Job Description
Technical Architect
Central Government Programme | Defence Environment Andover HQ (2 days onsite per week) £110,000 - £120,000 + package SC Clearance required
Overview
An opportunity has opened for a Technical Architect to join a high-security central government programme supporting a major defence-related capability. This is a hands-on architecture role where you will take ownership of complex system design across large-scale, secure environments, ensuring solutions are robust, compliant, and aligned to wider enterprise strategy.
You will operate across multi-disciplinary teams, providing technical leadership from early concept through to delivery, governance, and ongoing optimisation.
Key Responsibilities
You will:
* Lead the end-to-end technical design of complex systems and services
* Define, review, and assure architectural solutions across the full delivery lifecycle
* Provide governance and technical oversight across development and integration activity
* Conduct impact assessments, design reviews, and risk evaluation of solution changes
* Translate business and technical requirements into scalable, secure architectures
* Ensure adherence to enterprise standards, security principles, and regulatory requirements
* Apply architectural principles across software, infrastructure, cloud, and integration layers
* Support secure solution design aligned to government and defence security standards
* Contribute to architecture boards, governance forums, and technical decision-making
* Provide mentoring, guidance, and architectural leadership to delivery teams
* Support pre-sales / bid activity including solution shaping, estimation, and client engagement
* Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend improvements across platforms and services
* Lead or support proof of concepts and technical demonstrations
Technical Environment
Strong experience required in:
* Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC)
* Cloud platforms (AWS or Azure)
* DevOps / CI/CD toolchains and practices
* Microservices and web services architecture
* REST, SOAP, JSON-based integrations
* Identity and access management (SAML, OAuth, OpenID Connect, Active Directory, LDAP, ADFS)
* Secure application development (Java or .NET)
* Agile delivery environments
* API-driven architectures
* Security frameworks and principles (OWASP, NCSC guidance)
* Data protection and GDPR-compliant design
Desirable Experience
* Defence, central government or highly regulated environments
* SC cleared environments
* Data architecture and modern data platforms
* Real-time data integration, APIs, streaming or IoT
* AI or emerging technology solutions
* Public sector procurement / bid support exposure
* Industry certifications (AWS, Azure, Microsoft or equivalent)
About You
* Has operated as a Technical Architect or Senior Solution Architect in complex environments
* Can operate across both hands-on technical design and stakeholder engagement
* Understands how to balance security, scalability, and delivery constraints
* Is confident working in governance-heavy, regulated environments
* Can influence senior stakeholders and translate complexity into clear decisions