Principal Technical Architect - MoD - G6
Government Digital & Data -
Location
MOD Corsham, Westwells Road, Corsham, SN13 9NR, MOD Abbey Wood, Filton, Bristol, BS34 8JH, MOD Main Building, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2HB
About the job
Job summary
Defence Digital ensures our Armed Forces remain among the most technologically advanced in the world. We do this by putting innovative and effective technology into the hands of over 200,000 users, from the boardroom to the front line.
We lead on cutting-edge data science, automation, and cybersecurity at scale. Our mission goes beyond the battlefield by leading humanitarian efforts and driving digital innovation that impacts lives across the globe.
Passionate about using your skills to make a critical difference? Your next career move could be here!
Job description
We’re seeking a visionary individual to lead at the strategic level, shaping the future of Defence’s digital landscape. This is a unique opportunity to influence technical direction across complex, large-scale programmes that have real-world impact.
In this role, you’ll be the driving force behind defining and embedding architectural strategy, ensuring it’s not only well-crafted but consistently delivered. You’ll lead the development of the Pan-Defence digital technology architecture at the domain level, owning the vision, strategy, taxonomy, standards, patterns, and roadmaps. This includes mapping the current, future, and transitional states across both logical and physical layers.
If you're passionate about designing innovative, scalable solutions and making enterprise-wide technology decisions that shape national capability, this is your chance to lead with purpose and make a lasting difference.
Responsibilities
As Principal Architect, you will:
- Set technical direction and make enterprise-level decisions on digital technologies, and product selections that drive integration and alignment with the overarching architectural vision and business requirements.
- Plan and deliver a prioritised schedule of work, securing agreement from stakeholders and ensuring all technical architecture artefacts are captured and maintained within relevant repositories.
- Serve as a Service Assessor, evaluating internal and cross-government services to ensure compliance with the service standard and alignment with architectural principles.
- Promote reuse and scalability across Defence, driving integration by default and reducing duplicate technologies to support sustainability and value for money.
- Lead and inspire a team of Technical Architects to deliver high-quality outputs aligned with strategic priorities.
For more information on the Technical Architects profession, please see the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework: Principal Technical Architect
Person specification
We welcome candidates from all backgrounds, but the ideal person for this role will bring a blend of strategic vision, technical depth, and leadership experience. You’ll be able to demonstrate:
- Expertise in architectural tools and frameworks, such as design patterns, modelling languages, and component building blocks, to support complex design, governance, and stakeholder engagement.
- Strong stakeholder management, building trusted relationships across diverse groups, influencing decisions, and aligning outcomes with strategic goals.
- Adaptability and resilience, thriving in uncertainty, managing shifting priorities, and guiding others through ambiguity to deliver at pace.
- Breadth of technical knowledge, enabling you to advise and challenge teams to find the best solutions for Defence.
To be considered for this role, it is mandatory that you either: Hold a recognised certification in TOGAF 9.1 or higher, or be proficient in the ArchiMate Notation Language, with the ability to clearly demonstrate its practical application. These frameworks are critical to delivering architectural consistency and strategic alignment across Defence.
When submitting your CV, please highlight your career history and experience relevant to this role. Additionally, refer to the "Things You Need to Know" section of the advert and provide a personal statement (max.1250 words) demonstrating the Essential Criteria listed below:
- Please describe your experience using tools, methods, or frameworks to support architectural design, planning, and decision-making, including how you’ve used these in projects to help create clear, effective, and scalable solutions.
- Please describe your experience of leading and delivering large-scale end-to-end architectural projects, including the development and implementation of enterprise-wise strategies.
- Please describe your experience in building strong, collaborative relationships across a diverse range of stakeholder groups, including how you’ve demonstrated the ability to understand and balance multiple perspectives.
Please note, this post is eligible for a Digital Skills Allowance of up to £18,000 per annum. Eligibility for this allowance will be assessed at interview and reviewed annually in line with departmental policy.
Qualifications
To be considered for this role, it is mandatory that you either:Hold a recognised certification in TOGAF 9.1 or higher, or
Be proficient in the ArchiMate Notation Language, with the ability to clearly demonstrate its practical application.
These frameworks are critical to delivering architectural consistency and strategic alignment across Defence.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Leadership
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Technical Design Throughout the Life Cycle
- Architect For The Whole Context
- Making Architectural Decisions
- Strategy Design
