Technical Architect

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA); Swansea; Hybrid; GBP 58,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Best-in-class learning & development

Flexible working options

Civil Service pension contribution 28.

On-site nursery

Free parking

Job summary

DVLA is seeking a Lead Technical Architect to shape the technical design of high-volume digital services across vehicles, payments, identity and customer platforms. You will collaborate with engineering squads, lead engineers and programme architects to deliver practical, scalable designs that align with regulatory and security requirements.

The role is permanent and hybrid from Swansea (60% office-based), offering a salary up to £82,430 (inc allowances) plus generous Civil Service pension and

Qualifications

• Architectural or engineering background
• Experience designing or delivering enterprise and cloud-based software systems such as AWS
• Knowledge of cloud-native design, data security and protecting sensitive information
• Ability to create solution designs collaboratively and iteratively with delivery teams
• Strong technical skills across end-to-end design, governance, assurance and engineering support
• Strategic thinker balancing business, product and technical priorities
• Strong communicator with senior leaders, engineers, testers and non-technical stakeholders
• Experience in large, complex or regulated environments
• Background in government, public sector or high-volume digital services
• Experience working closely with Agile software engineering squads
• Exposure to architecture governance, design assurance or technical standards
• Comfortable using Draw.io, C4, Mermaid, PlantUML, Git or Markdown

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve products across web, mobile and API platforms, staying close to how systems are built, maintained and improved
• Design and build end-to-end technical solutions, including database schema, APIs, frontend, mobile interfaces and third-party integrations
• Work directly with cloud-based technologies such as Azure and AWS, alongside C#, .NET, SQL, React, React Native, TypeScript, Node.js and Vue
• Improve high-volume transactional systems, including payment flows, locking mechanisms, reconciliation, webhooks and data integrity controls
• Support delivery through sprint planning, backlog management, code reviews, CI/CD improvements and test-driven development, while mentoring engineers and staying hands-on across the stack

Skills

Architectural background

Enterprise software design

Cloud technologies (AWS/Azure)

Collaboration with delivery teams

Strong communication

Regulated/public sector experience

Agile software development

Design governance & assurance

Familiar with design tools (Draw.io, C

Tools

Draw.io

C4

Mermaid

PlantUML

Git

Markdown

Job description

Transform digital services that affect over 53 million people across the UK!

DVLA are looking for Lead Technical Architects to support major digital change across a range of high-volume services. You will work closely with engineering and delivery teams on technical design, helping to improve existing systems, deliver new digital services and support future change across areas such as vehicles, payments, identity and customer-facing platforms. Permanent role, hybrid working from Swansea (60% office-based), salary of up to £82,430 (inc allowances, based on skills and experience) plus 29% employer pension contribution and excellent Civil Service benefits.

OPEN SESSION

Would you like to find out more about the role, the digital team and what it's like to work at DVLA? If so, DVLA are organising a familiarisation session where you can virtually 'meet the team' and an opportunity to ask questions on Monday, 17th August 1:30PM.

About role

As a Lead Technical Architect, you will be responsible for the technical design of systems and services across one or more DVLA product areas. You will work closely with engineering squads, lead engineers, delivery managers, business analysts and programme architects to develop practical designs that can be understood, delivered and maintained.

You will work on impactful projects such as the Electronic Vehicle Excise Duty programme, known as EVED - a major programme of work linked to upcoming legislative change. The work will include a mix of new development, changes to current national systems and integration between existing and new services.

You will produce high-level designs, support solution briefs, document technical decisions and work with squads to make sure designs are clear before development begins.

The role would suit someone with an engineering background who has moved into architecture, or an experienced technical architect who enjoys working closely with delivery teams.

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve products across web, mobile and API platforms, staying close to how systems are built, maintained and improved.
• Design and build end-to-end technical solutions, including database schema, APIs, frontend, mobile interfaces and third-party integrations.
• Work directly with cloud-based technologies such as Azure and AWS, alongside C#, .NET, SQL, React, React Native, TypeScript, Node.js and Vue.
• Improve high-volume transactional systems, including payment flows, locking mechanisms, reconciliation, webhooks and data integrity controls.
• Support delivery through sprint planning, backlog management, code reviews, CI/CD improvements and test-driven development, while mentoring engineers and staying hands-on across the stack.

Essential skills

• Architectural or engineering background
• Experience designing or delivering enterprise and cloud-based software systems such as AWS.
• Knowledge of cloud-native design, data security and protecting sensitive information.
• Ability to create solution designs collaboratively and iteratively with delivery teams.
• Strong technical skills across end-to-end design, governance, assurance and engineering support.
• Strategic thinker who can balance business, product and technical priorities.
• Strong communicator, able to work with senior leaders, engineers, testers and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience working in a large, complex or regulated environment.
• Background in government, public sector or high-volume digital services.
• Experience working closely with Agile software engineering squads.
• Exposure to architecture governance, design assurance or technical standards.
• Comfortable using design and technical tools such as Draw.io, C4, Mermaid, PlantUML, Git or Markdown.

Alongside your salary of £57,515 - £82,430 , Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency contributes £16,662 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• Best in class learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues
• Generous employer contribution of 28.9%, depending on chosen pension scheme
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance
• Digital communities with clear career frameworks
• On-site nursery, restaurants and coffee bar
• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays), increasing by 1 each year (up to 30) & 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King's birthday
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff
• Free parking

DVLA is entering a significant period of digital and legislative change, with a major new programme of work coming into play across its vehicle services. You'll join at an early stage, helping to support the technical design behind services that are used by millions of people across the UK.

You'll join a friendly and supportive architecture team that is moving towards a more collaborative, product-led and cloud-native way of working, with opportunities to stay close to engineering, modern tooling, AI coding assistants and future digital services.