Lead Operational Technology Specialist: Configuration Rules and Signal Sequencing

National Highways have an excellent opportunity for a Lead Operational Technology Specialist – Configuration Rules and Signal Sequencing to join our Digital Services Directorate. As the technical authority for site data and configuration across our Control Systems, you will play a pivotal role in enabling the safe and effective operation of the Strategic Road Network.

Leading on signal sequencing, message sign rules and business rules, you will ensure robust, future-ready standards and architectures that support traffic officer deployment, incident management and the day-to-day coordination of critical operational information. Working closely with senior stakeholders, architects and supply chain partners, you will drive innovation, champion best practice and shape the evolution of our operational technology capability to deliver safer, more reliable services for road users nationwide.

Our technology estate is broad, diverse and continuously evolving. You will work across everything from internal business platforms to the systems that manage physical assets and keep England’s road network operating safely and reliably. This is an opportunity to develop solutions that have a real-world impact for millions of people. This is a hybrid role, requiring two days per week in the office, based at any National Highways office location and travel to attend team meetings will be required.

You will:

• Be accountable for the development of technical standards, policies and architectures in relation to site data and configuration to improve safety to road users and those installing and maintaining technology.
• Be proactive in identifying problems and translating these into non-technical descriptions that can be widely understood.
• Support and help manage the development of an active operational technology community across National Highways.
• Work collaboratively across organisational boundaries to share best practice, drive continuous improvement and develop National Highway’s operational technology capability, including providing input into the overall technology strategy.
• Be the NH Technical authority for Operational Technology Site Data and Configuration, including rules and signal sequencing.
• Be accountable for the definition, development and communication of the architectural guardrails, specifications and evolutionary roadmaps for operational technology data and configuration services, ensuring enhanced capability and more reliable services.
• Engage with and support the supply chain in the delivery of new or updated technologies. This includes reviewing high and low-level designs and enforcing technical policies, standards and architectures.

About you:

• Experience of ATMS configuration management (site data) and its application to roadside technologies such as Signs, Signals and MIDAS.
• Experience of wider Intelligent Transport System technical frameworks such as: UTMC, NTCIP, DATEX2.
• Translates complex technical concepts across software engineering, delivery and service management into clear, accessible language, using engaging storytelling to connect solutions to operational and strategic outcomes, while building strong relationships with stakeholders and suppliers to align priorities, manage expectations and enable successful end-to-end delivery.
• Knowledge of roadside environment specifications / standards and the interactions between technology requirements and legislative documentation such as Standards for Highways.
• Expert understanding of the hazards of the road environment and the design decisions and methodologies that are deployed in mission-critical operational systems to meet strict safety, availability, resilience or latency related requirements.

About us:

Here at National Highways, we manage and improve England’s motorways and major A roads, helping our customers have safer, smoother and more reliable journeys. Our priorities are safety, customers and delivery, and at the core of this, are our values of passion, integrity, safety, teamwork and ownership. The Digital Services Directorate is helping to reshape the way National Highways operates by delivering digital, data, and technology services across all areas, from frontline to back office, in a modern and efficient manner. Our vision is to develop integrated information and technology that empowers our colleagues and provides real-time information to our customers, as well as integrating with intelligent vehicle and transport systems as they evolve, to enhance journey safety and reliability.

External candidates will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of the pay scale, while current employees will be appointed in accordance with our established pay policy. We are committed to creating a diverse environment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.