Defence Intelligence - Senior Cloud Enterprise Architect

Job summary

The Senior Cloud Enterprise Architect will provide enterprise architectural leadership for cloud services across Defence Intelligence and, where directed, the Military Intelligence Service, spanning Official, Secret and Top Secret environments.

The post holder will translate strategic objectives, operational requirements and technology opportunities into coherent cloud architecture principles, target states and transition roadmaps. They will define architectural standards and reusable patterns, guide workload placement and technology investment decisions, and assure cloud proposals against Defence architecture, cyber-security, interoperability, resilience and value-for-money requirements.

Working with Defence Digital & Data colleagues, cyber and security specialists, data and solution architects, service owners, delivery teams, industry and wider government partners, the role will build agreement around architectural decisions and ensure cloud adoption remains coherent across organisational and security boundaries.

This is a senior architecture role requiring strong enterprise architecture capability, practical cloud knowledge, sound judgement and the ability to communicate complex decisions to technical and non-technical audiences. Travel to DI and other HMG sites within the UK will be required. A small amount of international travel may be required.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

In Defence Intelligence (DI) our people solve problems, create understanding and give perspective to the diverse and complex Defence threats and challenges in a rapidly changing world. Together our civilians and military personnel inform decision making in Defence, manage complex finance programmes and develop new technology.

In DI we believe your unique experiences, view and understanding of the world could provide a vital perspective and contribution to our work. We recognise that great minds do not think alike and are striving to increase our diversity representation at all levels. As an equal opportunities employer we hire, train and promote people based on merit and aspire to create an inclusive workplace free of discrimination. We also offer flexible working arrangements such as flexi-time, job share and compressed hours.

Defence Intelligence relies on secure, resilient and interoperable digital services to support intelligence assessment and operations. Cloud technologies are central to modernising these services, enabling better access to data and capabilities while reducing fragmented delivery, duplication and technical debt.

As the Senior Cloud Enterprise Architect, you will be the principal architectural authority for cloud within Defence Intelligence and, where directed, across the Military Intelligence Service. You will define how cloud should be used across the enterprise and ensure that investment and delivery decisions align with agreed architecture strategy, principles, standards and roadmaps.

You will translate business strategy and operational needs into current-state, target-state and transition architectures across Official, Secret and Above Secret environments. You will work across business, data, application, technology, service and security architecture domains to ensure that cloud-enabled change is coherent, deliverable and aligned with wider Defence direction.

You will provide authoritative advice to senior leaders, governance bodies, service owners and delivery teams. You will lead architectural option analysis, make or recommend architecture decisions, assure proposed designs, identify opportunities for reuse and standardisation, and manage architectural risks, exceptions and technical debt. This role is one requiring broad architectural judgement, practical knowledge of cloud technologies and operating models, and the ability to influence outcomes across organisational boundaries without relying on formal authority.

The role offers the opportunity to shape the future of secure cloud across Defence Intelligence, ensuring that cloud capabilities support operational advantage, interoperability, resilience, sustainability and value for money.

Main Responsibilities:

• Own and maintain the Defence Intelligence enterprise cloud architecture vision, strategy, principles and roadmap, aligned with Defence and Government direction.

• Develop and maintain business cases, current-state, target-state and transition architectures for cloud capabilities across relevant security classifications.

• Lead problem definition, architecture option analysis and trade-off assessments, balancing operational outcomes, security, interoperability, resilience, scalability, sustainability, affordability and value for money.

• Assure designs and investment proposals against enterprise architecture, cyber-security, data, service and technology requirements.

• Represent Defence Intelligence at architecture boards, design authorities and cross-Defence governance forums, escalating material risks and resolving architectural conflicts.

• Promote reuse, interoperability and standardisation while identifying opportunities to simplify the estate, retire duplication and reduce technical debt.

• Undertake horizon scanning and assess emerging cloud technologies, supplier developments and architectural patterns for their relevance to Defence Intelligence.

• Communicate complex architectural issues and recommendations clearly to senior technical and non-technical stakeholders.

All jobs advertised in DI are subject to fair and open competition.

DI operates as part of Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) which is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to design the way in which the new Military Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, posts within CSOC are/or may become subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions.

Person specification

We are looking for an experienced enterprise architect who can operate confidently across organisational, professional and security boundaries. You will be comfortable shaping strategy in a complex environment where requirements may be unclear, technology choices involve significant trade-offs, and progress depends on the quality of your judgement, evidence and influence.

This post requires British nationality (some dual nationals may be ineligible) and Developed Vetting clearance. You will also need to undergo additional security clearance checks, with the offer of employment being conditional on obtaining all necessary security clearances. There are limitations on travelling to a small number of countries once in post.

