At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design of secure, resilient digital services for millions across the UK.
- Company: Join DVLA, a mission-driven agency modernising technology for public services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, generous pension contributions, and 25 days leave.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and mentoring within a dynamic team.
- Why this job: Shape the future of digital services and influence architectural standards at scale.
- Qualifications: Strong background in architecture, cloud technologies, and excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 57515 - 80530 ÂŁ per year.
Become part of a mission‑driven digital team helping to build secure, resilient services used by millions across the UK. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), in partnership with Inspire People, is seeking a Lead Technical Architect with strong experience across infrastructure and cloud technologies, architectural governance, and the ability to lead technical design across complex digital services. Based in Swansea on a permanent appointment, this role offers hybrid working with a minimum 60% office‑based in Swansea and a base salary of £57,515 plus a Digital and Data allowance of up to £24,915, plus 29% employer pension contribution plus excellent Civil Service benefits.
Shape the Future of Digital Services at DVLA. DVLA delivers national‑scale digital services that support the safe and lawful use of vehicles across the UK, reaching millions of citizens and businesses every year. As DVLA continues to modernise its technology landscape, the organisation is investing in strong technical architecture capability to ensure services are secure, well‑governed, scalable and aligned to wider government strategy.
As a Lead Technical Architect, you will work across DVLA's IT Services Directorate and business teams, collaborating closely with engineering squads to design, assure and deliver modern digital solutions. You will play a key role in shaping architectural patterns, influencing technical decisions and mentoring other architects.
As a Lead Technical Architect (Infrastructure), you will:
- Lead the technical design of systems and services, justifying and clearly communicating design decisions
- Define and assure solution architectures, ensuring alignment with enterprise and government architecture strategy
- Work collaboratively with engineering teams to deliver new solutions and transition them into live service
- Establish and apply architectural governance, ensuring consistency, quality and security by design
- Assure service and system quality, identifying risks, dependencies and cross‑domain impacts
- Explore opportunities for cross‑government alignment and reuse
- Provide leadership and mentoring to other architects and technical colleagues
- Engage with senior stakeholders, communicating technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences
Essential skills for the Lead Technical Architect (Infrastructure) include:
- A strong architectural and technical background, having worked in an architect or technical lead role delivering enterprise‑scale solutions
- Experience designing and building cloud‑native or hybrid solutions
- Strong understanding of networking concepts including LAN, WAN and WLAN
- Experience with identity and directory services, including Entra Active Directory, hybrid Active Directory and Microsoft 365
- Knowledge of cloud adoption principles, such as Microsoft's Azure Cloud Adoption Framework
- Experience applying data security principles to protect sensitive data
- Experience creating and maintaining solution designs in an iterative and collaborative manner
- Strong experience of architectural governance and assurance
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
Desirable skills for the Lead Technical Architect (Infrastructure) include:
- Experience with unified communications and omni‑channel contact centre solutions
- Experience working in government or other regulated environments
- Exposure to large‑scale digital transformation programmes
- Experience mentoring architects or senior engineers
- Familiarity with Agile delivery and modern CI/CD practices
In return, you can expect a flexible working culture, including:
- Hybrid working with a minimum 60% office‑based in Swansea
- Flexible working patterns to support work‑life balance
- A Civil Service pension with employer contributions of c.29%
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and a privilege day
- Access to learning, development and digital career frameworks
This role offers the opportunity to shape and assure technology that supports nationally significant public services. You will work at scale, influence architectural standards across DVLA, and contribute directly to the organisation's long‑term digital transformation.
Lead Technical Architect Infrastructure in Swansea employer: Inspire People
Contact Detail:
Inspire People Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Technical Architect Infrastructure in Swansea
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at DVLA or in similar roles on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and might just get your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your technical knowledge. Be ready to discuss architectural governance and cloud technologies in detail, as these are key to the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! Think of examples where you've mentored others or led projects. DVLA values collaboration, so highlight how you work well with teams.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Technical Architect Infrastructure in Swansea
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Lead Technical Architect role. Highlight your experience with cloud technologies and architectural governance, as these are key for us at DVLA. Use specific examples that showcase your skills in leading technical design.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Explain why you're passionate about this role and how your background aligns with our mission at DVLA. Don’t forget to mention your experience in mentoring and collaborating with teams, as we value strong leadership.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: In your application, be sure to highlight your technical skills, especially around cloud-native solutions and networking concepts. We want to see how you’ve applied these skills in real-world scenarios, so don’t hold back on the details!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to shape the future of digital services at DVLA.
How to prepare for a job interview at Inspire People
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your architectural and technical knowledge, especially around cloud technologies and infrastructure. Be ready to discuss your past experiences in detail, particularly any enterprise-scale solutions you've delivered.
✨Communicate Clearly
Since you'll be engaging with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms. This will show your ability to bridge the gap between different audiences, which is crucial for this role.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led teams or mentored other architects in the past. Highlight your experience in establishing architectural governance and how you've influenced technical decisions in previous roles.
✨Align with Their Mission
Understand DVLA's mission and how your skills can contribute to their goals. Be ready to discuss how you can help shape secure and resilient digital services that impact millions across the UK.