Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead architecture and design for innovative policing solutions, ensuring timely delivery of digital strategies.
- Company: Join Police Digital Service, transforming UK policing through technology and data-driven solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy remote work flexibility and the chance to make a real impact in community safety.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team shaping the future of policing with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Proven experience as a Solution Architect in complex organisations; cloud certifications required.
- Other info: Opportunity for national travel to collaborate with various forces and stakeholders.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 105000 £ per year.
Join Police Digital Service (PDS) as a Solution Architect (SA) starting at £75,000 pa. The Solution Architect is a key role in the PDS Technical Team responsible for providing Architecture and Design services to support the successful and timely delivery of the ambitions described in the National Policing Digital Strategy and PDS portfolio in partnership with Home Office, Forces, LEAs, and suppliers. This role will report into the Solution Architect Team Lead.
About Police Digital Service: We exist to harness the power of digital, data, and technology to enable UK policing to better protect the communities it serves. Ours is a team of experts in commercial services, technical assurance, data, digital transformation, and innovation, with unique experience in policing and national programme delivery.
Job purpose:
- Serve as a senior expert to provide technical guidance and leadership on all aspects of architecture and design.
- Be a key member of the PDS Enterprise Architecture community working alongside PDS Cyber Services to deliver ‘Security by Design’ for National Policing solutions in accordance with established governance.
- Design, develop, and implement systems architectural blueprints that will meet Forces’ business needs and facilitate improved supporting Policing outcomes.
- Provide advice to Forces on preparation and implementation of the PDS Portfolio and National Programme technologies.
- Contribute to the definition of technology standards, frameworks, and guidelines.
- Explain how the PDS portfolio can solve complex technology problems for Senior Officers, in layman’s terms, and how it can create and maintain sustainable services for their organisation.
What you need to succeed in the role:
- Previous, demonstrable, and current experience in a Solution Architect role in a large and complex organisation with equally complex service requirements.
- Industry recognised training/certifications in Cloud technologies (Microsoft, AWS, Google, etc).
- Extensive practical knowledge of Enterprise Architecture, preferably certified with a recognised framework such as TOGAF or ITIL (Service Management).
- Substantial knowledge of ICT design, security, and privacy principles including NCSC guidance and other legislative requirements, gained through significant experience of solutions delivery in similar size organisations.
- Excellent knowledge of the National Policing Digital Strategy and understanding of current technologies relevant to the policing sector and emerging market trends.
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- Excellent all-round communication skills, with the ability to present to large and small groups alike, including non-technical audiences, with a style that engages stakeholders in the technology and assists them in making the right business decisions.
- Commercially and technically astute problem solver who can quickly assimilate requirements and then combine broad technology knowledge and logical thinking to drive the structured strategic/tactical assessment of business and technology options.
- In-depth technical knowledge covering some or all of the following: Cloud architectures and solution design, Business process development and architecture, Application development and architecture, Data architecture and management, Technical/Infrastructure development and architecture, DevOps, CI/CD Pipelines, Scripting, and Automation Languages, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.
Working Arrangements: Remote based with occasional national travel required.
Solution Architect (SA) employer: Police Digital Service
Contact Detail:
Police Digital Service Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Solution Architect (SA)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the National Policing Digital Strategy and the specific technologies relevant to policing. Understanding these will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the role and the organisation.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of the Police Digital Service. Engaging with them can provide you with insider knowledge about the company culture and expectations, which can be invaluable during the interview process.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with cloud technologies and enterprise architecture frameworks like TOGAF or ITIL. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've applied these in previous roles, as this will showcase your expertise and relevance to the position.
✨Tip Number 4
Practice explaining complex technical concepts in layman's terms. Since the role involves communicating with non-technical stakeholders, being able to simplify your explanations will highlight your communication skills and ability to engage diverse audiences.
We think you need these skills to ace Solution Architect (SA)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Solution Architect position at Police Digital Service. Tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with their needs.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your previous experience as a Solution Architect in large organisations. Be specific about your achievements and how they relate to the role's requirements, such as your knowledge of Cloud technologies and Enterprise Architecture.
Showcase Communication Skills: Since the role requires excellent communication skills, provide examples in your application that demonstrate your ability to present complex technical information to non-technical audiences. This could be through past projects or presentations you've delivered.
Tailor Your Application: Customise your CV and cover letter for this specific role. Use keywords from the job description, such as 'Security by Design' and 'stakeholder management', to ensure your application resonates with the hiring team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Police Digital Service
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your previous experience as a Solution Architect in detail. Highlight specific projects where you provided architecture and design services, especially those that align with the National Policing Digital Strategy.
✨Understand the Policing Sector
Familiarise yourself with the current technologies relevant to policing and emerging market trends. Demonstrating knowledge of how these technologies can solve complex problems for law enforcement will set you apart.
✨Communicate Effectively
Practice explaining technical concepts in layman's terms. You’ll need to engage with stakeholders who may not have a technical background, so clear communication is key to helping them make informed decisions.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Management Questions
Expect questions about your stakeholder management skills. Be ready to provide examples of how you've influenced decision-making and built relationships in previous roles, particularly in complex organisational settings.
