Solutions Architect

Join Police Digital Service as a Solution Architect. Permanent FT/PT. Salary starting at £76,000 per annum.

About Police Digital Service

The Solution Architect is a key role in the PDS Technical Team who has responsibility for providing Architecture and Design services to support 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.

Our Values

• We value People
• We do the right thing
• We are innovative
• We are one Team
• We are proud and passionate

Working Arrangements:

We are a remote‑first organisation, with occasional national travel for key meetings. We know that flexibility matters – whether that’s part‑time hours, compressed schedules, or job sharing – and we’re happy to explore what works best for you.

We understand that many talented individuals, especially women, may hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. If this role excites you and you believe you could make a difference, we warmly encourage you to apply – even if you’re not sure you tick every box. If you have any questions or would like to discuss how the role could work for you, please reach out to us at recruitment@pds.police.uk.

Why Join us?

• Balance is important and we want you to take time off to recharge – we offer 28 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 30 days after 5 years of service. Holiday Purchase also available.
• Flexible working hours – We trust you to do your job and we appreciate that life doesn’t always fit around a 9 to 5 workday. We operate core hours of 10 to 4, Monday to Friday (37hr week).
• We care about your well‑being – we have an EAP that offers not just welfare benefits but also retail discounts.
• Plan for the future – we offer an excellent pension scheme and life assurance cover.
• Put your mind at rest regarding your health – offering remote GP, mental health and physiotherapy appointments via video consultation.
• Family – Enhanced maternity and paternity pay along with a flexible return to work.
• Community – One paid day off per year for volunteering.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior expert to provide technical guidance and management 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.
• Designing, developing and implementing 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 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, ITIL (Service Management).
• Substantial knowledge of ICT design, security and privacy standards including NCSC guidance and other legislative requirements, gained through significant experience of solutions delivery in similar size organisations.
• Excellent knowledge of 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 choices.
• 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

Diversity, equity and inclusion

We are committed to equal opportunities for all and will not discriminate on any grounds. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible span of experience. All applicants will be considered without attention to age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, parental status, nationality, neurodiversity or disability status.

Vettings and Clearances

All applicants must be eligible to undergo NPPV3 (Non Police Personnel Vetting Level 3) and SC vetting clearances. Successful applicants will require NPPV3 clearance to have been cleared before starting with PDS.

Please note, we may choose to close the advert early if we receive a high volume of applications for this role so please endeavour to complete your application as soon as possible.