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Job summary

At FCDO Services we protect the UK’s interests at home and overseas. We design and construct secure government buildings and courier diplomatic packages worldwide, safeguard government tech and a whole lot more. Our work is as varied and vital as it gets, but we never lose sight of our people. Their skills, aspirations and growth mean as much as the global mission we’re on. In our world, it all matters.

Job description

Our Technology and Operations team is at the forefront of digital solutions and services for FCDO and Government. They provide best in-class solutions for our clients, helping to shape and support a data driven future for UK government. Whether it’s creating bespoke, secure software, offering programme and application support or moving an entire embassy’s servers to a Cloud platform. No matter the task, they are on hand to support. Join them in this important role and you’ll have the opportunity to lead them on the next stage of our exciting journey.

Providing innovation to government partners

Delivering best-in-class solutions

Working at the cutting-edge of technology

It all matters

Use all your specialist technical skills as you help to protect the UK’s interests

When you join us in this new role, you’ll have the vital task of delivering infrastructure and network architecture across a range of domains, working on services including automation, monitoring, security and identity management. Working within the Chief Technical Officer’s Office, the role plays a key part in coordinating resources to support project delivery and operational teams, contributing to governance, technical and operational activities, and helping to shape and manage enterprise architecture across FCDO Services. You'll also develop robust, secure and cost-effective technical designs that align with our strategic objectives and enterprise architecture, provide expert guidance and technical leadership within the Architecture and Delivery teams, and ensure the solutions delivered are scalable, resilient, and meet business and user needs.

You’ll also take on a broad range of responsibilities, including contributing to the Technical Design Authority by reviewing infrastructure and network proposals and influencing the organisation’s strategic direction for infrastructure and networking. Other aspects of the role include developing technical roadmaps aligned with technological trends and organisational objectives, maintaining accurate architecture documentation, evaluating emerging technologies, establishing infrastructure and network architecture standards that drive quality, managing a team of technical architects, providing expert guidance to operational teams, mentoring less experienced colleagues, and contributing to design and delivery forums.

Develop your career as you help to keep the country safe and secure

To be a success in this busy, fast-paced role you should have well developed experience of delivering secure, complex infrastructure and network solutions that align with business and security objectives, and be skilled at incorporating business continuity, disaster recovery and resilience solutions. When it comes to qualifications you should have a degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science or Information Technology, possess professional level certifications, and hold or be willing to work towards a qualification such as TOGAF or ITIL.

Capable of translating business and security requirements into secure, efficient and cost-effective designs, you should also have experience of using the TOGAF framework to review and assure complex solutions, and produce concise and high quality high and low-level designs.

Your knowledge of Azure, M365 and AWS platforms will allow you to architect and govern secure, scalable infrastructures across private, public and hybrid platforms, and you should also have good knowledge of NCSC, GDS and UK Government security frameworks, including Secure by Design, Cloud Security Principles, Government Functional Standards and the Technology Code of Practice. Your excellent communication and interpersonal skills will make you an inspirational coach and manager of our technical architects and specialists, while a track record of deputising for senior technology leaders and engaging with stakeholders and governance forums to provide clear, evidence-based technical advice would be desirable.

Discover the support you need to grow your career further

But we’re always looking to improve – just like you. That’s why when you join us, expect to receive a competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement and a Civil Service Pension. Along with this, you’ll also have access to training and other development opportunities to help grow your career with us. Our offices have an on-site gym, nursery, café, and restaurant, and we offer interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes to help you get there. It's a great set of benefits made to support all you do, and all you need.

Every single colleague must be security cleared before joining us. If you’re successful in your application, we’ll ask you to undergo our vetting process to achieve Developed Vetting (DV). This role is a reserved post and applications are only being accepted from single nationality candidates and not dual nationals. You can find out more about vetting on our website: https://www.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/

To find out more about our benefits and our organisation, please visit fcdoservicescareers.co.uk

Closing date: 02/08/2026

It takes a diverse team to protect a diverse world

The vital work we do takes an incredible community of colleagues, with different skills, backgrounds, cultures and identities. We support every individual, so that you always know you’re welcome and valued. It’s what makes us a Disability Confident employer. And why we’re recognised as a ‘Carer Confident’ workplace. And it’s how you know you’re joining an inspiring, inclusive organisation.

