AI Technical Architect in Durham

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 is an opportunity to work at the forefront of emerging technology, helping DBT turn innovative ideas into practical services that deliver real value across the department.

Salary range: £67,867 to £85,413 plus excellent Civil Service benefits and 29% employer pension contribution. Flexible, hybrid working from London, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham or Salford.

About role: DBT are seeking an AI-focused Technical Architect to lead the design of secure, scalable and reusable AI-enabled solutions. This role will focus on translating emerging AI capabilities into practical architectures, supporting rapid prototyping, validating concepts and helping successful ideas move from experimentation into production services.

You will work closely with AI engineers, data specialists, cyber security colleagues, governance teams and wider multidisciplinary teams to assess feasibility, risk and value within a government environment. This is a strong opportunity for an architect who can balance 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:

• Core Technical Architecture 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.
• In addition to core Technical Architecture skills, you should also have experience of the following:
• Designing or shaping AI-enabled solutions, prototypes or proof-of-concepts.
• Working with LLMs, OpenAI, Microsoft AI tools or similar AI technologies.
• Understanding 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 aside.
• Flexible, hybrid working environment with options like condensed hours.
• Culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• Annual leave starting at 25 days rising 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: In year rewards and vouchers as well as My lifestyle discounts.
• Family friendly policies including maternity, adoption or shared parental leave.
• Job satisfaction: making a positive contribution to the UK's economy.

Additional information:

• Salary is dependent on location and technical skills as assessed at interview. London based range: £71,590 to £85,413. National range: £67,867 to £81,793.
• Hybrid working includes 40% in-office working/month (typically 2 days/week), hours are flexible and condensed hours are an option. Office locations are: London, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham or Salford.
• Please apply with a CV that shows evidence against the listed 'Essential criteria' above.
• DBT does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
• This role requires SC clearance, a condition of which is to have been present in the UK for 3 out of the past 5 years.

Why join DBT:

This is an opportunity to work on modern, varied and meaningful technology programmes that support trade, business and economic growth across the UK. DBT offers the chance to work in a cloud-first environment, contribute to emerging AI capability, support major digital services and be involved in large-scale transformation across government.

You will join a collaborative architecture community where your experience will help shape technical direction, improve services and support teams to deliver well-designed, secure and resilient solutions. For someone who enjoys solving complex technical problems, influencing strategy and working closely with delivery teams, this is a strong opportunity to make a real impact across a broad and important digital estate.

Apply now or contact Inspire People in complete confidence.