Senior Technical Architect - Cloud Solutions

Job summary

We are MHCLG

Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people's lives. Whether it is through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we are all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda. We have ambitious and far-reaching outcomes to achieve this year and, if you are thinking of joining us, there has never been a more exciting time.

This role acts as MHCLG’s architectural front door for new technical demand, helping the department turn early ideas, one-line ServiceNow requests and emerging project needs into clear requirements, solution options and proportionate technical design approaches. We are seeking a Senior Technical Architect with broad architecture experience across cloud services, Microsoft 365, SaaS, integration, security, data, identity and digital platforms. As a Senior Technical Architect, you will assess new requirements across a range of technologies, services and platforms, not limited to a single cloud provider. You will work with delivery teams, policy, programmes, suppliers, and platform owners to understand the problem being solved. You will identify whether an existing departmental tool, application, platform capability, or reusable service can meet the need, and shape appropriate technical solutions that align with strategy, target architecture, governance, and security expectations.

The role also includes line management responsibility for engineers, supporting technical development, consistent ways of working, and the quality of engineering and documentation outputs across the team. This role is aligned to the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework, drawing primarily on Technical Architect capabilities at Grade 7 level. Please note that MHCLG does not offer visa sponsorship, and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of their employment.

Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog. Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment.

Job description

As a Cloud Technical Architect, you'll:

• Act as the architectural front door for new requirements and projects, engaging with delivery teams, programmes, policy, operational teams and suppliers to shape early demand, define requirements and develop appropriate technical solution options
• Lead and coordinate the development of solution architectures across cloud services, Microsoft 365, SaaS platforms, integration services and departmental applications, ensuring solutions are secure, resilient, supportable, compliant and aligned with departmental strategy and target architecture
• Provide strategic architectural advice and option appraisals to senior stakeholders, assessing costs, risks, benefits, delivery approaches and opportunities for service reuse, standardisation and consolidation to support informed decision-making
• Shape and oversee proofs of concept, pilots and technology evaluations to validate architectural approaches, technologies and integration patterns, working with engineers and delivery teams to support successful implementation where appropriate
• Own the architectural direction for software development and engineering tooling, including source control, CI/CD pipelines, automation, development environments and related engineering platforms, enabling teams to build, test and release services securely, efficiently and consistently
• Lead architectural oversight of major transformation and migration activities, including service transitions, organisational restructuring, mergers, acquisitions and data migration programmes, ensuring dependencies, security, governance, access controls, validation and transition arrangements are fully addressed
• Drive the rationalisation, standardisation and governance of departmental technology capabilities, identifying opportunities to reduce duplication, improve reuse, strengthen controls and increase value for money across platforms, services and tooling
• Provide design assurance and implementation oversight, working closely with Enterprise Architects, Platform Architects, Cyber Security, Engineering and Delivery teams to validate designs, confirm implementation approaches and ensure solutions are technically feasible, supportable and operationally ready
• Own the architectural direction for DNS-related services and dependencies, including Cloudflare DNS and Zscaler network access patterns, establishing design standards, assuring solution implementations and ensuring changes are secure, resilient, governed and aligned with departmental architecture, security and operational requirements
• Ensure solutions successfully progress through governance and operational transition, securing appropriate approvals through Technical Design Authority and security review processes, whilst establishing clear ownership, support models, documentation and handover arrangements before transition to BAU support

Person specification

As a Cloud Technical Architect you'll have:

• Significant experience operating as a Technical Architect or closely related architecture role in a complex enterprise environment, shaping, designing and assuring enterprise-scale solutions across cloud services, SaaS, Microsoft 365, integration, identity, networking, security and governance
• Strong understanding of solution and cloud architecture principles, including automation, resilience, operational models, data flow, integration, reuse of existing services and secure-by-design patterns
• Proven experience taking early, incomplete or one-line business requests and turning them into clear requirements, high-level options analysis and scalable, cost-effective and compliant technical architectures aligned to organisational strategy and target architecture
• Experience leading or assuring proofs of concept, pilots or experimental services to validate architectural approaches, de-risk technical decisions and test integration patterns before wider delivery
• Experience defining, governing or enabling software development lifecycle tooling and engineering platforms, including source control, CI/CD pipelines, automation and development environments, enabling teams to build, test and release digital services securely and consistently
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work across delivery, policy, programme, supplier, enterprise architecture, platform architecture and cyber security teams to translate business problems into clear architectural options and recommendations
• Knowledge of identity and access management, Zero Trust networking, Entra ID, authorisation patterns, encryption standards, cloud security controls and NCSC-aligned security principles
• Experience designing, assuring or governing DNS-related services and dependencies, including Cloudflare DNS and Zscaler network access patterns, ensuring solutions are secure, resilient and aligned with architectural, security and operational standards
• Experience leading or assuring system, service, user, account and data migrations, including organisational restructuring, mergers, acquisitions or service transition scenarios, with the ability to assess service dependencies, account and access mapping, data transfer, security, risks, governance requirements and transition impacts
• Experience identifying opportunities to rationalise, standardise or consolidate technologies, platforms or services to reduce duplication, improve governance, increase reuse and deliver value for money
• Experience working within architecture governance and assurance frameworks, presenting designs through technical review, security assurance and design authority processes
• Experience coordinating architectural activities across multiple delivery teams, suppliers and governance bodies, ensuring technical outcomes are delivered effectively and align with organisational standards and objectives

