Senior Technical Architect (Azure)

We are seeking a Senior Technical Architect (Azure) to join our Technology Design team at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government. You will lead the architecture, design, governance, and assurance of Azure services across the organization, providing technical direction for critical services and transformation programs. Your role involves shaping cloud strategy, developing target architectures, and promoting best practices.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead Azure platform technical architecture, standards, reference patterns, roadmaps, and assurance.
• Set standards, patterns, and roadmaps for secure, consistent, and cost-effective cloud delivery.
• Provide direction, assurance, and governance throughout the service lifecycle.
• Balance business, technical, security, and operational needs.
• Support architects and engineers in skill development.
• Make and communicate architectural decisions.
• Identify and manage architectural, operational, and security risks.
• Govern Azure platform patterns, landing zones, and operating models.
• Maintain architecture artifacts, decision records, roadmaps, and technical standards.
• Guide engineering teams in implementing approved architectural designs.
• Provide technical architecture support for procurement and suppliers.
• Improve Azure services, platforms, and operating practices.
• Mentor technical professionals and promote knowledge sharing.

Requirements:

• Knowledge of Azure networking, identity, security, governance, and platforms.
• Experience designing, supporting, or governing Azure solutions at scale.
• Experience supporting cloud transformation, migration, or modernization programs.
• Ability to develop target architectures, roadmaps, and technology strategies.
• Experience implementing secure-by-design, cloud-native architectures.
• Strong understanding of architecture governance, assurance, and risk management.
• Ability to explain technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience producing architecture documents, decision records, and technical standards.
• Ability to balance business, operational, security, and technical needs in architectural decisions.
• Experience working across teams and coordinating multiple workstreams.

Desirable Skills:

• Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification.
• Experience in government, regulated, or large enterprise environments.
• Knowledge of Azure Landing Zones, Cloud Adoption Framework, and Well-Architected Framework.
• Experience with Bicep, Terraform, or ARM Templates.
• Knowledge of DevSecOps, CI/CD, and cloud automation.
• Familiarity with Azure DevOps, APIM, Entra, Databricks, Fabric, or GitHub.
• Understanding of NCSC principles and government digital standards.
• Experience building architecture communities and mentoring technical professionals.

Benefits:

• Salary: GBP 64,811 - 70,677 per year
• Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme contribution: £18,775
• Other benefits including tailored career pathways, flexible working, MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher, and Cycle to Work Schemes