Principal Technical Architect (Azure)

Across government, cloud technology underpins the delivery of secure, scalable and modern digital services. As organisations adopt cloud-first strategies, strong architecture is essential to ensure platforms are well-designed, governed and able to deliver long-term value. Ofgem plays a vital role in the UK’s energy system, protecting consumers and enabling a more secure, fair and sustainable energy future, and a robust Architecture capability is central to this mission.

Ofgem is on an ambitious transformation journey. Within the Digital, Data and Security Services (DDSS) directorate, we are modernising our technology estate and expanding our use of Microsoft Azure as a core platform. This includes building secure, scalable and cost-effective solutions that support data, AI and digital services across the organisation.

As a Principal Technical Architect (Azure), you will play a key role in shaping how Azure is designed and used across Ofgem. You will define standards and governance, guide technical decision-making and support delivery teams to build high-quality cloud solutions. Working across programmes and domains, you will ensure architectural consistency, manage risk and embed architectural best practice across our Azure environment.

This is a highly influential technical role within a fast-paced and evolving environment, requiring deep Azure expertise and strong architectural capability.

You will be responsible for:

• Defining and shaping Azure architecture standards, aligned to organisational and government frameworks
• Establishing and embedding architectural patterns, principles and governance
• Providing oversight and assurance for complex cloud solutions
• Supporting architectural decision-making and managing technical risk
• Promoting reusable frameworks and best practice across teams
• Collaborating with stakeholders to align technology and business needs
• Evaluating emerging Azure capabilities and supporting their adoption
• Mentoring architects and engineers, building capability across DDSS

We are looking for:

A highly experienced technical architect who can shape and guide cloud architecture in a complex environment. You will bring strong Azure expertise alongside the ability to influence across teams.

You may come from a infrastructure, cloud, enterprise or platform background, but you will demonstrate:

• Strong experience designing and delivering solutions on Microsoft Azure
• Solid understanding of cloud architecture, governance and optimisation
• Experience contributing to architectural standards and decision-making
• Knowledge of security, identity and compliance in cloud environments
• Ability to collaborate across teams and guide technical outcomes

Relevant certifications (e.g. Azure Solutions Architect Expert) is expected (or achievable).

Experience with Infrastructure as Code, DevOps or regulated environments is beneficial.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping Ofgem’s architecture capability and Azure cloud platform. You will help ensure systems are secure, scalable and fit for the future, supporting digital transformation and services that impact consumers across Great Britain.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

When you press the ‘Apply now’ button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel), your career history and qualifications.

You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word ‘personal statement’ evidencing how you meet the essential and desirable skills and capabilities listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the criteria listed in the role profile.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application or used during interview, including your CV and any statements or examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Ofgem takes any incidences of cheating very seriously. Please ensure all examples provided are of your own experience. Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant applications will be withdrawn from the process. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

Please refer to Civil Service candidate advice on the acceptable use of artificial intelligence within the recruitment and selection process - Artificial intelligence and recruitment , Civil Service Careers

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected, you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by [ https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn].

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