Certification:

Relevant architecture certification is desirable, such as Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert, AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional, TOGAF, or an equivalent industry-recognised architecture certification.

Candidates without certification may apply where they can demonstrate equivalent technical architecture experience, including enterprise design, governance, security and assurance leadership.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,092, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £16,829 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).At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.

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

Application and Selection

The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:

Technical , Behaviours , Experience , Strengths

Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.

Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.

Stage 1: Sift (CV)

Experience: Your CV will be tested against the Experience success profile.

Stage 2: Interview

Candidates who pass the sifting round will be asked to attend a technical test as the second stage of this campaign. Those who are successful in the test will be asked to attend interview.

Stage 2: Interview

• Behaviours: "Making Effective Decisions"
• Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
• Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
• Strengths: The strength-based questions will require natural responses from the candidates.

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 7th September 2026.

Interviews are envisaged to take place the week commencing 21st September and are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.

Group 1 Digital & Data Roles

MHCLG has implemented the Digital and Data capability framework for Group 1 roles. Applicants that are successful and have been offered a position will be required to complete a capability assessment after the interview.

MHCLG will honour completed capability assessments for this role from other Government Departments for existing civil servants on level transfer only.Please provide a copy of your capability assessment to the Hiring Manager when applying. If you have any queries on pay, please contact the Hiring Manager.

Each experience or technical skill is assessed between 1-3, representing working towards, at or above the job level requirements. You are awarded a proficiency level accordingly, and you will be given opportunity to annually re assess your capability and potentially increase your overall remuneration, through payment of allowances, depending on level of assessed capability.

Candidates moving from another government department have the option to retain their current basic pay if this is within our pay band for the relevant grade.

Senior Executive Officer Group 1 Digital and Data salary

• The basic pay for this role will be between £63,483 - £72,287 (London), £58,092- £66,742 (National). Candidates will usually be recruited to the median of the payscale.
• A digital allowance may also be payable depending on the level of assessed capability, in order to meet the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating.
• For applicants in receipt of existing allowances, we will assess each case individually, but we would seek not to exceed the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating for existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply, subject to the statements above.

How We Recruit

Find out everything you need to know before applying here..

• Applying
• Sifting
• Interview
• Interview Results & Feedback
• Reserve List
• Near Miss
• Civil Service Grades
• We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer
• Reasonable Adjustments

How to Apply

What you need to know before applying.

• Security Clearance Requirements
• Civil Service Nationality Requirements
• Right to Work
• Artificial Intelligence
• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles
• CV Declaration
• Sponsorships
• Salary and Grade
• Existing Civil Servants
• Conflict of Interest
• Location and Flexible Working
• Fixed Term Contracts
• Internal Fraud Database - Internal Fraud Register
• Appeals and Complaints
• Conflict of Interest

Security Clearance Requirements

National Office: + SC

London Office: + SC

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 security check (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

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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

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 : Digital Data Jobs
• Email : Digitaldatajobs@communities.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Digitaldatajobs@communities.gov.uk

Further information

If you are unsure about any part of the process or require additional information about the post to enable you to progress your application, you should speak to the Resourcing team - Recruitment@communities.gov.uk. Candidates can appeal at any stage of the recruitment process if they believe there has been:
•a procedural irregularity
•an infringement of the Civil Service equal opportunities policy
•exceptional circumstances which were not notified to the interview panel which might have affected performance on the day.
It is important to note that these are appeals about the process not the decision. In the first instance, an appeal should be directed to the MHCLG Resourcing Hub at Recruitment@communities.gov.uk.
If the MHCLG Resourcing Hub is unable to satisfactorily resolve your complaint, you may contact put your complaint in writing to the Civil Service Commission, Room G8,1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ or by email to: info@csc.gov.uk