Technical Architect

This role is available across our London, Bristol & Manchester Locations. The Government Digital Service (GDS) is the digital centre of government. We are responsible for setting, leading and delivering the vision for a modern digital government. Our priorities are to drive a modern digital government by:

• joining up public sector services
• harnessing the power of AI for the public good
• strengthening and extending our digital and data public infrastructure
• elevating leadership and investing in talent
• funding for outcomes and procuring for growth and innovation
• committing to transparency and driving accountability

We are home to the Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (I.AI), the world-leading GOV.UK and at the forefront of coordinating the UK’s geospatial strategy and activity. We lead the Government Digital and Data function and champion the work of digital teams across government. We’re part of the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) and employ more than 1,000 people all over the UK, with hubs in Manchester, London and Bristol. The Government Digital Service is where talent translates into impact. From your first day, you’ll be working with some of the world’s most highly-skilled digital professionals, all contributing their knowledge to make change on a national scale. Join us for rewarding work that makes a difference across the UK. You will solve some of the nation’s highest-priority digital challenges, helping millions of people access services they need.

We are responsible for:

• Facilitating and delivering the Cross-Government AI adoption at scale
• Defining the Principles and sharing Best Practice, baseline standards for responsible AI enablement at Scale
• Research and publish technical, deeper dives on AI enablement technologies and practices, such as AI Insights
• Operating models for AI deployment, assurance and Governance at scale
• Ensure widespread access to foundational AI tools
• Publish Digital, Data and Technology Strategy and Standards, like the Technology Code of Practice, the Service Standard and Open Standards
• Cross-government GDaD performance and assurance, including Spend Controls and AI Assurance
• Advisory GDaD Capability Development, including the GDaD pay framework

The roles we are recruiting sit at the heart of this mission, focused on strengthening the UK public sector’s ability to enable and scale our AI Adoption. Join us for rewarding work that makes a difference across the UK. You will solve some of the nation’s highest-priority digital challenges, helping millions of people access services they need.

The Technical Architects in the Public Sector AI Adoption unit in GDS exist to make building and buying AI technology easier in the UK Public Sector. In this role, you will work to set strategies, principles, and standards, and identify best practices, as well as supporting the adoption and embedding of these into the public sector, helping digital and data colleagues in these organisations deliver transformational change. You will be aligned to a Grade 6 Principal Technologist who will mentor and support you, as well as set you challenging tasks to further your team’s objectives.

As a Technical Architect, you will be supporting the AI Technology Enablement team to:

• undertake research, input into and shape a 10-year intent and strategy for the AI enablement, and support colleagues in gaining cross-government endorsement for this work
• work with stakeholders to shape a government digital strategy geared towards harnessing AI for the public good, translating complex technical concepts into straightforward language to influence strategic decision-makers. This includes drafting strategy papers and best-practice guidance, and delivering presentations to senior stakeholders and ministers
• identify and or develop existing principles, standards and best practices and promote them, or form and lead a group of technologists from across the UK Public Sector to create these
• work with vendors to maximise their offer to the UK Public Sector, and with the Crown Commercial Service in commercial engagements with vendors
• build a network of peers across the UK Public Sector to regularly engage with
• promote your work through content written for the Knowledge hub, GOV.UK, speaking engagements and hosting community events
• help upskill others in GDS and DSIT in your specialist area

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Person specification

This role requires:

• you should be excited about thinking long-term and helping deliver technology-related change, particularly within AI enablement and scaling AI
• you must have a technical background and be able to use this experience to make and guide architectural design decisions, build credibility with others, evaluate proposals and decide execution approaches characterised by risk and complexity
• you have strong written and verbal communication skills, and are able to translate complex concepts into straightforward language with ease to support wider organisational objectives
• you should have some experience working with technology suppliers
• you should be comfortable presenting to senior stakeholders, both technical (e.g. Principal GDaD professionals) and non-technical (including SCS and ministers)
• learning should be embedded in the way you approach your working week, and you should be keen to share your learning with those around you
• you should be at the top skill levels in your Digital & Data specialism, most likely from the Architecture, Data, or Software Development groups
• you should hold, or be working towards, relevant industry certifications in AI as your technical specialism.

Please note this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible. DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.