At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape and deliver technical solutions for government programmes, ensuring security and scalability.
- Company: Join Olive Jar Digital, a growing consultancy transforming public sector services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and clear career progression opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a small, expert team where your ideas truly matter.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on high-profile government projects while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Technical Architect in public sector and strong understanding of GDS standards.
Olive Jar Digital is a growing digital consultancy delivering complex technology and transformation programmes across UK Central Government. We work with some of the most prominent government departments including DWP, DBT, GCA, DfE and the NHS, helping them design and deliver secure, scalable and user-centred digital services.
As we grow our permanent team, we are building a talent pool of experienced Technical Architects who share our passion for meaningful public sector work.
As a Technical Architect at Olive Jar, you will play a central role in shaping and delivering technical solutions across our government client programmes. You will work closely with delivery teams, client stakeholders and enterprise architects to define technical strategy, provide hands-on architectural leadership and ensure solutions are secure, scalable and aligned to GDS standards. This is a role for someone who thrives in complex environments, can translate business requirements into clear technical direction and is comfortable operating at both strategic and delivery levels.
Key Responsibilities
- Define and own the technical architecture for digital services across Central Government programmes
- Produce and maintain key architecture artefacts including solution designs, technical blueprints, interface specifications and architecture decision records (ADRs)
- Lead technical design and assurance activities, including participation in Design Authority and Technical Design Authority (TDA) forums
- Translate business and user needs into scalable, secure and standards-compliant technical solutions
- Conduct AS-IS assessments of legacy systems and define TO-BE target architectures and transition roadmaps
- Champion GDS Service Standards, Government Technology Code of Practice (TCoP) and secure-by-design principles throughout delivery
- Provide technical leadership and mentoring to engineers, developers and junior architects within the team
- Engage with senior client stakeholders and cross-functional teams to align technical direction with business objectives
- Identify and manage technical risks, dependencies and constraints across programme workstreams
- Support pre-sales and bid activity including technical input to SOWs, proposals and tender responses
Skills & Experience Required
Essential
- Proven experience as a Technical Architect within UK Central Government or large public sector organisations
- Strong understanding of GDS Service Standards, Government Technology Code of Practice (TCoP) and DDaT frameworks
- Experience designing cloud-based solutions AWS, Azure or GCP including hybrid and multi-cloud architectures
- Solid understanding of API-first design, microservices architecture and modern integration patterns
- Experience conducting technical discovery, producing AS-IS/TO-BE analysis and defining target architectures
- Ability to produce high-quality architecture documentation including solution designs, C4 models and interface control documents
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills - comfortable presenting technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
- SC Clearance held or willingness to undergo clearance prior to commencement
Desirable
- Experience working across multiple government departments or programmes simultaneously
- Familiarity with TOGAF, ArchiMate or other enterprise architecture frameworks
- Experience of security architecture principles including NCSC guidelines and secure-by-design frameworks
- Knowledge of data architecture, data governance and data platform design within government contexts
- Experience supporting or leading GDS service assessments
- Relevant certifications AWS Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect, TOGAF or equivalent
Technical Skills
- Cloud Platforms: AWS, Azure, GCP
- Architecture Frameworks: TOGAF, ArchiMate, C4 Model
- Integration: REST APIs, event-driven architecture, message queuing, microservices
- Security: NCSC guidelines, secure-by-design, identity and access management
- Tooling: Confluence, Jira, Miro, Azure DevOps, Lucidchart or equivalent
- Standards: GDS Service Standard, TCoP, GDPR, WCAG 2.2
What We Offer
- Competitive salary aligned to SFIA level and market benchmarks
- Hybrid working 3 days per week, 2 days WFH
- Opportunity to work on high-profile, mission-critical government programmes
- Clear career progression from Technical Architect through to Lead, Principal and Head of Architecture
- A small, expert team where your voice and ideas genuinely matter
- Support for professional development and relevant certifications
Security Clearance
This role requires SC (Security Check) clearance. Candidates who hold current SC clearance are strongly preferred. Candidates without clearance but with a strong Central Government background will also be considered, subject to successful clearance being obtained prior to commencement.
Technical Architect in London employer: Olive Jar Digital
Olive Jar Digital is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation in the heart of Westminster. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide ample opportunities for professional development and career advancement, alongside a competitive salary and flexible hybrid working arrangements. Join us to make a meaningful impact in the public sector while enjoying the unique advantages of working in one of the UK's most vibrant locations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Architect in London
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Olive Jar Digital or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Olive Jar Digital.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Olive Jar Digital.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Olive Jar Digital that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Technical Architect in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Olive Jar Digital.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Olive Jar Digital and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Olive Jar Digital
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Olive Jar Digital uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
