Senior Technical Architect

Job description

Job Title: Senior Technical Architect

Band: 5

Salary: 59877 - 66896 (plus allowance up to 9000 per annum depending on technical assessment)

Location: Liverpool/Newport/Norwich/Birmingham

Terms: Permanent

Hours: Full Time/ Compressed Hours

Closing Date: 26/01/2026

Ready to step up from merely managing systems to designing the future of our entire technology ecosystem Were seeking X2 Senior Technical Architect to be the driving force behind our next generation of scalable resilient and innovative solutions directly translating business strategy into technical reality. Do you possess the deep technical mastery to mentor a high-performing engineering team while navigating the complex trade-offs between speed cost and quality

Job Summary

We are seeking a visionary Senior Technical Architect ready to own and evolve our enterprise-wide DDaT technical strategy and architecture. You will be the defining authority responsible for architecting highly scalable secure and resilient solutions that directly impact public service delivery. Lead technical governance mentor high-performing engineering teams and drive our complex digital transformation journey by translating national strategy into robust technical reality.

Directorate Overview

The Digital & Data Services (DDS) directorate is at the heart of CCSs digital transformation journey responsible for delivering modern efficient and user-centred digital services that support over 30bn of public sector procurement annually. Were building a world-class digital capability that will revolutionise how the public sector buys common goods and services.

Team Summary

The team operates as a single unified unit of 6 (and growing to 10) combining both Enterprise Architecture (EA) and Senior Technical Architecture expertise. While we leverage supplemental support from preferred partners we always maintain control with our architects establishing the guardrails and managing the strategic direction of their work.

Key Accountabilities

• Own the Technical Vision: Define the how for all strategic change ensuring solutions align with the long-term enterprise architecture.

• Lead Technical Governance: Champion and implement architectural standards including Secure by Design across high-impact projects.

• Mentor and Guide Teams: Provide technical leadership and guidance to engineering and architecture teams on complex design decisions.

• Manage Architectural Risk: Identify and clearly articulate technical debt and architectural risks early in the investment process.

• Ensure System Integrity: Verify that new High-Level Designs (HLDs) are scalable secure and fit within the broader CCS technology ecosystem.

• Drive Strategic Alignment: Collaborate with Business Architecture to translate strategic goals into practical resilient technical blueprints.

• Review Supplier Capability: Assess the technical viability and integration methods of solutions proposed by market suppliers (e.g. for the Self-Serve programme).

• Document Architecture: Lead the creation of clear concise architectural documentation suitable for senior leadership.

Essential Criteria (to be assessed at application stage):

• Enterprise Architecture Governance: Proven experience in defining and enforcing architectural standards (e.g. through an Architecture Review Board or similar forum) to manage technical debt and ensure system integrity.

• Secure & Scalable Design: Deep expertise in designing and leading the implementation of highly scalable resilient and secure solutions including applying Secure by Design principles to large-scale platforms (e.g. IDAM or high-volume transactional services).

• Strategic Technical Alignment: Ability to translate abstract business or policy strategy into concrete actionable technical blueprints and effectively articulate risks to senior stakeholders (e.g. GCF architecture presentation at level zero).

• Complex Integration & Trade-offs: Demonstrated experience navigating and making complex technical trade-offs (e.g. speed vs. cost vs. quality) and defining integration strategy for major enterprise systems.

• Leadership: Experience in providing technical mentorship and coaching to technical teams.

Success Profiles (to be assessed at interview):

You will be assessed against the following Behaviours:

• Seeing the bigger picture

• Communicating and influencing

• Making effective decisions

You will be assessed against the following Technical Skills (Some of the below technical skills will be tested via a presentation at interview)

• Architecture communication

• Architect for the whole context

(A link to the Civil Service Success Profiles Framework is provided below)

Success Profiles Framework

Assessment

You will also be required to complete a presentation within the final interview stage with more information to follow on this should you be successful

Please note that as part of this recruitment process if you are unsuccessful at interview stage but are close to the benchmark score you may be considered for and offered a role at a lower pay band within the same job family.

What we will offer you here are some of the benefits you can expect:

• Competitive salary

• Generous pension scheme

• A discretionary non-contractual performance related bonus

• Working remotely in addition to working in advertised office location

• Flexi time scheme (available for B1-B6)

• Minimum 25 days annual leave to a maximum service related 30 days excluding bank holidays

Explore fully how we will reward your work.

Want to make a difference Find out more about the rewarding work that we do in our candidate pack.

The Civil Service is committed to attract retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil ServiceD&I Strategy.

We want to make our recruitment process accessible to everyone so if there is any way that we can support you please contact

Working flexibly delivering outcomes

CCS is a flexible business with a smarter working model where our colleagues benefit from a mix of home and office working. Successful candidates are expected to work from one of the office locations listed. Our current office attendance approach requires a minimum of 26 days per quarter (approx 2 days per week which may be subject to change) in CCS office locations or off site meetings with suppliers customers partners networking / industry events. This is pro rata for those who work part time. Our smarter working principles mean that our people have the advantage of both office and offsite based collaboration and learning as well as working from home. This way of working allows us to honour our commitment to being a responsible business offer flexibility and better work life balance as well as ensuring we deliver our business with confidence and in accordance with our CCS values.

Selection Process

Candidates who are successful at sift will be contacted as soon as possible following the closing date and advised of the interview process in more detail. The sift will commence WC 26th January and interviews will be held WC 9th February either at one of our offices or via video with interview times and dates to be confirmed. (Subject to change)

To find out more about our recruitment process please click here

Please note: Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application however all examples and statements provided must be truthful factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others or generated by artificial intelligence as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Complaints procedure

Our recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles details of which can be found at

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint you should contact in the first instance.

If you remain unsatisfied with the response you receive you can then contact the Civil Service Commission at

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

Complaints Procedure

Our recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissions Recruitment Principles details of which can be found at you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint you should contact in the first instance.

If you remain unsatisfied with the response you receive you can then contact the Civil Service Commission at

Internal candidates should apply using their Workday account. Please use the careers hub for your application.