At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design of digital architecture for vital health and disability benefits.
- Company: Join DWP Digital, a leader in transforming public services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous pension, flexible working, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Work in a hybrid model from various digital hubs across the UK.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by shaping services used by millions every day.
- Qualifications: Experience in technical architecture and leadership in digital projects.
The predicted salary is between 60750 - 74250 £ per year.
Do you want to define the technical architecture behind services that help millions of people access vital health and disability benefits? We're looking for a Lead Technical Architect to join DWP Digital's Health Assessment Service (HAS), leading the design and governance of modern digital architecture that supports the assessment of eligibility for benefits including Personal Independence Payment (PIP). You'll play a critical role in one of DWP's most important transformation programmes, helping to create secure, resilient and user-centred digital services that make a real difference to people's lives.
As a senior leader within HAS, you'll work alongside product, engineering, delivery and design colleagues to shape technical strategy, influence technology decisions and ensure solutions align with DWP's long-term architectural vision. You'll provide technical leadership across multiple delivery teams, driving consistency, quality and innovation while supporting the delivery of complex services at scale.
This is an opportunity to lead architecture within one of the UK's largest digital estates. You'll solve complex technical challenges, mentor architects, influence senior stakeholders and help deliver services used by millions of citizens every day.
- Designing complex technical solutions across cloud, on-premises and hybrid environments, considering networking, security, integration, databases and application services.
- Working closely with delivery teams throughout the full project lifecycle, from early discovery and design through to live service.
- Designing event-driven solutions using patterns such as publish-subscribe and data streaming.
- Designing microservice and API-led architectures that enable scalable, maintainable and well-integrated digital services.
As our Lead Technical Architect, you'll set the architectural direction and help shape the digital platforms that support health and disability benefit assessments across the UK. From cloud-based platforms and event-driven architectures to microservices and API-led integrations, you'll help teams build services that are consistent, scalable and capable of supporting millions of users while meeting demanding delivery timelines.
You'll mentor architects, drive best practice, influence senior stakeholders and help teams navigate complex technical challenges.
Location: You'll join us in one of our brilliant digital hubs in Blackpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester or Newcastle, 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.
Salary: That's £75,026 plus a Government Digital and Data Allowance of up to £21,667 subject to our assessment of your capability at interview.
Pension: You'll get a brilliant civil service pension with employer contributions worth 28.97%, worth up to £21,735 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, and Recognised as one of the Best Public Sector Employers at 2025 Women In Tech Employer Awards.
Interview: a two-stage interview online.
Locations
Lead Digital Technical Architect in Cheshire, Warrington employer: DWP Digital
DWP Digital is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation in the heart of Leeds. With a competitive starting salary of £70,000 and a comprehensive benefits package, including a civil service pension, employees enjoy flexibility through a hybrid working model, allowing for a healthy work-life balance. The company prioritises employee growth, providing ample opportunities for professional development while working with cutting-edge technologies like VXLAN and next-generation firewalls.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Digital Technical Architect in Cheshire, Warrington
✨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 DWP Digital 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
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to DWP Digital.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
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 DWP Digital.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like DWP Digital that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Digital Technical Architect in Cheshire, Warrington
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 DWP Digital.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at DWP Digital 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 DWP Digital
✨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 DWP Digital 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.
