Lead Technical Architect in Swansea

Lead Technical Architect in Swansea

Swansea Full-Time 57515 - 82430 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
Inspire People

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead technical design for impactful digital services used by millions across the UK.
  • Company: Join DVLA, a key player in digital transformation and public service.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, generous pension contributions, flexible working, and excellent Civil Service perks.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth and modern tools.
  • Why this job: Be part of a major digital change and make a real difference in people's lives.
  • Qualifications: Experience in architecture or engineering, with strong design and communication skills.

The predicted salary is between 57515 - 82430 £ per year.

DVLA are looking for Lead Technical Architects to support major digital change across a range of high-volume services used by millions of people across the UK. You will work closely with engineering and delivery teams on technical design, helping to improve existing systems, deliver new digital services and support future change across areas such as vehicles, payments, identity and customer-facing platforms.

Permanent role, hybrid working from Swansea (60% office-based), salary of up to £82,430 (inc allowances, based on skills and experience) plus 29% employer pension contribution and excellent Civil Service benefits.

As a Lead Technical Architect, you will be responsible for the technical design of systems and services across one or more DVLA product areas. You will work closely with engineering squads, lead engineers, delivery managers, business analysts and programme architects to develop practical designs that can be understood, delivered and maintained.

You will work on impactful projects such as the Electronic Vehicle Excise Duty programme, known as EVED - a major programme of work linked to upcoming legislative change. The work will include a mix of new development, changes to current national systems and integration between existing and new services.

You will produce high-level designs, support solution briefs, document technical decisions and work with squads to make sure designs are clear before development begins.

The role would suit someone with an engineering background who has moved into architecture, or an experienced technical architect who enjoys working closely with delivery teams.

Responsibilities
  • Lead technical design and explain design decisions clearly.
  • Help make sure technical work is high quality and aligned with DVLA and wider government standards.
  • Work with different teams to encourage joined-up thinking, reuse and shared approaches.
  • Support and mentor engineers and other architects.
  • Stay close to the code and make good use of modern tools, including AI coding assistants, to support better ways of working.
Essential skills
  • Architectural or engineering background
  • Experience designing or delivering enterprise and cloud-based software systems such as AWS.
  • Knowledge of cloud-native design, data security and protecting sensitive information.
  • Ability to create solution designs collaboratively and iteratively with delivery teams.
  • Strong technical skills across end-to-end design, governance, assurance and engineering support.
  • Strategic thinker who can balance business, product and technical priorities.
  • Strong communicator, able to work with senior leaders, engineers, testers and non-technical stakeholders.
Desirable skills
  • Experience working in a large, complex or regulated environment.
  • Background in government, public sector or high-volume digital services.
  • Experience working closely with Agile software engineering squads.
  • Exposure to architecture governance, design assurance or technical standards.
  • Comfortable using design and technical tools such as Draw.io, C4, Mermaid, PlantUML, Git or Markdown.
Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,515 - £82,430, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency contributes £16,662 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

  • Best in class learning and development tailored to your role
  • An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance
  • A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues
  • Generous employer contribution of 28.9%, depending on chosen pension scheme
  • Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance
  • Digital communities with clear career frameworks
  • On-site gym plus personal training available (membership applies)
  • On-site nursery, restaurants and coffee bar
  • 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays), increasing by 1 each year (up to 30) & 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King's birthday
  • 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff
  • Free parking

DVLA is entering a significant period of digital and legislative change, with a major new programme of work coming into play across its vehicle services. You'll be joining at an early stage, helping to support the technical design behind services that are used by millions of people across the UK. You'll join a friendly and supportive architecture team that is moving towards a more collaborative, product-led and cloud-native way of working, with opportunities to stay close to engineering, modern tooling, AI coding assistants and future digital services.

Apply now or contact Zee in complete confidence.

Lead Technical Architect in Swansea employer: Inspire People

DVLA is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Swansea where you can contribute to impactful digital services used by millions. With a strong focus on employee development, flexible working options, and a commitment to inclusion and diversity, DVLA provides a supportive culture that fosters growth and innovation. Enjoy generous benefits including a substantial pension contribution, extensive learning opportunities, and a healthy work-life balance while being part of a team driving significant change in the public sector.
Inspire People

Contact Detail:

Inspire People Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Technical Architect in Swansea

✨Tip Number 1

Get to know the DVLA team! Attend the familiarisation session on 14th May. It’s a great chance to ask questions and show your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it helps us stand out from the crowd!

✨Tip Number 2

Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or other platforms. Engaging with them can give us insider info about the company culture and what they value in a Lead Technical Architect.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for technical discussions! Brush up on your knowledge of cloud-native design and enterprise systems. We want to demonstrate our expertise and how we can contribute to impactful projects like EVED.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure our application gets noticed. Plus, we can showcase our skills and experience directly aligned with what DVLA is looking for.

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Technical Architect in Swansea

Technical Design
Enterprise Software Systems
Cloud-Based Solutions (AWS)
Cloud-Native Design
Data Security
Solution Design
End-to-End Design
Governance and Assurance
Strategic Thinking
Communication Skills
Agile Methodologies
Architecture Governance
Design Tools (Draw.io, C4, Mermaid, PlantUML, Git, Markdown)
Mentoring and Support

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with technical design and cloud-based systems. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Lead Technical Architect at DVLA!

Showcase Your Communication Skills: As a Lead Technical Architect, you'll need to communicate complex ideas clearly. Use your application to demonstrate your ability to explain technical concepts in a way that non-technical stakeholders can understand.

Highlight Collaborative Experience: We love seeing candidates who have worked closely with delivery teams. Share examples of how you've collaborated on projects, especially in Agile environments, to show us you're a team player.

Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at DVLA.

How to prepare for a job interview at Inspire People

✨Know Your Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your architectural and engineering knowledge, especially around enterprise and cloud-based systems like AWS. Be ready to discuss your experience with cloud-native design and data security, as these are crucial for the role.

✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills

Since the role involves working closely with various teams, prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated in the past. Highlight any experiences where you’ve led design discussions or mentored engineers, as this will demonstrate your ability to foster teamwork.

✨Be Ready to Explain Your Design Decisions

During the interview, be prepared to articulate your design choices clearly. Use specific examples from your previous work to illustrate how you approached technical challenges and ensured high-quality outcomes aligned with standards.

✨Engage with the Team

If you attend the familiarisation session, take the opportunity to ask insightful questions about the team and projects. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you understand the culture at DVLA, which is key for a successful fit.

Lead Technical Architect in Swansea
Inspire People
Location: Swansea

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