Biometrics Technical Architect - HO - SEO

The Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) profession enable the Home Office to keep the UK safe and secure. They do this by designing, building, and running the services that help people apply for visas or passports, support policing and counter-terrorism operations, and protect the UK’s borders. 

Team members have specialised knowledge and a calling to build on it. We want the best people to come to the Home Office and work in the diverse roles and communities they’re passionate about. This is how we produce exceptional outcomes. 

This is an exciting opportunity in Home Office Biometrics supporting; Police and Public Protection Technology (PPPT) portfolio, Homeland Security Group and Migration & Borders Technology Portfolio (MBTP). PPPT works in partnership with Police Forces, the Fire Service, agencies, and arms-length bodies of the Home Office, involved in law enforcement to cut crime and prevent abuse and exploitation. An increasing dependency on technology is at the heart of the ongoing reform and modernisation of the Police and Fire Service and its uses are varied. MBTP design, build and run the systems underpinning the immigration system, borders and passports. 

Due to business requirements this post is available on a Full Time/Job Share/Flexible Working basis. Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. Where this is the case, employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office. Queries can be raised to the address at the bottom of the advert. 

We value diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from the widest diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We encourage applications from women, people with disabilities and LGBT+ as they are currently under-represented in the Home Office at this grade level. Appointments will be made on merit based on fair and open competition.

Job description

As a Technical Architect, you will undertake structured analysis of technical issues, translating this analysis into technical designs that describe a solution. You will be consulted on design and can provide design patterns. You will identify the deeper issues that need fixing and look for opportunities to collaborate and reuse components, communicating with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. You will be able to build effective partnerships with diverse teams across multiple locations and technologies.

Architects in the biometrics domain work with customers, business analysts and operational users to design, implement and assure the biometric specialist elements of a solution. Biometric architects are engaged in the full engineering life cycle. They support the business analysts in the capture of business requirements, project managers in the development of business cases and the execution of delivery including the management of risk, they collaborate with the Quality Assurance and Test function to ensure robust test plans and execution. You will assure services and system quality, making sure the technical work fits into the broader strategy for government. You will be responsible for leading the technical design of elements of the biometric systems and services, including detailed plans for integration.

Architects will be involved in some of the following areas of biometric specialist skills and should be interested in developing skills in these areas further: 

• Biometric capture client, equipment and process design.
• Biometric accuracy testing.
• Biometric quality assessment specification and testing.
• Biometric standards covering capture, data exchange and quality assessment.
• Application of biometric technologies to verification, identification, intelligence and crime solving use cases.

Person specification

Your main day to day activities will be

• Recommending technologies or improvements to enhance biometric systems to support project goals, based on the analysis of systems’ needs and requirements of the business.
• Inputting into the design and review processes for new biometrics solutions and services by developing and documenting the proposed technical design for the integration and implementation of the solution.
• Supporting the creation of detailed plans for the integration of new systems architecture into existing infrastructure. 
• Owning biometric component(s) and ensuring the design and solution fit with the wider designs.
• Understanding and adhering to governance and assurance processes.

Essential skills

You’ll have a demonstrable passion for Technical Architecture, with the following skills or some experience in:

• Designing quality services, with a strong technical ability and proven technical background.
• Striving for technical excellence and innovation solution design.
• Navigating the complex landscapes of technologies, 3rd party suppliers, internal and cross-government teams.
• Working with Agile development experience using DevOps principles and good engineering principles.
• Understanding of a technical roadmap and strategy.
• Understanding of the technical requirements to implement, design and manage associated technologies.

SFIA capability framework 

Skills for the Information Age (SFIA) is the technical framework that sets the standard capability and development of all [insert DDaT Cluster name] levels in the Home Office. This is a link to the capability framework:  All skills A - Z English (sfia-online.org) 

We use set SFIA technical skills to form our interview questions and we will assess you against these technical skills during the selection process. 

SFIA levels of responsibility – Use the SFIA Levels of responsibility to understand what would be expected for each Technical Skill listed below. 

SFIA Technical skills 

The essential technical skills listed above are reflective of the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession Career Framework. Please see below for the relevant skills required for your role. 

Strategy & Architecture:

• Information Strategy
  • Strategic Planning (ITSP) – Level 3
• Advice & Guidance
  • Consultancy (CNSL) – Level 3
  • Specialist Advice (TECH) – Level 3
• Business Strategy & Planning
  • Innovation (INOV) – Level 3
  • Enterprise and Business Architecture (STPL) – Level 3
• Technical Strategy & Planning
  • Solution Architecture (ARCH) – Level 3

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Strategic Planning (ITSP) – Level 3
• Consultancy (CNSL) – Level 3
• Specialist Advice (TECH) – Level 3
• Innovation (INOV) – Level 3
• Enterprise and Business Architecture (STPL) – Level 3
• Solution Architecture (ARCH) – Level 3