Senior Technical Architect - Cloud Solutions

We are MHCLG

Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people's lives. Whether it is through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we are all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda. We have ambitious and far-reaching outcomes to achieve this year and, if you are thinking of joining us, there has never been a more exciting time.

This role acts as MHCLG’s architectural front door for new technical demand, helping the department turn early ideas, one-line ServiceNow requests and emerging project needs into clear requirements, solution options and proportionate technical design approaches. We are seeking a Senior Technical Architect with broad architecture experience across cloud services, Microsoft 365, SaaS, integration, security, data, identity and digital platforms. As a Senior Technical Architect, you will assess new requirements across a range of technologies, services and platforms, not limited to a single cloud provider. You will work with delivery teams, policy, programmes, suppliers, and platform owners to understand the problem being solved. You will identify whether an existing departmental tool, application, platform capability, or reusable service can meet the need, and shape appropriate technical solutions that align with strategy, target architecture, governance, and security expectations.

The role also includes line management responsibility for engineers, supporting technical development, consistent ways of working, and the quality of engineering and documentation outputs across the team. This role is aligned to the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework, drawing primarily on Technical Architect capabilities at Grade 7 level. Please note that MHCLG does not offer visa sponsorship, and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of their employment.

Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog. Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment.

As a Cloud Technical Architect, you'll:

• Act as the architectural front door for new requirements and projects, engaging with delivery teams, programmes, policy, operational teams and suppliers to shape early demand, define requirements and develop appropriate technical solution options
• Lead and coordinate the development of solution architectures across cloud services, Microsoft 365, SaaS platforms, integration services and departmental applications, ensuring solutions are secure, resilient, supportable, compliant and aligned with departmental strategy and target architecture
• Provide strategic architectural advice and option appraisals to senior stakeholders, assessing costs, risks, benefits, delivery approaches and opportunities for service reuse, standardisation and consolidation to support informed decision-making
• Shape and oversee proofs of concept, pilots and technology evaluations to validate architectural approaches, technologies and integration patterns, working with engineers and delivery teams to support successful implementation where appropriate
• Own the architectural direction for software development and engineering tooling, including source control, CI/CD pipelines, automation, development environments and related engineering platforms, enabling teams to build, test and release services securely, efficiently and consistently
• Lead architectural oversight of major transformation and migration activities, including service transitions, organisational restructuring, mergers, acquisitions and data migration programmes, ensuring dependencies, security, governance, access controls, validation and transition arrangements are fully addressed
• Drive the rationalisation, standardisation and governance of departmental technology capabilities, identifying opportunities to reduce duplication, improve reuse, strengthen controls and increase value for money across platforms, services and tooling
• Provide design assurance and implementation oversight, working closely with Enterprise Architects, Platform Architects, Cyber Security, Engineering and Delivery teams to validate designs, confirm implementation approaches and ensure solutions are technically feasible, supportable and operationally ready
• Own the architectural direction for DNS-related services and dependencies, including Cloudflare DNS and Zscaler network access patterns, establishing design standards, assuring solution implementations and ensuring changes are secure, resilient, governed and aligned with departmental architecture, security and operational requirements
• Ensure solutions successfully progress through governance and operational transition, securing appropriate approvals through Technical Design Authority and security review processes, whilst establishing clear ownership, support models, documentation and handover arrangements before transition to BAU support

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)

Application and Selection

The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:

Technical , Behaviours , Experience , Strengths

Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.

Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.

Stage 1: Sift (CV)

Experience: Your CV will be tested against the Experience success profile.

Stage 2: Interview

Candidates who pass the sifting round will be asked to attend a technical test as the second stage of this campaign. Those who are successful in the test will be asked to attend interview.

Stage 2: Interview

• Behaviours: "Making Effective Decisions"
• Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
• Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
• Strengths: The strength-based questions will require natural responses from the candidates.

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 7th September 2026.

Interviews are envisaged to take place the week commencing 21st September and are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.

Group 1 Digital & Data Roles

MHCLG has implemented the Digital and Data capability framework for Group 1 roles. Applicants that are successful and have been offered a position will be required to complete a capability assessment after the interview.

MHCLG will honour completed capability assessments for this role from other Government Departments for existing civil servants on level transfer only. Please provide a copy of your capability assessment to the Hiring Manager when applying. If you have any queries on pay, please contact the Hiring Manager.

Each experience or technical skill is assessed between 1-3, representing working towards, at or above the job level requirements. You are awarded a proficiency level accordingly, and you will be given opportunity to annually re assess your capability and potentially increase your overall remuneration, through payment of allowances, depending on level of assessed capability.

Candidates moving from another government department have the option to retain their current basic pay if this is within our pay band for the relevant grade.

Senior Executive Officer Group 1 Digital and Data salary

• The basic pay for this role will be between £63,483 - £72,287 (London), £58,092- £66,742 (National). Candidates will usually be recruited to the median of the payscale.
• A digital allowance may also be payable depending on the level of assessed capability, in order to meet the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating.
• For applicants in receipt of existing allowances, we will assess each case individually, but we would seek not to exceed the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating for existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply, subject to the statements above.

How We Recruit

Find out everything you need to know before applying here..

• Applying
• Sifting
• Interview
• Interview Results & Feedback
• Reserve List
• Near Miss
• Civil Service Grades
• We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer
• Reasonable Adjustments

How to Apply

What you need to know before applying.

• Security Clearance Requirements
• Civil Service Nationality Requirements
• Right to Work
• Artificial Intelligence
• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles
• CV Declaration
• Sponsorships
• Salary and Grade
• Existing Civil Servants
• Conflict of Interest
• Location and Flexible Working
• Fixed Term Contracts
• Internal Fraud Database - Internal Fraud Register
• Appeals and Complaints
• Conflict of Interest

Security Clearance Requirements

National Office: BPSS + SC

London Office: BPSS + SC

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