Telecoms Architect

National Physical Laboratory; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced pension

Flexible working

Job summary

UK Telecoms Lab (UKTL) is seeking a Telecoms Architect to shape security research and testing for the UK's telecoms ecosystem. You will lead architectural governance, evaluate emerging technologies, and define roadmaps that keep UKTL at the cutting edge.

Based in Birmingham with weekly commute to the lab, you will collaborate with industry, government, vendors, and academia to advance secure, scalable telecoms architectures and publish technical insights for technical and non-technical audiences.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in telecommunications architecture across mobile, fixed, and emerging network technologies.

Responsibilities

• Provide architectural leadership across UKTL and roadmap.
• Identify emerging telecoms technologies for security research programs.
• Mentor colleagues and develop technical capability across the organisation.
• Collaborate with Research, Testing, Engineering and Programme teams to bring new technologies into the lab environment.
• Evaluate new products, technologies and vendor solutions through PoCs and assessments.
• Design secure, scalable and resilient architectures to support UKTL’s objectives.
• Define and maintain the technical roadmap for systems under test and governance.
• Lead architectural governance activities including design reviews and assurance.
• Analyse new technologies for vulnerabilities and research opportunities.
• Build relationships with operators, vendors, researchers, standards bodies and partner labs.
• Produce technical papers, reports and presentations for diverse audiences.
• Represent UKTL at conferences and customer engagements.

Skills

Telecommunications architecture

4G/5G knowledge

RAN/Open RAN

Cloud-native architectures

Microservices

APIs

Security architecture

Stakeholder engagement

Architecture governance

Analytical skills

Education

Solution Architecture certification

EA frameworks knowledge (TOGAF/Zachman)

Tools

TOGAF

Zachman

Job description

About the Role

Salary for UKTL specialist roles are benchmarked against the external market and may include additional compensation to recognise in‑demand technical expertise.

Shape the Future of Telecoms Security

At UK Telecoms Lab (UKTL), we're building the UK’s leading capability for telecoms security testing and research. As a Telecoms Architect, you'll play a pivotal role in identifying, evaluating, and shaping the technologies that will underpin the future of communications.

This is more than a traditional architecture role.

You'll be at the forefront of emerging telecoms technologies, working across industry, government, vendors, operators, and academia to understand what's next, assess security implications, and help define how the UK's telecoms ecosystem can be made more secure and resilient.

If you're passionate about telecoms innovation, enjoy solving complex technical challenges, and want the opportunity to influence the industry's future direction, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Be Doing

As our Telecoms Architect, you'll become a trusted technical authority across UKTL, providing architectural leadership and helping shape our technology and security research roadmap. You'll:

• Identify and evaluate emerging telecoms technologies for future security testing and research programmes.
• Mentor colleagues and help develop technical capability across the wider organisation.
• Work closely with Research, Testing, Engineering, and Programme teams to bring new technologies into the lab environment.
• Evaluate new products, technologies, and vendor solutions through proof‑of‑concept and assessment activities.
• Design secure, scalable, and resilient architectures that support UKTL’s testing and research objectives.
• Define and maintain the technical roadmap for systems under test, ensuring UKTL remains at the cutting edge of telecoms security.
• Lead architectural governance activities, including design reviews and technical assurance.
• Analyse new technologies and identify potential vulnerabilities, security challenges, and research opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with operators, vendors, researchers, standards bodies, and partner laboratories to support collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Produce technical papers, reports, and presentations for both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Represent UKTL at conferences, industry forums, and customer engagements, sharing insights and influencing industry thinking.

Successful Applicants must be able to commute to the UKTL offices in Birmingham at least twice a week.

We strive to offer a great work‑life balance - if you are looking for full‑time, part‑time or flexible options, we will try to make this work where business possible. This will be dependent on the kind of role you do and part of the business you work in.

About You

We're looking for someone who combines deep technical expertise with curiosity, strategic thinking, and a passion for emerging technologies.

What We’re Looking For

• Significant experience in telecommunications architecture across mobile, fixed, and emerging network technologies.
• Strong knowledge of technologies such as 4G, 5G, RAN/Open RAN, Fixed Broadband, Private Networks, eSIM, and Non‑Terrestrial Networks (NTN).
• Experience defining technology roadmaps and influencing strategic technical decisions.
• A strong understanding of cloud‑native architectures, microservices, APIs, virtualisation, automation, and orchestration technologies.
• Experience designing secure, scalable, and highly resilient architectures.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and confidently.
• Experience leading architecture reviews, governance activities, and technical assurance processes.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, particularly within complex technical environments.

It Would Be Great If You Also Have

• Experience within telecoms security, assurance, testing, or research environments.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks and secure‑by‑design principles.
• A recognised Solution Architecture certification.
• Experience with Enterprise Architecture frameworks such as TOGAF or Zachman.
• Experience publishing technical papers, speaking at industry events, or contributing to telecommunications standards and working groups.

Why Join UKTL?

At UKTL, you'll have a unique opportunity to influence the future of UK telecommunications.

You'll work alongside leading experts in telecoms, security, and research, gaining exposure to cutting‑edge technologies while helping strengthen the resilience and security of critical national infrastructure.

If you're excited by innovation, emerging technologies, and solving some of the most important challenges facing the telecoms industry today, this could be the role for you.

Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert.

Required Clearance

You will need to hold an SC clearance with no restrictions. You may apply without already holding SC clearance; however, you will not be able to start in post until the clearance has been successfully granted.

About Us

UKTL is building leading‑edge telecoms testing facilities to keep our telecommunications networks safe, accelerate the roll‑out of new technologies, and grow our world‑leading telecoms sector to maintain resilience and security.

We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in this specific area means that nationality, residency and security requirements are more tightly defined than others.

NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age. Applications from women, disabled and Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

We offer a wealth of above‑industry standard benefits, such as an enhanced pension scheme, flexible working and more.