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- 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: Salary up to £85,000 plus benefits, remote work, and career growth opportunities.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to respect and equality in the workplace.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping user-centred digital solutions in critical environments.
- Qualifications: Experience in service design and ability to translate complexity into usable services.
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 Oxford employer: Sanderson Government and Defence
Contact Detail:
Sanderson Government and Defence Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Design Architect (SC & DV-Eligible) in Oxford
✨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! Create a collection of your best work that highlights your experience in service design and user-centred solutions. This will give 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 Oxford
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 User-Centred Approach: Since this role is all about creating usable services, share examples of how you've put users at the heart of your designs. We love seeing how you’ve translated complex needs into simple, effective solutions.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language to explain your experience and achievements. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
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 knowledge of user-centred design and how it applies to secure digital services, especially in complex environments like defence and national security.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Engagement Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in facilitating workshops and engaging with stakeholders. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully navigated multi-disciplinary teams and ensured alignment between user needs and service delivery.
✨Translate Complexity into Simplicity
Practice explaining complex technical architectures in a way that’s easy to understand. Use real-world examples to demonstrate how you’ve turned intricate designs into coherent, usable services that meet user needs.
✨Demonstrate Your Adaptability
Be prepared to discuss how you’ve adapted to evolving environments and tackled challenges in high-assurance settings. Highlight your ability to balance empathy with analytical thinking, especially when working across different disciplines.