AI Technical Architect in Edinburgh

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) are seeking an AI‑focused Technical Architect to lead the design of secure, scalable and reusable AI‑enabled solutions. This role involves translating emerging AI capabilities into practical architectures, supporting rapid prototyping, validating concepts and guiding successful ideas from experimentation into production services.

Salary range: £67,867 to £81,793 (location dependent). Civil Service benefits include a 28.97% employer pension contribution. Flexible hybrid working is available from London, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham or Salford.

About the role

The Technical Architect will work closely with AI engineers, data specialists, cyber‑security colleagues, governance teams and multidisciplinary teams to assess feasibility, risk and value within a government environment. The role balances innovation with assurance, security, data protection and long‑term service design.

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

• Strong technical architecture experience, including designing secure, scalable and user‑centred digital services.
• Experience producing high‑level designs, translating them into practical delivery plans and taking them through governance or assurance boards.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work across agile, multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience designing or shaping AI‑enabled solutions, prototypes or proof‑of‑concepts using LLMs, OpenAI, Microsoft AI tools or similar technologies.
• Knowledge of AI governance, cyber‑security, data protection, data sovereignty and production‑readiness considerations.

Benefits

• Civil Service pension with employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Learning and development tailored to your role with expensed accreditations and study time.
• Flexible hybrid working environment with options such as condensed hours.
• Culture encouraging diversity and inclusion.
• Annual leave starting at 25 days, increasing with each year of service.
• Three paid volunteering days a year.
• Employee benefits programme including cycle‑to‑work scheme and season ticket loans.
• Bonus and discount schemes, including rewards and vouchers.
• Family‑friendly policies including maternity, adoption and shared parental leave.

Additional Information

Location salary ranges: London £71,590‑£85,413; other locations £67,867‑£81,793. Hybrid working requires approximately 40% in‑office per month (typically 2 days/week). Options for condensed hours are available. The role requires SC clearance. You must have been present in the UK for 3 of the past 5 years. DBT does not hold a UKVI Skilled Worker Licence and cannot sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Why Join DBT

This opportunity allows you to work on modern, varied and meaningful technology programmes that support trade, business and economic growth across the UK. You will join a collaborative architecture community where your experience shapes technical direction, improves services and supports teams to deliver well‑designed, secure and resilient solutions.