Technical architect in City of Westminster

Own the Technical Vision: Define the 'how' for all strategic change, ensuring solutions align with the long-term enterprise architecture.

Lead Technical Governance: Champion and implement architectural standards, including Secure by Design, across high-impact projects.

Mentor and Guide Teams: Provide technical leadership and guidance to engineering and architecture teams on complex design decisions.

Manage Architectural Risk: Identify and clearly articulate technical debt and architectural risks early in the investment process.

Ensure System Integrity: Verify that new High-Level Designs (HLDs) are scalable, secure, and fit within the broader CCS technology ecosystem.

Drive Strategic Alignment: Collaborate with Business Architecture to translate strategic goals into practical, resilient technical blueprints.

Review Supplier Capability: Assess the technical viability and integration methods of solutions proposed by market suppliers (e.g., for the Self-Serve programme).

Document Architecture: Lead the creation of clear, concise architectural documentation suitable for senior leadership.

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and/or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone's circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation), a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO).

All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved to its location's respective pay scale.

Some of MoJ's terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service.

Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer. All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours: The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.

You will have experience of participating in a technical design authority, where business and technology are aligned and you will have a good understanding of architecture development methods and models.

You will have worked within technology for many years but with strong and broad understanding of technical solutions and approaches, understanding the business value of technology change is your domain, alongside solid understanding of data, applications and technology.

You will be resilient and comfortable managing stakeholders at a senior level and your discussions will always be shaped by a good understanding of the commercial and operational impact of what we do as an architect.

Enterprise Architecture Governance: Proven experience in defining and enforcing architectural standards (e.g., through an Architecture Review Board or similar forum) to manage technical debt and ensure system integrity.

Secure & Scalable Design: Deep expertise in designing and leading the implementation of highly scalable, resilient, and secure solutions, including applying Secure by Design principles to platforms.

Strategic Technical Alignment: Ability to translate abstract business or policy strategy into concrete, actionable technical blueprints, and effectively articulate risks to senior stakeholders.

Complex Integration & Trade-offs: Demonstrated experience navigating and making complex technical trade-offs (e.g., speed vs. cost vs. quality).

Leadership: Experience in providing technical mentorship and coaching to digital/technical teams. Experience working across multiple domains or projects, coordinating with third-party suppliers and cross-government teams.

Aptitude for anticipating future technologies and aligning solutions with broader strategies and business outcomes.

Strong grasp of agile methodologies, DevOps principles, and design patterns, paired with enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF).

Ownership of technical roadmaps and strategies, ensuring solutions align with enterprise objectives and evolving user needs.

Experience of an API-first and services-led design approach, with the ability to use business requirements, user stories, data standards, and integration patterns to help define services and APIs.

We do expect candidates for this role to have the knowledge and experience required in our tech stack.

Assessment Behaviours:

• Experience - As demonstrated in your CV and Statement of Suitability
• Technical - As demonstrated in your CV and Statement of Suitability.
• Presentation - You will/may be required to prepare a short presentation. Details will be provided when invited to/or on the day of the interview.
• Strengths - The interview will involve a discussion around 2 strengths.
• Behaviours - You will be required to provide evidence of the following key behaviours at Level 5:

• Seeing the bigger picture
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving

Judicial Digital Services is a small, collaborative and friendly team within the Judicial Office, responsible for the development, integration and continuous improvement of digital products that support judges, legal professionals, and the public.

The team also works closely with HMCTS and the Ministry of Justice to support cross-organisational digital initiatives and integrations. With a growing portfolio and a diverse pipeline of work, this is an exciting opportunity to join a digital function at the heart of improving services for the judiciary.

About Judicial Office (JO): The Judicial Office (JO) reports to, and is accountable, to the Lady Chief Justice (LCJ). It was established in 2006 to provide support to the LCJ and to the wider judiciary in upholding the rule of law and in delivering justice impartially, speedily and efficiently, following the Constitutional Reform Act 2005.

In addition, we support, and are accountable to, the Senior President of Tribunals, whose responsibilities extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland. The JO is an interesting and unique place to work. Everything we do is in support of upholding the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.

We work closely with HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and others across Government as well as with the legal professions. We are an Arm's Length Body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. This creates an interesting and complex environment in which to work where we agree our priorities with the senior judiciary and receive our funding to deliver them from the Ministry of Justice.

The Judicial Office has been through a period of significant growth resulting from an expansion of our remit and responsibilities. The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found.

To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans: The 'Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans' initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs.

Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.

For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

The national salary range is £58,511 - £65,329, London salary range is £63,343 - £70,725. Your salary will be dependent on your base location.

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

• Annual Leave: Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years' service. There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
• Pension: The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
• Training: The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
• Networks: The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management.
• Support: A range of 'Family Friendly' policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share. Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order: To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or email moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk); To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk); To the Civil Service Commission (details available here).