to translate business needs into robust technical solutions, balancing security, performance and governance while guiding

Qualifications

• Ability to translate business requirements into robust technical solutions.
• Experience designing architecture across on-premise, cloud and hybrid environments.
• Strong knowledge of collaboration technologies including Microsoft 365 SharePoint, Teams and Copilot.
• Understanding of data privacy, lifecycle management, eDiscovery and disaster recovery.

Responsibilities

• Provide architectural leadership across programmes transforming government collaboration and AI capabilities.
• Design secure, scalable solutions across SharePoint, Teams, Copilot and cloud platforms.
• Guide technical decisions, ensure alignment with government strategies and security requirements.
• Collaborate with engineers, product teams, security specialists and suppliers to deliver modern digital services.

Skills

Architecture design

Cloud and on-premise design

Microsoft 365/SharePoint/Teams

Security and governance

Agile/waterfall delivery

Stakeholder communication

Networking fundamentals

Job description

Are you ready to shape the architecture behind some of the largest workplace technology and AI transformations in government?

As a Senior Technical Architect within DWP Digital's Collaboration, Communication and Network Services (CCNS) team, you'll help define the future of how over 90,000 colleagues communicate and deliver services to millions of citizens across the UK.

You'll provide technical leadership across major platforms including Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft 365, Teams, OneDrive, Copilot and wider collaboration technologies. Working across a range of high-profile programmes, you'll design solutions that improve productivity, strengthen security and support DWP's ongoing digital transformation. This is a role where you'll influence strategic decisions, shape future technology direction and help deliver modern digital services at an extraordinary scale.

Whether your focus is collaboration platforms and document management solutions, or emerging AI and Copilot capabilities, you'll play a central role in designing technology that enables better outcomes for colleagues and the people who rely on DWP services every day.

What skills, knowledge and experience will you need?

• Experience designing architecture across on-premise, cloud and hybrid environments, covering networking, security, presentation layers, middleware, databases and systems integration.
• Ability to create architecture designs using recognised principles, patterns, technical standards, practices and emerging technology trends.
• Experience working with project delivery teams across agile, waterfall and hybrid delivery approaches, from concept through to live service.
• Ability to translate business requirements into clear technical solutions and demonstrate how those solutions meet business needs.
• Experience using architecture modelling techniques and tools to design, document and communicate technical solutions.
• Strong knowledge of collaboration and communication technologies, particularly Microsoft 365 services such as SharePoint, Teams and Copilot, alongside Adobe products, whiteboarding platforms and file storage solutions.
• Experience designing and delivering cloud-based solutions using platforms such as Azure, AWS or Google Cloud, with a strong understanding of SaaS, IaaS, cloud security, deployment patterns, scalability, performance and best practice.
• Strong understanding of information security, governance and compliance, including data privacy, data lifecycle management, legislative requirements, eDiscovery, disaster recovery, backup, Log Analytics and Purview.

You and your role

As a Senior Technical Architect, you'll work across multiple programmes and initiatives that are transforming how DWP colleagues access information, collaborate with each other and make use of modern digital capabilities.

You'll provide architectural leadership across a varied technology portfolio. This could include designing the future of SharePoint and document collaboration services, modernising file storage solutions, enabling secure cross-government collaboration, or helping shape the adoption of emerging AI technologies such as Microsoft Copilot. You'll ensure solutions are secure, scalable, accessible and aligned to both departmental and wider government strategies.

Working closely with engineers, product teams, security specialists, suppliers and senior stakeholders, you'll translate complex business requirements into robust technical solutions. You'll guide design decisions, provide architectural assurance, identify opportunities for innovation and help teams navigate complex technical challenges.

This role offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of modern workplace technology. As DWP continues to evolve its collaboration and AI capabilities, you'll help influence major technology decisions around Microsoft 365 services, AI-powered productivity tools, information governance and future ways of working.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to combine strategic thinking with technical expertise while delivering meaningful outcomes that improve services for both colleagues and citizens.

Location

You'll join us in one of our brilliant digital hubs in Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle or Sheffield, whichever is most convenient for you.

Hybrid Working

We work a hybrid model - you'll spend some time working at home and some time collaborating face to face in a hub.

Pay

We offer pay up to £81,267. That's £57,946 salary plus a Government Digital and Data Allowance of up to £23,321 subject to our assessment of your capability at interview.

Pension

You'll get a brilliant civil service pension with employer contributions worth 28.97%, worth up to £16,786 per year.

Holidays

A generous leave package starting at 26 days rising to 31 days over time.

You can also take up to 3 extra days off a month on flexi-time. You'll also get all the usual public holidays.

We have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Flexible working including flexible hours and flex-friendly policies
• Time off volunteering and charitable giving
• Bring your authentic self to work with 'I Can Be Me in DWP'
• Discounts and savings on shopping, fun days out and more
• Interest-free loans to buy a bike or a season ticket, so it's even easier for you to get to work and start making a difference
• Sports and social activities
• Professional development, coaching, mentoring and career progression opportunities.

And we have an award-winning environment and culture

• DWP have been recognised as 2024 Diversity Employer of the Year at the Computing Women in Tech Excellence awards
• Diverse and Inclusive Leadership at Digital Leaders Awards 2024
• Commended as Best Place to Work in Digital category in the Computing Digital Technology Leaders awards 2025
• Recognised as one of the Best Public Sector Employers at 2025 Women In Tech Employer Awards