Lead Digital Technical Architect in Northampton

At FCDO Services we protect the UK’s interests at home and overseas. We design and construct secure government buildings and courier diplomatic packages worldwide, safeguard government tech and a whole lot more. Our work is as varied and vital as it gets, but we never lose sight of our people. Their skills, aspirations and growth mean as much as the global mission we’re on. In our world, it all matters.

Our Technology and Operations team is at the forefront of digital solutions and services for FCDO and Government. They provide best in-class solutions for our clients, helping to shape and support a data driven future for UK government. Whether it’s creating bespoke, secure software, offering programme and application support or moving an entire embassy’s servers to a Cloud platform. No matter the task, they are on hand to support. Join them in this important role and you’ll have the opportunity to lead them on the next stage of our exciting journey.

• Providing innovation to government partners
• Delivering best-in-class solutions
• Working at the cutting-edge of technology
• Use all your specialist technical skills as you help to protect the UK’s interests

When you join us in this new role, you’ll have the vital task of delivering infrastructure and network architecture across a range of domains, working on services including automation, monitoring, security and identity management. Working within the Chief Technical Officer’s Office, the role plays a key part in coordinating resources to support project delivery and operational teams, contributing to governance, technical and operational activities, and helping to shape and manage enterprise architecture across FCDO Services. You'll also develop robust, secure and cost-effective technical designs that align with our strategic objectives and enterprise architecture, provide expert guidance and technical leadership within the Architecture and Delivery teams, and ensure the solutions delivered are scalable, resilient, and meet business and user needs.

You’ll also take on a broad range of responsibilities, including contributing to the Technical Design Authority by reviewing infrastructure and network proposals and influencing the organisation’s strategic direction for infrastructure and networking. Other aspects of the role include developing technical roadmaps aligned with technological trends and organisational objectives, maintaining accurate architecture documentation, evaluating emerging technologies, establishing infrastructure and network architecture standards that drive quality, managing a team of technical architects, providing expert guidance to operational teams, mentoring less experienced colleagues, and contributing to design and delivery forums.

To be a success in this busy, fast-paced role you should have well developed experience of delivering secure, complex infrastructure and network solutions that align with business and security objectives, and be skilled at incorporating business continuity, disaster recovery and resilience solutions. When it comes to qualifications you should have a degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science or Information Technology, possess professional level certifications, and hold or be willing to work towards a qualification such as TOGAF or ITIL.

Capable of translating business and security requirements into secure, efficient and cost-effective designs, you should also have experience of using the TOGAF framework to review and assure complex solutions and produce concise and high quality high and low-level designs.

Your knowledge of Azure, M365 and AWS platforms will allow you to architect and govern secure, scalable infrastructures across private, public and hybrid platforms, and you should also have good knowledge of NCSC, GDS and UK Government security frameworks, including Secure by Design, Cloud Security Principles, Government Functional Standards and the Technology Code of Practice. Your excellent communication and interpersonal skills will make you an inspirational coach and manager of our technical architects and specialists, while a track record of deputising for senior technology leaders and engaging with stakeholders and governance forums to provide clear, evidence-based technical advice would be desirable.

But we’re always looking to improve just like you. That’s why when you join us, expect to receive a competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement and a Civil Service Pension. Along with this, you’ll also have access to training and other development opportunities to help grow your career with us. Our offices have an on-site gym, nursery, café, and restaurant, and we offer interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes to help you get there. It's a great set of benefits made to support all you do, and all you need.

Every single colleague must be security cleared before joining us. If you’re successful in your application, we’ll ask you to undergo our vetting process to achieve Developed Vetting (DV). This role is a reserved post and applications are only being accepted from single nationality candidates and not dual nationals.

The vital work we do takes an incredible community of colleagues, with different skills, backgrounds, cultures and identities. We support every individual, so that you always know you’re welcome and valued. It’s what makes us a Disability Confident employer. And why we’re recognised as a Carer Confident workplace. And it’s how you know you’re joining an inspiring, inclusive organisation.