At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and evolve technology for public services used by millions.
- Company: Join DWP Digital, a leader in public sector digital transformation.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, generous leave, flexible working, and a strong pension scheme.
- Other info: Award-winning culture with diverse opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Shape impactful technology solutions and grow your architectural skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in application design across various environments and strong problem-solving skills.
The predicted salary is between 44447 - 60920 £ per year.
Are you ready to move beyond hands‑on engineering and start shaping how systems are designed at scale? As a Technical Architect in DWP Digital, you'll join a collaborative, multidisciplinary team responsible for designing and evolving the technology that underpins services used by millions of people across the UK. You'll work alongside experienced architects and engineers to help create modern, scalable, and resilient digital solutions in one of the largest transformation programmes in Europe. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a strong technical background who is ready to step into architectural thinking. You'll influence how services are designed, support decision‑making across complex systems, and contribute to building user‑centred solutions that make a meaningful difference to people's lives.
The scale of what we do is extraordinary, and our purpose is unique. We'd love you to join us.
What skills, knowledge and experience will you need?
- Experience designing applications across cloud, on‑premise, or hybrid environments, considering areas such as networking, security, databases, and integrations.
- An understanding of architecture principles and how to apply design patterns, standards, and best practices to real‑world solutions.
- Experience working with delivery teams to design solutions across the full lifecycle, from initial concept to go live.
- Ability to turn business needs into clear technical designs that others can understand, build from, and demonstrate.
- Familiarity with using modelling approaches or tools to represent architecture and explain solutions clearly.
We're looking for someone ready to move beyond pure engineering and grow into a senior Architect, supported by clear development pathways and long‑term progression in DWP Digital.
You and your role
As a Technical Architect in DWP Digital, you'll help shape the design and delivery of systems that support critical public services. You'll take structured approaches to solving technical problems, producing designs that are secure, scalable, and aligned to wider architectural strategies. Working as part of a multidisciplinary environment, you'll collaborate closely with engineers, product teams, and other architects to influence solution design and ensure consistency across services. You'll identify opportunities to reuse existing components, improve design approaches, and drive better technical outcomes across complex systems. You’ll also play an important role in governance and assurance, helping teams make informed decisions by clearly presenting architectural designs and explaining trade‑offs to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
This is a hands‑on development opportunity where you’ll deepen your technical expertise while building your architectural capability. You’ll be supported by experienced architects and surrounded by a strong technical community, giving you the space to grow your influence and take on increasingly complex challenges over time.
If you're someone who enjoys solving problems, is curious about how systems fit together, and wants to play a bigger role in shaping technology decisions, this is a role where you can truly develop and make an impact at scale.
Location: You’ll join us in one of our brilliant digital hubs in Birmingham, Blackpool, 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.
Pay: We offer pay up to £60,920. That’s £44,447 salary plus a Government Digital and Data Allowance of up to £16,473 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 £12,867 per year.
Holidays: A generous leave package starting at 26 days rising to 31 days over time. 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
- Time off volunteering and charitable giving
- Bring your authentic self to work with ‘I Can Be Me in DWP’
- 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
- Sports and social activities
- Professional development, coaching, mentoring and career progression opportunities.
And we have an award‑winning environment and culture:
- 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
Process: We know your time is valuable so our application and selection process is just two stages:
- Apply: complete your application on Civil Service Jobs. There’ll be full instructions when you click through.
- Interview: a two‑stage interview online. Click APPLY for more information and to start your application.
Senior Technical Architect — Scalable, Secure Public Services in Manchester employer: DWP Digital
DWP Digital is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to shape the design and delivery of critical public services while working in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide clear development pathways, flexible working arrangements, and a generous benefits package, including a robust pension scheme and ample leave. Our award-winning culture promotes diversity and inclusion, making DWP Digital a rewarding place to build a meaningful career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Technical Architect — Scalable, Secure Public Services in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at DWP Digital on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by diving deep into DWP's projects and values. Show us that you understand their mission and how your skills can help shape technology decisions that impact millions.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms. You’ll need to communicate with both techies and non-techies, so being able to break things down is key to impressing us during the interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to showcase your problem-solving skills! Be ready to discuss past experiences where you tackled challenges head-on, especially in designing scalable and secure systems.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Technical Architect — Scalable, Secure Public Services in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the role. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for in a Senior Technical Architect.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t just list your skills; demonstrate them! Provide examples of how you've designed applications across different environments and how you've tackled complex technical challenges in the past.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, clarity is key. Use straightforward language to explain your architectural thinking and ensure that your designs are easy to understand for both technical and non-technical audiences.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves, and you'll find all the details you need to get started!
How to prepare for a job interview at DWP Digital
✨Understand the Role Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the Senior Technical Architect role and its responsibilities. Familiarise yourself with the key skills mentioned in the job description, such as designing applications across cloud and hybrid environments. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Prepare Real-World Examples
Think of specific projects where you've designed scalable and secure systems. Be ready to discuss the challenges you faced, the decisions you made, and how you collaborated with teams. This will demonstrate your ability to turn business needs into clear technical designs, which is crucial for this role.
✨Brush Up on Architectural Principles
Since the role involves architectural thinking, review key architecture principles, design patterns, and best practices. Be prepared to explain how you've applied these in past projects. This shows that you can contribute to building user-centred solutions and influence design decisions effectively.
✨Practice Explaining Complex Concepts Simply
You’ll need to present architectural designs to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms. This skill will be vital in helping teams make informed decisions and ensuring consistency across services.