Essential criteria

• Significant experience operating as an enterprise, domain or senior solution architect in a large, complex or federated digital environment.
• Experience translating organisational strategy and operational needs into architecture principles, target states, transition roadmaps and implementable change.
• Demonstrable experience architecting for the whole context, balancing business outcomes, user needs, security, data, technology, service, commercial, affordability and sustainability considerations.
• Experience leading complex problem definition, option analysis and architectural decision-making, with clear rationale and traceability.
• Experience assuring strategies, designs or investment proposals against enterprise architecture and managing architectural risks, exceptions or technical debt.
• Strong architecture communication skills, including the ability to explain complex decisions and trade-offs to senior technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience influencing across organisational boundaries and building consensus around strategic architecture direction.

Desirable criteria

• Experience working in Defence, Intelligence, National Security or another highly regulated or security-conscious environment.
• Experience designing or assuring services across multiple security classifications or high-assurance environments.
• Knowledge of cloud security, identity, networking, resilience, interoperability and service operating models.
• Understanding of platform engineering, DevSecOps, infrastructure as code, FinOps and technology lifecycle management.
• A relevant cloud architecture qualification, such as AWS Solutions Architect, Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Google Professional Cloud Architect or equivalent.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• Architect for the whole context: practitioner level.
• Strategy design: practitioner level.
• Enterprise architecture: practitioner level.
• Problem definition and shaping: practitioner level.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,630, Ministry of Defence contributes £17,854 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

We offer a range of excellent benefits including but not limited to the following:

1. Learning and development tailored to your role
2. An environment with flexible working options
3. A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
4. A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
5. Leave entitlement - 25 day annual leave allowance per year increasing by 1 day per year (maximum 30 days per year). In addition, 8 statutory Bank Holidays and 1 privilege day per year.

We also offer an excellent range of family-friendly benefits, for example, enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave.

1. Special Paid Leave to volunteer up to 6 days a year
2. London site has a Gym and onsite shop.

Please note: Interview travel expenses will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

This post does not offer any assistance with relocation allowances.

Discover My Benefits
Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD.

https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working

environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

At sift, applicants will be assessed on experience in the essential and desirable criteria through a personal statement and CV

Personal Statement

All applicants will need to provide a personal statement, of no more than 750 words, including evidence of the essential and desirable criteria requested within the job advert.

When completing your personal statement, please read and understand the requirements described in the Person Specification section thoroughly, as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against.

Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. You may choose to address each criteria separately or have examples that cover and evidence several criteria. Please ensure you evidence the requirements and what you have done that relates to the requirements. You don’t have to explain the whole process, focus on what you have done and the skills and experience you have used. Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why, what you can do and the technical and behavioural skills you have that correspond to the requirements, and life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role.

CV

A CV will be required for this position; this cannot be uploaded to the advert. You will submit using the CV template provided on the CS Jobs dashboard in part two of your application, detailing job history, previous experience, and skills.

At interview, applicants will be sifted against the following Civil Service Behaviours and Technical skills.

Behaviours:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Technical skills:

Government Digital and Data Profession skills expected

• Architect for the whole context: practitioner level.
• Strategy design: practitioner level.
• Enterprise architecture: practitioner level.
• Problem definition and shaping: practitioner level.

Should there be a large number of applicants the sift will be based on CV only.

We would generally expect Behaviour examples to follow the STAR structure and encourage candidates to use this throughout their application.

Application/Interview Scoring System

We adopt a scoring system of 1-7 for Behaviours, Technical skills, and Experience.

7- The evidence provided wholly exceeds expectation at this level

6 – Substantial positive evidence; includes some evidence of exceeding expectations at this level

5 – Substantial positive evidence of the competency or behaviour

4 – Adequate positive evidence and any negative evidence would not cause concern

3 – Moderate positive evidence but some negative evidence demonstrated

2 – Limited positive evidence and/or mainly negative evidence demonstrated

1 – No positive evidence and/or substantial negative evidence demonstrated

The sift should take place within two weeks of the job closing and candidates will be informed of the results, at all stages, via the website. Interview dates are to be confirmed.

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

If the successful candidate does not hold the necessary clearances, they will be made a provisional job offer and asked to undergo our vetting procedures. Once the relevant clearances have been obtained a formal job offer will be made and start dates can be discussed. Should the candidate fail to obtain the relevant clearances the provisional job offer will be rescinded. It should be noted that this process can take several months.

Further information:

Cyber & Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) generates and operates specialist capabilities, ready to fight across all domains to make the UK secure at home and strong abroad.

Always on, we are across every UK operation, delivering the capabilities you don’t usually see - or those you can’t.

From cyber warriors and medics to intelligence analysts, special forces, educators, and Defence attachés, our collective expertise delivers the warfighting edge Defence needs to deter threats and secure the nation today and prepare for tomorrow.

CSOC unites Defence’s cyber and specialist capabilities under a single, military command alongside the Royal Navy, British Army, and the Royal Air Force - acting as the UK’s fourth Military Command. For more information, please see here.’

Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to design the way in which the new Military Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, posts within CSOC are/or may become subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions.

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.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : DI Chief Information Officer
• Email : CSOCDI-CIO@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

CSOC Candidate Pack 2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 1777kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1563kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)Candidate Information 2025 Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)