Lead Technical Architect, Networks & Infrastructure - Home Office - G7

Croydon CR0 2WF, Liverpool L3 9AF, Manchester M5 3LZ, Sheffield S3 8NU, Southport PR8 2HH, Glasgow G4 0BT, Cardiff CF24 0AB.

Our engineering architecture community shapes the network foundations that keep the Home Office connected and secure. In Networks & Infrastructure (N&I) Network Engineering, you'll lead the definition and delivery of end to end network architectures across campus, Wide Area Network (WAN)/Software-Defined WAN, data centre, cloud connectivity and edge, ensuring solutions are robust, secure by design, and aligned to business outcomes.

You'll work collaboratively with engineering squads, the CTO office, and suppliers to turn designs into operational solutions. In this role, you'll analyse technical and service issues, create actionable architectures and roadmaps, and drive simplification, reuse, and standards for better platform interoperability and rapid change.

You'll clearly explain architectural choices to all stakeholders, ensure reliability and resilience, and provide governance and assurance for major projects, guiding solution engineers through design and transition.

You'll coach teams, promote learning, and foster continuous improvement to protect user experience during high-priority incidents. We seek a pragmatic architect with network engineering expertise, strong analytical skills, and a holistic view.

You're comfortable in dynamic, multi-supplier settings, balancing strategy and delivery, and motivated to enhance network safety and scalability.

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.

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.

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.

Essential Skills

• Consistent track record of ability to lead complex technical network architectures, championing innovation and best practices.
• Proven hands on experience in core network engineering concepts including switching, routing, firewalling, load balancing, wireless networks, segmentation, and network security.
• 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, engineers or technical professionals.