At a Glance
- Tasks: Design secure digital services that users can trust and operate effectively.
- Company: Leading organisation in defence and national security with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £85,000 plus benefits and remote work options.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to equality and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on mission-critical projects while shaping the future of secure services.
- Qualifications: Experience in service design and ability to translate complexity into user-friendly solutions.
The predicted salary is between 85000 - 85000 £ per year.
This organisation delivers advanced, secure systems into some of the UK's most complex and mission-critical defence and national security environments. As demand grows for assurance-led, user-centred digital services, we're looking for a Service Design Architect (SC & DV-Eligible) to ensure technical innovation translates into usable, scalable, real-world outcomes. This is a senior, influential role sitting at the intersection of service design, architecture and engineering. Rather than focusing on governance in isolation, you'll shape services that users can adopt, trust and operate - where security is mission-critical, not optional.
The opportunity: You'll join an environment with strong existing architecture and engineering capability, where the focus is now on strengthening service usability, adoption and coherence across complex, secure programmes. The role offers the chance to:
- Influence both service design and operational deployment
- Embed usability and service thinking into secure technical solutions
- Shape how cyber and assurance are integrated into innovation and R&D
- Work on systems where delivery impact is real and tangible
What you'll be doing:
- Service & Solution Design: Develop service blueprints and end-to-end user journeys. Translate complex technical architectures into coherent operational services. Ensure alignment between real user needs and service delivery.
- Delivery & Collaboration: Operate within multi-disciplinary delivery teams. Facilitate workshops, co-design sessions and stakeholder engagement. Support continuous improvement from discovery through to live services.
- Innovation & R&D Integration: Align R&D outputs to real-world, deployable use cases. Ensure innovation outcomes are usable, scalable and adoptable.
- Bid & Client Support: Contribute to bids with clear, user-centred service narratives. Strengthen value propositions through clarity of service outcomes.
What we're looking for:
- Strong background in service design, service architecture or human-centred design.
- Experience working within complex or high-assurance environments (government, defence, regulated or critical national infrastructure).
- Proven ability to translate complexity into usable, coherent services.
- Confident facilitator with strong stakeholder engagement skills.
- Comfortable operating across architecture, engineering and delivery disciplines.
Security clearance: Must be eligible for SC and DV clearance. Active SC clearance is highly desirable. Willingness to undergo further vetting as required for secure programmes.
Desirable experience:
- Exposure to government digital standards.
- Background spanning both design and technical environments.
- Experience within defence, security or national security contexts.
What you'll bring:
- A balance of empathy and analytical thinking.
- Strong facilitation and collaboration skills.
- Confidence working at senior level across disciplines.
- Adaptability in complex and evolving environments.
Reasonable Adjustments: Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients. If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason, please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.
Service Design Architect (SC & DV-Eligible) in Cheltenham employer: Sanderson Government and Defence
As a Service Design Architect with us, you'll be part of a forward-thinking organisation that prioritises innovation and user-centred design in the defence and national security sector. We offer a collaborative work culture that values diversity and inclusivity, alongside opportunities for professional growth and development in a remote UK-based role. With a focus on real-world impact and a commitment to continuous improvement, you'll have the chance to shape secure digital services that truly make a difference.
Contact Details:
Sanderson Government and Defence Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Design Architect (SC & DV-Eligible) in Cheltenham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend relevant events, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to service design and architecture. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to get comfortable with your responses.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills through a portfolio! If you've worked on projects that highlight your service design capabilities, make sure to present them clearly. This gives potential employers a tangible sense of what you can bring to the table.
✨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, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Service Design Architect (SC & DV-Eligible) in Cheltenham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in service design and architecture. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant projects!
Showcase Your Usability Focus:Since this role is all about creating user-centred services, be sure to include examples of how you've embedded usability into your past work. We love seeing how you’ve made complex systems more accessible for users.
Engage with Our Values:Familiarise yourself with our core values around respect and equality. When writing your application, reflect on how you embody these values and how they influence your approach to service design and collaboration.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it makes it easier for us to connect with you throughout the process!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sanderson Government and Defence
✨Know Your Service Design Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in service design principles and methodologies. Brush up on your experience with user-centred design and be ready to discuss how you've translated complex architectures into usable services. This will show that you can hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Engagement Skills
Prepare examples of how you've facilitated workshops or co-design sessions in the past. Highlight your ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and how you’ve ensured their needs were met in your designs. This is crucial for a role that requires collaboration across multiple disciplines.
✨Demonstrate Your Adaptability
Be ready to discuss situations where you had to adapt your approach in complex environments. Share specific examples that illustrate your analytical thinking and empathy, especially in high-assurance settings like defence or national security.
✨Align with Their Mission-Critical Focus
Understand the importance of security in this role. Be prepared to talk about how you’ve integrated security considerations into your service designs and how you ensure usability without compromising on safety. This will resonate well with the organisation's mission.
