Salary: £66,229 (Croydon) plus skills allowance of up to £18,291 pending assessment.
Location: Croydon on a hybrid basis
Advert Close: 11:55 pm Monday 18th May 2026
Please note that this role requires Security Check (SC) clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years.
What you\'ll bring to the role
Home Office Biometrics delivers secure, lawful biometric services (fingerprints, DNA and face) that support policing, border security and identity assurance across the UK government.
As a Lead Technical Architect, you will proactively shape the technical solutions across multiple partners including the Forensic Information Database unit (FINDS) and wider Policing stakeholders. You don’t need to be an expert in DNA sequencing; we need you to work between the user (Policing / FINDS / Regulators) to convert their requirements into a solution to be implemented with our technical delivery partners. You will ensure the solution aligns with the wider enterprise.
Collaborating with a range of stakeholders, cross-functional teams, and external partners, you will need to make decisions that balance near-term delivery with long-term scalability, security, and maintainability.
You will define and evolve technical roadmaps, advise on strategic technology investments, and identify opportunities for continual improvement.
* Consistent track record of ability to lead complex technical architectures, championing innovation and best practices.
* Experience working across multiple domains or projects, coordinating with third-party suppliers and cross-government teams.
* Expertise in delivering secure, reliable, and scalable systems within defined time and quality constraints.
* Strong grasp of agile methodologies, DevOps principles, and design patterns, paired with enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF).
* Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, translating complex technical topics for diverse audiences.
* Demonstrated leadership in mentoring or guiding other architects or technical professionals.
What\'s in it for you?
* A civil service pension with employer contribution rates of at least 28.97%.
* In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
* The ability to potentially adopt flexible working options that suit your work/life balance, plus the opportunity in future to take a career break.
* 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service.
* Eight days public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
* 26 weeks maternity, adoption or shared parental leave at full pay, followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid, after qualifying service.
* Maternity and adoption support leave (also known as paternity leave) of two weeks full pay, after qualifying service.
* Paid leave for fostering approval processes, support when a child is substantively placed with you plus a foster to adopt policy.
* Support for guardians and kinship carers.
* Corporate membership of ‘Employers for Carers’ providing additional information and advice for carers, plus a ‘Carer’s Passport’ to discuss workplace needs and underpin supportive conversations.
* Time off to deal with emergencies and certain other unplanned special circumstances.
See job advert for full info!
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