Lead Security Technical Architect - HO - G7

Location

London

About the job

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

The Public Safety Group’s role is to keep the public safe by cutting crime, disrupting the highest harm criminals, protecting the vulnerable and ensuring that our police, fire and rescue services are as efficient and effective as they can be in delivering front line public services. We work with our partners in other government departments, local government and the voluntary sector to develop and implement policy, provide funding, and deliver legislation.

Britain’s emergency services (3ES) work 24/7 to serve the public in some of the most dangerous and challenging situations. To help them do their job even more effectively, the Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme (ESMCP) is creating a next generation mobile communications network, including secure and resilient voice and broadband data services enabled by cutting-edge products and applications. 

The Emergency Services Network (ESN), the replacement solution for the emergency services radio communication system (Airwave), is being developed by ESMCP. ESN will be used by thousands of front-line police officers, paramedics, fire fighters and back-office workers, along with employees from related operational organisations such as the Home Office, Border Force, and Immigration. ESMCP also provides governance oversight for Airwave, the current communications service used by the Emergency Services in the UK. 

A Lead Security Technical Architect works across multiple projects or teams on problems that require broad architectural thinking. They share the responsibility for establishing the Home Office approach to Cyber Security Technical Architecture and guide projects in using architectures, principles, standards and tooling to deliver new systems and services for citizens and Home Office users. The initial focus will be supporting the live operational Emergency Service Communication (Airwave) and sustainment of that until transition to ESN is complete. 

Job description

As a Lead Security Technical Architect, you will assure other services and system quality, making sure the technical work fits into the broader strategy for government. You will be responsible for leading the technical design of systems and services, including detailed plans for integration to support the Airwave communications service and development of the new Emergency Services Network (ESN). 

You will review the design and delivery of the technical strategy of the Airwave service, produced by programme partners. You will be responsible for overseeing and implement designs through an iterative process by actively driving post implementation reviews and leading the identification of best practice and lessons learnt.

You will build effective partnerships with the 3ES across multiple locations and technologies, providing a deep understanding of the technologies and standards underpinning the Airwave national network and service.

Key Responsibilities

Your main day to day activities will be:

• Creating optimal technical designs through an iterative process, aligning such factors as the user need within the system requirements, security and organisational objectives
• Leading the design and review of technical processes for existing and new solution and services, evidencing the inclusion of ‘Secure by Design” in the technical designs you oversee and approve. This includes involvement in the significant Airwave governance groups.
• Reviewing the proposed technical design for the integration and implementation of any solution, working with and across other areas of Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession and the business.
• Presenting recommendations for technologies or improvements to enhance systems and support project that are delivering sustainability of the Airwave service and technical assessment of service provider solutions and service changes, based on knowledge of communication technology and analysis of systems’ needs.
• Contributing to the development of architectural practice, ensuring a coherent and consistent strategy across telecommunication skills, cyber, cloud, data centre, storage, network, mobile and radio security architecture.
• Contributing to the overall technical strategy and road map for the department in your area of expertise.

Other day to day activities

You will also be expected to carry out the following day to day activities:

• Evaluating the success of a project, once the solution has been integrated, identifying best practices and lessons learned.
• Providing feedback to leadership and incorporating best practices and lessons learned into future integration plans.
• Formulation of strategies, policies, processes and procedures to support the above (including technical documentation, decision and guidance notes).

Working Pattern

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis. However, compressed hours are available.

Travel

The successful candidate will be basis full-time in Stratford, London, and occasional travel to other location within the UK may be necessary.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

You’ll have a demonstrable passion for Technical Architecture in radio telecommunications (including MCX, TETRA and LTE technology), with the following skills or strong experience in:

• Evidencing strong technical leadership qualities, with a passion for delivering leading edge designs, and inspiring a culture of technical excellence and innovative solutions.
• Navigating the complex landscapes of technologies, 3rd party suppliers, internal and cross-government teams across multiple projects.
• Anticipating and advising on issues relating to sustainment of existing live services, future technology that present opportunities for the product or programme.
• Managing and delivering complex technology solutions within time, cost and quality targets.
• Defining, owning and contributing to the technical roadmap and strategy.
• Demonstrating a detailed knowledge of technical requirements to implement, design and manage associated technologies.

Desirable Criteria  

• Having a strong preference for the leverage of community integrated market products wherever technical and security considerations allow.
• Experience in information or cyber security including threat and risk analysis for complex, high-risk and/or mission critical systems, preferably involving the Home Office, Cabinet Office, NCSC or Security Operations Centres (SOCs).
• NCSC Certified or equivalent degrees with relevance to Cyber Security.
• Certification in one or more of the following is desirable: SIRA, CITP, CRTIA, CRTIM, CRISC, CISSP, CEH, CCSP, SANS or equivalent.
• It is desirable, but not essential, to have a BCS certificate in Enterprise and Solution Architecture.

Behaviours

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

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

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

• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• Specialist Advice (TECH) – Level 4