Person specification

We are looking for people with:

• Proven experience designing and delivering secure, complex infrastructure and network solutions aligned with business and security objectives. Incorporating business continuity, disaster recovery, and resilience solutions.
• Experience leading and line managing technical specialists, providing direction and development to build capability and maintain delivery standards.
• Degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science or Information Technology.
• Holds or is willing to work towards recognised qualifications such as TOGAF, ITIL, or equivalent experience.
• Holds professional level certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate, AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional, VMware Certified Advanced Professional (VCAP), Microsoft Certified: Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert, or equivalent experience
• Translate business/security requirements into secure, efficient, and cost-effective designs.
• Experience in reviewing and assuring complex solutions and authored concise and high quality high and low-level designs (conceptual, logical, and physical architecture layers) using the TOGAF framework.
• Skilled in architecting & governing secure, scalable cloud infrastructure across private & hybrid platforms, with strong knowledge of azure, M365 and AWS (IaaS PaaS SaaS). Experienced in greenfield & migrating existing systems for strategic benefits.
• Demonstrable expertise in infrastructure and/or networking automation, provisioning, and orchestration.
• Experience of line/matrix management of technical architects, providing direction, coaching, and professional development to build capability and technical excellence across architecture and delivery functions.
• Knowledge of NCSC, GDS, and UK Government security frameworks, including Secure by Design, Cloud Security Principles, Government Functional Standards, and the Technology Code of Practice.
• Knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks, standards, and roadmaps that will align with strategic goals.

Qualifications

Degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science or Information Technology

Holds or is willing to work towards recognised qualifications such as TOGAF, ITIL, or equivalent experience

Holds certifications such as MS Certified: Azure Administrator Associate, AWS Certified Solutions Architect– Professional, VMware Certified Advanced Professional (VCAP), MS Certified: Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert, or equivalent experience

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science or Information Technology
• Holds or is willing to work towards recognised qualifications such as TOGAF, ITIL, or equivalent experience
• Holds certifications such as MS Certified: Azure Administrator Associate, AWS Certified Solutions Architect– Professional, VMware Certified Advanced Professional (VCAP), MS Certified: Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert, or equivalent experience
• Proven experience designing and delivering secure, complex infrastructure and network solutions aligned with business and security objectives. Incorporating business continuity, disaster recovery, and resilience solutions.
• Experience leading and line managing technical specialists, providing direction and development to build capability and maintain delivery standards.
• Translate business/security requirements into secure, efficient, and cost-effective designs.
• Skilled in architecting & governing secure, scalable cloud infrastructure across private & hybrid platforms, with strong knowledge of azure, M365 and AWS (IaaS PaaS SaaS). Experienced in greenfield & migrating existing systems for strategic benefits.
• Knowledge of NCSC, GDS, and UK Government security frameworks, including Secure by Design, Cloud Security Principles, Government Functional Standards, and the Technology Code of Practice.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £60,739, FCDO Services contributes £17,596 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.
• Annual leave starting at 25 days.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service pension.
• Free shuttle bus available between central Milton Keynes and Hanslope Park
• 9 days per annum public and privilege days

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.

To apply for this role, you will be asked to provide your CV, a personal statement, and provide answers to some job specific/technical skills.

Your CV and personal statement will not form part of the assessment they will provide an insight into your work history and experience.

Your CV should include:

• no personal identifying details
• career history with key responsibilities
• achievements
• qualifications

Your personal statement should outline your interest in the role.

Candidates will only be sifted on answers provided to the technical/ job specific questions which are outlined in the application form.

Those that are successful will be invited to a Face to face interview.

At the interview you will be asked a blend of questions on technical/job specific skills and behaviours.

Candidates who are judged to be close to meeting the criteria may be considered for other positions in FCDO Services which may be at a lower grade, but have a potential skills match.

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

Security

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.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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 : FCDO Services Recruitment Team
• Email : Fcdoservices.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Fcdoservices.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact FCDOServices.Recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk in the first instance.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from FCDO Services, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For more information, please visit their website.

Attachments

Candidate pack Lead Technical Architect - Infrastructure and Networks Opens in new window (pdf, 1852kB)