Technical Architect (Security and Availability Technologist) - Government Digital Service - G7

Location

Bristol, London, Manchester

About the job

Job summary

Whilst GDS are recruiting for this role, The National Security Digital Centre sits centrally within DSIT.

Please note, This role requires DV Level clearance to be held already. This role is available both as a permanent vacancy, or as a 2 year secondment/loan - if you have a preference please let us know. 

The National Security Digital Centre (NSDC) is a new, ambitious team within DSIT, created to drive digital, data and technology transformation across the national security community. Our purpose is simple but high impact: to help departments use digital, data and technology more effectively to deliver their missions, and ultimately keep the country safe. 

We are a small but growing team, based in the Digital Foundations Directorate under the Director of the Government Cyber Unit. As we scale, you’ll have the opportunity to shape how this work develops and make a tangible contribution from day one. 

We care deeply about the environment we create. Diversity and inclusion are central to how we work, and you’ll be joining a team with a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences. Together, we are building a culture where everyone can do their best work and feel they belong. 

If you are motivated by meaningful work, enjoy solving complex challenges, and want to play a role in shaping the future of national security digital, we would love to hear from you. 

Job description

You will be aligned to a Grade 6 Principal Technologist who will mentor and support you as well as set you challenging tasks to further your team’s objectives. 

As Lead Technologist within the NSDC Platforms team, you will play a key role in developing and building a high-performing team working alongside principal technologists, engagement leads and a delivery manager to: 

• Undertake research, input into and shape a 10-year intent and strategy for platform security, resilience, and availability across national security platforms, and support colleagues in gaining cross-government endorsement for this 
• Work with stakeholders to shape government digital strategy for secure and resilient platforms, translating complex security and availability concepts into straightforward language to influence strategic decision makers. This includes drafting strategy papers, guidance, and delivering presentations to senior stakeholders and ministers 
• Identify and/or develop security, resilience, and availability principles, standards and best practice and promote them, or form and lead a group of technologists from across UK Public Sector to create these, strengthening assurance across SECRET and TOP SECRET platforms 
• Work with vendors to maximise their offer to UK Public Sector in delivering secure and highly available platform capabilities, and with Crown Commercial Service in commercial engagements where relevant 
• Build a network of peers across UK Public Sector and the National Security Community to regularly engage with on security, resilience, and availability challenges 
• Promote your work where appropriate through speaking engagements and hosting community events, particularly in areas of platform security, assurance, and resilience 
• Help upskill others in GDS, DSIT, and the National Security Community in your specialist area, embedding secure-by-design and resilient-by-default approaches 

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post. 

Person specification

We’re interested in people who: 

• are excited about thinking long-term and helping deliver technology-related change, particularly in improving the security, resilience, and availability of national security platforms 
• have a strong technical background and be able to use this experience to make and guide architectural design decisions, build credibility with others, evaluate proposals and decide an execution approach characterised by medium risk and complexity, particularly in secure and resilient system design 
• have strong written and verbal communication skills, and are able to translate complex security, risk, and resilience concepts into straightforward language with ease to support wider organisational objectives 
• have some experience working with technology suppliers, particularly in delivering secure and resilient services within complex or multi-supplier environments 
• are comfortable presenting to senior stakeholders, both technical (e.g. Principal DDaT professionals) and non-technical (including SCS and ministers), on topics relating to platform security, risk, and availability 
• have learning embedded in the way you approach your working week, and you should be keen to share your learning with those around you, particularly in security, resilience, and assurance practices