At a Glance
- Tasks: Design secure, user-centred services and lead technical teams on innovative projects.
- Company: Join the Department for Business and Trade, shaping the future of UK trade and economy.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, excellent Civil Service benefits, and a generous pension contribution.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid working with opportunities for career development in a collaborative environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on meaningful technology programmes that drive economic growth.
- Qualifications: Experience in cloud solutions, strong design skills, and ability to lead technical teams.
The predicted salary is between 67867 - 85413 £ per year.
Join a team at the heart of the global economy! The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) are seeking experienced Technical Architects to support major digital and technology programmes. This is an opportunity to design secure, modern and user-centred services, provide technical leadership and help deliver solutions that support UK trade, business growth and the wider economy.
About role: DBT are seeking 4 Technical Architects to join their growing, collaborative team. These roles offer the opportunity to shape the technical direction of services, influencing design decisions from early discovery through to live operations. You will be responsible for the overall technical design of services, ensuring they meet user needs, align with organisational goals, and adhere to time and budget constraints. You will also contribute to portfolio-level strategy and governance, helping to shape the future of digital delivery at DBT. DBT’s technology stack includes Python/Django, Node.js/React within cloud services such as AWS and Azure. They optimise our architecture for change, enabling continuous improvement and innovation.
Responsibilities:
- Define and champion the technical strategy for services, ensuring alignment with user needs, business goals and DDaT standards.
- Lead technical specialists across multiple projects, solving complex architectural challenges and owning the technical design of services.
- Design and assure secure, open-source and user-centred systems, including integration, interoperability, cloud quality, security and performance.
- Provide technical governance, present designs to boards such as the Technical Design Authority, and collaborate with architects across DBT to ensure alignment.
- Horizon scan for emerging technologies, contribute to the architecture community, mentor peers and support capability development within the profession.
Essential skills:
- Proven experience designing and delivering secure cloud solutions using AWS and/or Azure.
- Strong experience producing high-level designs and taking them through governance, including Architecture Review Boards or Technical Design Authority.
- Ability to work closely with development teams to translate high-level designs into practical low-level designs aligned to standards.
- Proven ability to lead technical teams and deliver user-focused services within agile environments.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
DBT are recruiting Technical Architects across several specialist areas. You will have a core architecture skillset but may bring experience in one of the following areas:
- AI-focused architecture: Experience with AI-enabled solutions, LLMs, Microsoft AI tools, OpenAI or similar technologies, with an understanding of AI governance, data protection, data sovereignty and cyber security considerations.
- Cloud-focused architecture: Experience designing secure cloud solutions across AWS and/or Azure, including cloud networking, platform design, resilience, security, performance and technical governance.
- Application-focused architecture: A software engineering background, ideally with exposure to Python, APIs, databases, agile delivery and the ability to work closely with development teams on technical design.
- ERP-focused architecture: Experience with ERP implementation, design, integration or migration, including how ERP platforms connect with existing systems, data flows and business processes.
Additional information:
Salary is dependent on location and technical skills as assessed at interview. London based range: £71,590 to £85,413. National range: £67,867 to £81,793. Hybrid working includes 40% in-office working / month (typically 2 days/week), hours are flexible and condensed hours are an option. Office locations are: London, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham or Salford. Please apply with a CV that shows evidence against the listed “Essential criteria” above. HMLR does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. This role requires SC clearance, a condition of which is to have been present in the UK for 3 out of the past 5 years.
Why join DBT? This is an opportunity to work on modern, varied and meaningful technology programmes that support trade, business and economic growth across the UK. DBT offers the chance to work in a cloud-first environment, contribute to emerging AI capability, support major digital services and be involved in large-scale transformation across government. You will join a collaborative architecture community where your experience will help shape technical direction, improve services and support teams to deliver well-designed, secure and resilient solutions. For someone who enjoys solving complex technical problems, influencing strategy and working closely with delivery teams, this is a strong opportunity to make a real impact across a broad and important digital estate.
Apply now or contact Zee in complete confidence.
Technical Architect in Edinburgh employer: Department for Business and Trade
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is an exceptional employer, offering Technical Architects the chance to work on impactful digital programmes that drive UK trade and economic growth. With a strong focus on collaboration, employee development, and a flexible hybrid working model across multiple locations, DBT fosters a supportive work culture where innovation thrives. Employees benefit from excellent Civil Service perks, including a generous pension contribution, and the opportunity to shape the future of technology in government.
Contact Details:
Department for Business and Trade Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Architect in Edinburgh
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Department for Business and Trade or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
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Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Department for Business and Trade.
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We think you need these skills to ace Technical Architect in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Department for Business and Trade.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Department for Business and Trade and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Department for Business and Trade
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Department for Business and Trade uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
