Principal Technical Architect

As a Principal Technical Architect at the Home Office, you will play a key role in leading the design, implementation, and continuous operation of our Datacentre Infrastructure, Private Cloud, and Edge capabilities that form the backbone of our critical systems and services. In this senior leadership position, you will be responsible for developing robust, secure, and scalable architectural solutions, focusing on hybrid environments that span both on-premises systems and public cloud platforms like AWS and Azure.

You will take charge of guiding third-party suppliers in the design of a diverse range of projects that introduce new capabilities across the Home Office. This position requires a strategic thinker with a collaborative approach, working closely with multidisciplinary teams, suppliers, and external partners to ensure that our infrastructure is designed and deployed with a focus on security, reliability, and performance.

By embedding Secure by Design principles into all aspects of your work, you will help protect our operations, data, and resources, while ensuring seamless integration across all digital initiatives. Your leadership will ensure the alignment of infrastructure strategies with broader business goals, enabling the delivery of secure, scalable, and high-performing solutions.

What You'll Do:

• Owning the creation and delivery of the technical platforms for Data Centre, Edge and Private Cloud Platform Services, include brokering decisions and bridging technical and business disputes by weighing up risk, complexity impact and deliverability.
• Presenting recommendations for technologies or improvements to enhance systems to support project goals clearly to senior management, based on knowledge of IT and analysis of systems' needs.
• Leading the design and review processes for new solution and services, translating technical concepts between systems engineering, delivery management and service management at a national scale.
• Developing and documenting the proposed technical design for the integration and implementation of any solution, working with and across other areas of Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession and the business.
• Creating detailed plans for the integration of new systems architecture into existing infrastructure, considering the broader context and strategies of the organisation.
• Leading the development of the architectural practice, ensuring a coherent and consistent strategy across cyber, cloud, data centre, storage, network, mobile and the user experience of infrastructure.

Essential skills:

• Evidencing strong technical leadership qualities, with a passion for delivering leading edge designs and inspiring a culture of technical excellence and innovative solution design.
• Anticipating and advising on future technology changes that present opportunities for the product or programme.
• Leading the complex landscapes of technologies, 3rd party suppliers (including leading the procurement and supplier management process), internal and cross-government teams, in delivery of high-profile systems of national scale.
• Leading technology teams to adhere to good engineering principles from architecture through to development.
• Managing and delivering complex technology solutions within time, cost and quality targets, ensuring solutions are robust, resilient, and appropriately implemented, tested and documented.
• Defining, owning and contributing to the technical roadmap and strategy.

Why join us:

At the Home Office, your work has real-world impact, shaping the safety and security of millions. We offer:

• Meaningful Work: Contribute to critical national security and public service initiatives.
• Career Growth: Benefit from tailored development frameworks and professional communities.
• Flexible Working: Balance your professional and personal life with hybrid work options.
• Diversity and Inclusion: Join a workplace where your unique background and talents are celebrated.
• Learn more about our benefits: Benefits - Home Office Careers

Additional Information:

• This role requires SC clearance. To meet national security vetting requirements, you must typically have been resident in the UK for at least five years. Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor visas.