Lead Technical Architect, Enterprise Services

Job summary

As a Lead Technical Architect, you will drive the design and implementation of enterprise-wide technical solutions that shape our future business capabilities. Leading cross-functional teams, you’ll ensure alignment with broader government strategies while guiding solutions around modern technologies like cloud, AI, and more.

With a focus on security, agility, and innovation, you’ll oversee multiple projects, mentor fellow architects, and collaborate with senior stakeholders. This is a pivotal role for an experienced leader passionate about delivering impactful solutions that support both user needs and organisational goals.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. Where this is the case, employees will be expected to spend a minimum of  60% of their working time in the office . Applicants can raise any queries to the email address at the bottom of the advert.  

Watch this short video to hear from members of Home Office Digital talking about the projects they work on and their experience of working here: Working for Home Office Digital.

Recruitment Event

We are hosting online recruitment events on 08/09/2026 and 10/09/2026 from 13:00 to 13:45, where you can find out more about our roles, working for Home Office Digital and how to apply. Register your interest here:

Home Office Digital: How to write a strong application Tickets, Tuesday, September 8 • 1 PM - 1:45 PM GMT+1 , Eventbrite

Understanding Home Office Digital interviews Tickets, Thursday, September 10 • 1 PM - 1:45 PM GMT+1 , Eventbrite

Job description

As a Lead Technical Architect, you will proactively shape and deliver infrastructure and technical solutions across multiple projects or teams.

You will ensure solutions align with the wider enterprise architecture and strategic goals, leveraging modern technologies to drive innovative outcomes.

Collaborating with a range of stakeholders - including senior leadership, cross-functional teams, and external partners - you will 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.

Through clear, concise communication, you will secure buy-in for architectural initiatives and mentor junior architects to foster a high-performing architecture community.

By evaluating emerging trends, incorporating lessons learned, and championing best practices, you will keep the technical estate flexible and future-proof, positioning the organisation for ongoing success.

Person specification

Main Responsibilities

• Define and maintain enterprise-wide technical strategies, roadmaps, and architectures aligned with broader business objectives.
• Oversee design reviews, incorporating “Secure by Design” principles and compliance with architectural governance.
• Coordinate with cross-government teams and external partners to ensure cohesive, integrated solutions.
• Drive digital innovation by evaluating emerging technologies, embracing best practices, and championing continuous improvement.
• Mentor and coach architects, fostering a culture of collaboration and technical excellence.
• Facilitate the design and delivery of complex systems, ensuring performance, reliability, and security requirements are met.
• Lead multiple projects, collaborating with stakeholders to address risks, budgets, and timelines.
• Evaluate outcomes and integrate lessons learned into future strategies, enabling sustainable, long-term solutions.

Working Pattern

This role is available on a full-time basis with the option of compressed hours working. This role is also suitable for part-time working hours, with a minimum requirement to work 3 days per week due to business requirements.

Essential Skills

• 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.
• Aptitude for anticipating future technologies and aligning solutions with broader strategies and business outcomes.
• 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.

SFIA capability framework  

Skills for the Information Age (SFIA) version 8 is the technical framework that sets the standard capability and development of all levels in the Home Office. This is a link to the capability framework:   All skills A - Z English (sfia-online.org) .

We use set SFIA technical skills to form our interview questions and we will assess you against these technical skills during the selection process.

The essential skills listed above are reflective of the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession Career Framework (based on the industry standard SFIA framework). Use the SFIA Levels of responsibility to understand what would be expected for each technical skills listed below.

• Innovation (INOV) – Level 3
• Enterprise and Business Architecture (STPL) – Level 3
• Strategic Planning (ITSP) – Level 3
• Solution Architecture (ARCH) – Level 5
• Consultancy (CNSL) – Level 4
• Specialist Advice (TECH) – Level 4

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Innovation (INOV) – Level 3
• Enterprise and Business Architecture (STPL) – Level 3
• Strategic Planning (ITSP) – Level 3
• Solution Architecture (ARCH) – Level 5
• Consultancy (CNSL) – Level 4
• Specialist Advice (TECH) – Level 4

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £62,732, Home Office contributes

£18,173 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Why work for us...  

Find out more information at : Benefits - Home Office Careers, but some of the primary ones are:

• 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.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service.
• 8 days of public holidays, plus 1 additional privilege day.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.

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Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and 1000-word personal statement:

• CV – include a brief employment history outlining for each role, the organisation, job title, dates in post, and key responsibilities and achievements. Any recent employment gaps should be explained. A second section should set out the skills and experience most relevant to this role, drawing on your career, training, and other relevant activities without repeating the employment history. Focus on the evidence that best demonstrates your capability to meet the role requirements.
• Personal statement - this should present a clear and coherent narrative explaining why you are applying, what you would bring to the role, and how your experience meets the essential criteria. Use well ‑ chosen examples to illustrate your impact, drawing on STAR ‑ style thinking where helpful, but ensure the statement reads as a single, flowing document rather than a set of isolated responses.

To ensure you are assessed on merit alone, we ask you to anonymise your application. This means removing personal identifiers such as your name, age, and place of education. You do not need to remove your employment history, job titles, or any information about your work.

Watch our three short videos on how to apply for our roles: Applying - Home Office Careers.

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website .

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

Sift Stage

The sift will be held on the CV and Personal Statement . Please read the essential skills for this position carefully. We will only consider those who meet the listed requirements.

In the event of a high number of applications received, an initial sift may be held on the Personal Statement.

Interview Stage   

Candidates reaching the required standard will then be invited to attend an interview. The interview will assess your Technical Skills (SFIA Framework) and Behaviours using technical and behaviour-based questions.

If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks. Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.   

• Sift and Interview dates  
•  
• The sift will commence from  16/09/ 2026. 
•  
• Interviews are expected to take place from 05/10/2026.    (Subject to the Panel’s operational requirements/priorities). 
• Interviews will be conducted remotely via MS Teams.  

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates. 

Further information   

If you have previously made an unsuccessful application for a role with the same essential skills and are not able to demonstrate how you have developed these skills since your last application, please reconsider applying as your application is unlikely to be successful.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms directly. If you are doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Reserve List    

A reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Sho