NEXUS Technical Architect

Job summary

RAF Digital sits at the heart of the Royal Air Force, bringing together military, civil service and industry expertise to deliver advanced digital capability that underpins operations and drives the RAF’s future.

We are recruiting a Technical Architect to support the NEXUS Programme—one of our flagship initiatives. Nexus is delivering a next‑generation, data‑driven capability that connects systems and information to enable faster, better decision‑making and operational effectiveness.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce, where everyone is supported to thrive and succeed. We support the Great Place to Work for Veterans scheme aimed to encourage more veterans to join the Civil Service when they leave the armed forces.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Job description:

This role is part of the NEXUS to Core Delivery Team. NEXUS is the Royal Air Force (RAF) Air Command and Control (Air C2) transformation programme. The programme consists of the delivery the Air Cloud Hosting Environment; the Air Information Platform; experimentation; and a suite of operational applications. As the NEXUS Technical Architect, you will be responsible via the NEXUS to Core Delivery Lead for the following:

• Lead the production of, and adherence to, engineering guidance and standards.
• Maintain awareness of industry trends, technologies, and best practices.
• Collaborate with engineering leads across all work packages to continually improve engineering guidance and standards.
• Champion the use of automation and cloud native principles.
• Identify process or tooling gaps in engineering practices and coordinate the resolution of them.
• Conduct reviews of designs, support design and engineering governance forums (for example Technical Design Authorities).
• Promote the use of Secure by Design (SbD) principles at the earliest stages of all work and provide early feedback prior to engagement with SAC/DTSL.
• Support the management of technical risk across the programme.
• Act as the primary contact and point of escalation for complex technical decisions and facilitate further escalation where necessary.
• To ensure that knowledge-sharing and cross-skilling opportunities exist across the programme to promote high quality engineering practices

Person specification

Essential:

• Lead technical architecture experience in secure, multi-supplier environments
• Ability to produce clear, defensible architectural artefacts (HLDs, SoRs, strategies)
• Solution Shaping and Solution Architecture Experience aligned to industry best practices (e.g. NAF/TOGAF or similar)
• Understanding of Data Architecture and distributed models
• Experience with API-led integration, event-driven architectures, and schema standardisation

• DevSecOps-aligned delivery experience around CI/CD, modern SDLC practices
• Understanding of Private Cloud Computing and Virtualisation Technologies (e.g. VMWare VCF)
• Understanding of Containerisation Technologies (e.g. Kubernetes, Docker or similar)

Desirable:

• Experience in MOD governance, security, and assurance knowledge
• Senior stakeholder engagement and TDA leadership
• Experience working within MOD or highly regulated environments (e.g. JSP requirements, Secure by Design)
• Understanding of multi-classification architectures (OFFICIAL–SENSITIVE / SECRET)
• Strong understanding of Data Architecture and Governance aligned to MOD/Government/Sovereignty and usage in CNI
• Air/ISR domain knowledge and NEXUS platform familiarity
• Familiarity with MOD/NATO data standards (e.g., STANAGs, ISR data formats such as ASTERIX)
• Understanding of assurance processes (e.g., iATO, ATO, IOC, MDC, FOC, DLOD working groups, CIWG, accreditation, auditability)
• Experience in utilising Architecture Design Toolsets (e.g. UML, BizzDesign, SparxEA, Archimate)
• Strong data-centric, integration, and DDIL/edge architecture expertise
• Knowledge of cross-domain solutions (CDS) and secure data handling constraints
• Cloud, AI/analytics, and platform engineering experience
• Test/release and service introduction understanding
• Supplier, Shared Responsibility Model (SRM) and contract delivery experience

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Leadership
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

• Government Digital & Data: Government Digital and Data profession | Civil Service Careers. Technical Architect

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 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).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
  • 25 days paid annual leave rising (by one day per year) to 30 days upon completion of five years’ service
  • In addition to eight public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The King’s birthday
  • Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period for volunteer reserve commitments
  • Special Paid Leave to volunteer up to six days per year
  • Enhanced parental and adoption leave
  • Excellent travel links with free car parking, Gym access and onsite coffee shop / cafe
  • A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

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.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles to assess your Behaviours, CV for your Experience and Professions for Technical skills.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Personal Statement:

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (250 Word Max)

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV and Statement of suitability and the following:

• Leadership
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving

In the event of a high volume of applications, the sift will be based on the lead behaviour which is Leadership.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving
• Government Digital & Data: Government Digital and Data profession , Civil Service Careers. Technical Architect

Technical Framework link

https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/technical-archite…

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.

There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.

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 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 : Group Captain Paul Withers
• Email : paul.withers444@mod.gov.uk
• Telephone : Tel (Teams): +44 303 369 6531

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

Candidate Information 2025 Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)20201013-Air Command Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 316kB)