Job Description

Security Clearance: BPSS minimum, SC desirableRole SummaryWe are seeking a Technical Architect to lead the design and assurance of a large-scale, real-time data aggregation platform delivering open, secure and standards-compliant digital services for government, industry, and consumers.This role will support the end-to-end architecture lifecycle, from Discovery through to BAU, ensuring the solution meets non-functional requirements for real-time data ingestion, validation, aggregation, and dissemination. The platform will be accessed by a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including commercial organisations, regulated entities, and government authorities.You will collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to deliver a cloud-native, API-first solution, incorporating multiple input channels and enforcing strict data quality, governance, and availability SLAs.RequirementsKey ResponsibilitiesDiscovery & Design

• Lead technical discovery, mapping the current state and identifying suitable architectural approaches for real-time data aggregation and distribution.

• Design secure, resilient architecture across infrastructure, applications, data pipelines, APIs, and user access.

• Evaluate and recommend technologies for multi-channel input (e.g. API, web, IVR, SMS) and automated validation against business rules and compliance thresholds.

• Produce architecture deliverables including HLDs, LLDs, interface specifications, data flows, security zones, and deployment models.

• Define and evolve prototypes for service components in line with government service standards.

• Architect the back-end for ingesting, cleansing, validating and aggregating structured data at national scale.

• Implement modular, microservices-based patterns supporting interoperability and scalable integration.

• Collaborate with DevOps teams to build CI/CD pipelines, test automation, IaC, and container orchestration.

• Define SLAs, KPIs, and technical acceptance criteria for Alpha and Beta service assessments.

• Support accessibility and usability alignment with WCAG and GOV.UK standards.

• Finalise architectural patterns for live rollout and BAU support, ensuring regulatory and security compliance.

• Define observability architecture, including real-time monitoring, logging, anomaly detection, and alerting.

• Support governance boards and internal service assessments through the provision of architectural documentation and assurance.

• Lead technical response to incidents, performance tuning, and compliance testing (e.g. penetration testing, accessibility audits, disaster recovery).

• Guide change control, scalability reviews, and future enhancements post go-live.

• Extensive experience (5+ years) as a Technical Architect designing and delivering digital platforms for public services, regulated data, or open data sharing.

• Strong background in cloud-native architecture (AWS/Azure/GCP), with hands-on understanding of:

• Event-based and batch data ingestion

• Secure API design, throttling, caching, OpenAPI standards

• High-availability architectures with resilience and failover

• Experience designing real-time data validation and aggregation systems, with rules-based logic, statistical quality checks, and audit trails.

• Familiarity with:

• Identity and access management frameworks (OAuth2, RBAC)

• Data lineage, metadata, governance and retention

• Service level management (SLAs, KPIs, thresholds, alerts)

• Strong understanding of NCSC principles, ISO 27001, OWASP Top 10, and secure development lifecycle.

• Experience engaging with product managers, designers, delivery leads, and QA/DevOps engineers in agile environments.

• Proven ability to align digital services with GOV.UK Digital Service Standard and support successful Alpha/Beta service assessments.

• Experience with real-time public-facing data services, regulatory data platforms, or high-volume open data feeds.

• Experience of cross-departmental digital transformation, including interaction with enforcement bodies and data consumers.

• Knowledge of government assurance processes including internal governance boards, DPIAs, and service spend approvals.

• Exposure to observability tooling, data quality dashboards, and continuous service improvement practices.

• Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience.

• Certifications such as TOGAF, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or equivalent.

• The opportunity to lead a nationally significant data platform with real-world public impact.

• Work with experienced multidisciplinary teams delivering modern, secure, and accessible services.

• A hybrid working model supporting flexibility, collaboration, and focus on quality outcomes.

• Health Insurance and Employee Assistance Program

VE3