At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and delivery of secure, scalable data architecture for millions of users.
- Company: Join DWP Digital, a leader in data innovation and transformation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous pension contributions, flexible hours, and extra holidays.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with excellent career growth and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of data architecture while making a real impact on citizens' lives.
- Qualifications: Experience in data architecture, ETL/ELT tools, and cloud environments.
The predicted salary is between 68205 - 80000 £ per year.
Pay up to £99,836, plus 28.97% employer pension contributions, hybrid working, flexible hours, and great work life balance. Are you ready to shape how data architecture works at scale across services used by millions of people every day? As a Lead Technical Architect, you'll join our Data & Analytics (D&A) function in DWP Digital - the team responsible for designing, delivering and evolving the platforms and services that unlock the value of data across the organisation.
We're undergoing significant transformation, moving towards cloud-native data solutions while managing highly sensitive data, complex integrations, and live services. You'll lead architecture that ensures data is secure, scalable and works seamlessly end-to-end, helping deliver better outcomes for citizens across the UK.
We are recruiting into two Lead roles:
- One is a hands-on leadership role within Data Enablement, shaping solution design and leading technical teams.
- The other is a cross-cutting assurance role, responsible for ensuring all layers of the data architecture work together coherently and meet government-wide standards.
Experience bringing together data from lots of different systems, including real-time and batch processing.
Strong understanding of ETL/ELT tools and how data is extracted, transformed and loaded into platforms.
Knowledge of data warehousing, data lakes, reporting and analytics tools, and how they fit together.
Ability to design architecture across cloud, on-prem and hybrid environments, considering security, networking and integration.
You'll operate at the highest level of technical leadership within Data & Analytics, helping shape how data is designed, integrated and delivered across DWP.
In one role, you'll work within our Data Enablement Layer, leading solution architecture for data products and services. In the second role, you'll operate across the entire Data & Analytics architecture, focusing on assurance and coherence. Our data landscape can be thought of as layered - covering ingestion, storage, processing and consumption - but users experience seamless services end-to-end.
Location: You'll join us in one of our brilliant digital hubs in Blackpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle or Sheffield, whichever is most convenient for you.
Hybrid Working: We work a hybrid model - you'll spend some time working at home and some time collaborating face to face in a hub.
Pension: You'll get a brilliant civil service pension with employer contributions worth 28.97%, worth up to £16,786 per year.
Holidays: You can also take up to 3 extra days off a month on flexi-time. You'll also get all the usual public holidays.
We have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
- Flexible working including flexible hours and flex-friendly policies.
- Discounts and savings on shopping, fun days out and more.
- Interest-free loans to buy a bike or a season ticket, so it's even easier for you to get to work and start making a difference.
- Professional development, coaching, mentoring and career progression opportunities.
DWP have been recognised as 2024 Diversity Employer of the Year at the Computing Women in Tech Excellence awards.
Diverse and Inclusive Leadership at Digital Leaders Awards 2024.
Commended as Best Place to Work in Digital category in the Computing Digital Technology Leaders awards 2025.
Recognised as one of the Best Public Sector Employers at 2025 Women In Tech Employer Awards.
Interview: a two stage interview online.
Lead Technical Architect (Contract) in Bradford employer: DWP Digital
DWP Digital is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where innovation meets inclusivity. With a strong focus on employee well-being, we provide flexible working hours, a generous pension scheme, and ample opportunities for professional development. Our commitment to diversity and recognition as a top public sector employer make us a rewarding place to build a meaningful career in data architecture.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Technical Architect (Contract) in Bradford
✨Showcase Your Skills with a Public Portfolio
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We think you need these skills to ace Lead Technical Architect (Contract) in Bradford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Projects:When applying for a freelance data science role like Lead Technical Architect (Contract) at DWP Digital, it’s crucial to highlight your projects. Include a portfolio that features at least two or three projects involving data analysis, machine learning, or visualisation. Make sure to describe the tools and methodologies you used, so we can see your skills in action!
Quantify Your Achievements:Freelance gigs, especially in data science, often ask for proven results. In your CV, include any relevant metrics or outcomes from your previous work. Did your analysis help reduce costs by a certain percentage? Or did your predictive model improve performance? Numbers speak volumes!
Introduce Your Style:Since freelancing is all about your individual style and approach, use your cover letter to share how you tackle data problems. This is your chance to let us know how you think, your creative problem-solving methods, and how you would approach a project at DWP Digital.
Be Real About Your Rates:When you send in your application, don’t forget to mention your freelance rates and availability. We appreciate clarity up front, and it helps us gauge if you fit within our budget and timeline. Being transparent in this aspect shows professionalism and readiness!
How to prepare for a job interview at DWP Digital
✨Show Off Your Data Wizardry
As a freelancer in data science, you'll want to present a portfolio that showcases your best projects. We should pull together examples where you tackled real problems with data analytics, machine learning models, or visualisations. It's all about demonstrating your skills in action!
✨Be Ready to Dive Deep into Technical Questions
Expect to encounter some technical grilling during the interview. Prepare to discuss statistical methods, algorithms, or maybe even tackle a live coding challenge. We should brush up on tools like Python, R, or SQL—those are key players in the data science field. Don't just know them; be ready to explain your thought process!
✨Help Them Understand Your Work Style
Freelance gigs often mean you'll be working independently, so we need to convey our self-motivation and time management skills. Be prepared to talk about how you’ve handled multiple projects or met tight deadlines before. Sharing your approach to client communication can also give them confidence in your ability to deliver remotely.
✨Pitch Your Value Proposition
When freelancing, it’s crucial to clearly articulate what makes you unique. We should highlight not just technical skills but also the business impact of our projects. Think of a couple of stories where your data insights drove decision-making—this can be a game changer in showing why they should choose you for their freelance needs!
