GOVTALENT.UK

Principal Technical Architect

This opening expired 7 months ago.

FCDO Services

Location(s):
Milton Keynes
Salary:
£67,214 to £78,033
Job grade:
Grade 6
Business area:
Information Technology (IT)
Contract type:
Permanent
Working pattern:
Full-time

About the job

Job summary

Have you ever thought about joining an organisation that operates on a global scale to deliver a first-class service for the UK government and our international partners? A career where you’ll help us build an enterprise architecture function and develop digital and technology strategies that align with industry and government best practice. If you’re looking for your job, but bigger, this could be your next move.

As a trusted government partner we work on a huge range of projects, and help protect the UK’s interests around the world. We design and construct secure government buildings. We help earthquake-proof embassies. We courier diplomatic packages across continents. We keep complex projects on track, and on budget. And a whole lot more besides. It’s important work, and you could take your career to new heights as you focus your talents on a wide range of exciting projects.

Job description

Help to implement the digital transformation that will support our global mission

Join us as Principal Technical Architect and you’ll use all your networking skills as you work with senior stakeholders to seek out opportunities for the implementation of digital transformation. Managing a number of diverse teams, inspiring other technical and solutions architects, and helping everyone you work with to deliver their goals, you’ll be doing all these things and more in this rare and vital role.

Enabling the delivery of the technical strategy, it will be your task to present recommendations for technologies or improvements that will enhance our systems and support project goals and create detailed plans for the integration of new systems architecture into existing infrastructure. But your responsibilities won’t stop here – you’ll also work to ensure a consistent strategy across cyber, cloud, data centre, storage, network, mobile and the user experience of infrastructure, and analyse existing systems to ensure they offer adequate security and meet the needs of our organisation.

Use your superb interpersonal skills to inspire your team and our stakeholders

With strong knowledge of VMware, Windows and Cisco technologies including cloud-base services and cloud native solutions, you’ll have plenty of experience relating to the automation and improvement of development and release processes. It’s also important that you have hands-on experience of architecting and designing solutions, with a particular focus on following best practices for designing and operating reliable, secure, cost-effective and sustainable cloud-based systems.

With industry level qualifications equivalent to TOGAF, MCSE, and/or CCNP, and ITIL and Agile foundation-level qualifications, you’ll have experience of leading an architecture community and Government technology strategies, policies, and guidelines. We’ll look for a deep understanding of NCSC, NIST and CIS security principles, and expert knowledge of the private (VMware) and public cloud (AWS/Azure), while your superb communication, presentation and interpersonal skills will make you an inspirational team worker and stakeholder manager.

Grow your career in the biggest way possible

When you join us, you’ll be contributing to protecting the nation’s interests at home and overseas. How will we help you in return? We offer a competitive salary, 25-30 days’ annual leave per year (depending on length of service) and a Civil Service pension. Depending on business need, we can accommodate some hybrid working between the office and home. While on-site, you’ll have access to an on-site gym, nursery, canteen, and we offer interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes to help you get there. Above all else, we can offer your job, bigger. As a Principal Technical Architect you’ll be using all your skills with an organisation that protects people, information and assets around the world. Using your skills in a way that just means more.

All our employees have to be security cleared before joining us, so you will need to undergo a vetting process if you’re successful in your application. This role would require you to undergo Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. You can find out more about this on our website: https://www.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/

To find out more about us and what a career with FCDO Services can offer you, please visit: fcdoservicescareers.co.uk

It takes a diverse team to protect a diverse world

The vital work we do takes an incredible community of colleagues with different skills, backgrounds, cultures and identities. We support every individual, so that you always know you’re welcome and valued. It’s what makes us a Disability Confident employer. And why we’re recognised as a ‘Carer Confident’ workplace. And it’s how you know you’re joining an inspiring, inclusive organisation.


Hanslope Park based posts attract a Location Allowance of £1,750 per annum.

FCDO Services are regulated by the Civil Service Commission.

Person specification

Skills

  • Governance;
  • Stakeholder management;
  • Financial management;
  • Resource management;
  • Technical design and architecture;
  • Solution architecture;
  • Enterprise architecture;
  • Security architecture;
  • Problem solving;
  • Bridge technical and non-technical;
  • Public cloud;
  • Government Security Classification tiers;
  • Enterprise architecture tooling and modelling

 

Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • ITIL and Agile foundation-level qualification.
  • Solutions and Enterprise Architecture experience.
  • Experience of working in agile environments, continual delivery techniques and DevOps cultures.
  • Qualified to industry level equivalent to TOGAF, MCSE, and/or CCNP.
  • Experience of leading an architecture community.
  • Experience of leading on Government technology strategies, policies, and technology guidelines.
  • A deep understanding of NCSC, NIST, and CIS security principles.
  • Expert knowledge of private (VMware) and public cloud (AWS/Azure).
  • Experience of secure cross domain technology

 

Desirable

  • Worked in a matrix organisation structure.
  • Software development skills and experience.
  • DevOps experience in automation and improvement in development and release processes (Continuous Integration & Continuous Delivery).
  • Infrastructure as a Code (IaC), Containerization, and Microservices.
  • Good understanding of relevant emerging technologies, how they can be used, and of running a research or prototyping team.
  • Wide-ranging interest in technology and its implications for system development (Hardware, Software, Cloud, Mobility and User Experience)
  • Zachman, ITIL Managed Professional, or ITIL Expert Leader/Master

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £67,214, FCDO Services contributes £18,147 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Shortlisting will be conducted against the Job Specific Skills, Knowledge & Experience outlined in the Role Profile.

 

Interviews will be conducted using a mixture of Behaviours and Job Specific questions, presentation or job specific exercise.



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Added: 8 months ago