Technical Architect in Edinburgh, Scotland

Join a team at the heart of the global economy! The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) are seeking experienced Technical Architects to support major digital and technology programmes. This is an opportunity to design secure, modern and user-centred services, provide technical leadership and help deliver solutions that support UK trade, business growth and the wider economy.

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 4 Technical Architects to join their growing, collaborative team. These roles offer the opportunity to shape the technical direction of services, influencing design decisions from early discovery through to live operations. You will be responsible for the overall technical design of services, ensuring they meet user needs, align with organisational goals, and adhere to time and budget constraints. You will also contribute to portfolio-level strategy and governance, helping to shape the future of digital delivery at DBT. DBT's technology stack includes Python/Django, Node.js/React within cloud services such as AWS and Azure. They optimise our architecture for change, enabling continuous improvement and innovation.

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:

• Proven experience designing and delivering secure cloud solutions using AWS and/or Azure.
• Strong experience producing high-level designs and taking them through governance, including Architecture Review Boards or Technical Design Authority.
• Ability to work closely with development teams to translate high-level designs into practical low-level designs aligned to standards.
• Proven ability to lead technical teams and deliver user-focused services within agile environments.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Desirable: DBT are recruiting Technical Architects across several specialist areas. You will have a core architecture skillset but may bring experience in one of the following areas:

• AI-focused architecture: Experience with AI-enabled solutions, LLMs, Microsoft AI tools, OpenAI or similar technologies, with an understanding of AI governance, data protection, data sovereignty and cyber security considerations.
• Cloud-focused architecture: Experience designing secure cloud solutions across AWS and/or Azure, including cloud networking, platform design, resilience, security, performance and technical governance.
• Application-focused architecture: A software engineering background, ideally with exposure to Python, APIs, databases, agile delivery and the ability to work closely with development teams on technical design.
• ERP-focused architecture: Experience with ERP implementation, design, integration or migration, including how ERP platforms connect with existing systems, data flows and business processes.

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. HMLR 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 Zee in complete confidence.