Senior Technical Architect- Cloud Services and Infrastructure

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 59,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department is seeking a Senior Technical Architect to lead a small team in Manchester. You will assess requests related to new and existing services, manage core operations, and develop solutions with a focus on Azure and AWS technologies. The ideal candidate has experience as an enterprise architect and is knowledgeable about security compliance. The role offers a salary ranging from £59,586 to £70,011, with flexible working arrangements possible.

Benefits

Civil Service pension schemes

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Experience in an enterprise environment integrating various technical elements.
• Experience as an enterprise architect designing secure and resilient solutions.
• Ability to translate business and technical stakeholders' needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead a small team to assess requests related to new and existing services.
• Manage day-to-day operations of core services.
• Develop strategies and roadmaps with enterprise architects.

Skills

Azure

AWS

Cyber Security

Terraform

Agile methodologies

Network security best practices

Education

Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert

AWS Solutions Architect Professional

Job description

Overview

Senior Technical Architect role at MHCLG. You will lead a small team to assess organisation requests related to new and existing services, identify overall solutions to meet needs, and work with Azure, AWS and Cyber Security teams to drive required work forward.

You will manage day-to-day operations of core services (such as DNS, data, mail, and systems/migrations/integrations) and Zscaler administration, evaluate changes to infrastructure to enable new services, and ensure alignment with target architecture and broader technical strategy.

You will translate business requirements into solution designs, manage migrations, and develop, maintain, automate, monitor, audit, and de-provision services using Infrastructure-as-Code or other tools. You will ensure solutions are secure and compliant, and obtain sign-off at relevant checkpoints. You will also line-manage and mentor engineers and other teams on architectural techniques.

Responsibilities

• Lead a small team that assesses requests relating to new and existing services, identifying solutions that meet requirements.
• Collaborate with dedicated Azure, AWS and Cyber Security teams to drive required work forward.
• Manage day-to-day operations of core services (DNS, data, mail, migrations/integrations, Zscaler administration) and evaluate changes to infrastructure for new services.
• Identify changes to Azure, AWS or other services that enable new services while aligning with target architecture and technical strategy.
• Evaluate impact of proposed changes on the current cloud estate and core IT services such as M365.
• Line-manage engineers, educate, mentor and coach to improve capabilities and skills.
• Articulate the impact of technologies on cost, capacity, risk and transformation objectives.
• Manage migration of systems, services and data; develop, maintain, automate, monitor, audit and de-provision using IaC or other tools.
• Ensure solutions are secure and compliant; work with cyber-security to design well and obtain sign-off at checkpoints.
• Triage new requirements and translate business/non-functional requirements into solution designs across multiple technologies and experts.

Qualifications

• Experience in an enterprise environment integrating various technical elements to provide an overall solution within Azure, AWS or SaaS services.
• Experience as an enterprise architect, designing secure, reliable and resilient solutions to meet business needs.
• Ability to work with business and technology stakeholders to translate problems into technical designs with appropriate risk and complexity considerations.
• Experience developing strategies and roadmaps with enterprise and AWS/Azure architects, including as-is/to-be/transitional states.
• Experience working in fast-paced environments using Agile and Waterfall methodologies.
• Prior use of Terraform as code for deploying and maintaining cloud infrastructure.
• Experience with modern authentication, authorization and identity management systems to provide seamless SaaS/cloud experiences.
• Knowledge of network security best practices, including Zero Trust (Zscaler), IAM/Entra and encryption standards.
• Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert or AWS Solutions Architect Professional certification.

Context and Benefits

MHCLG operates with flexibility across locations; London or Manchester as primary sites. The role sits within the technology team delivering modern services on Microsoft Azure, AWS, Microsoft 365 and other SaaS/desktop apps.

Salary: £59,586 - £64,641 (National) or £64,979 - £70,011 (London); a digital allowance may apply based on capability and location. MHCLG participates in Civil Service pension schemes with employer contributions.

Flexible working arrangements may be possible; specifics discussed with the vacancy manager. This role requires security screening and nationality checks in line with Civil Service requirements.