Lead Technical Architect (Digital Architecture and Design)
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Help shape the architecture behind some of Scotland's most important digital services.
The Opportunity
The decisions you make as an architect can shape how millions of people access public services.
We are looking for a Lead Technical Architect to join our Digital Architecture and Design division and help design and deliver the platforms, services and technology foundations that support Scotland's digital future.
This is a senior architecture role spanning national platforms, shared services, and major digital transformation programmes. You'll work with senior stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams to solve complex architecture challenges, guide critical technology decisions supporting the delivery of accessible, secure, sustainable and scalable digital services that enable millions of interactions each year.
Our architects work across identity, platform, cloud, integration and digital service architectures, supporting some of the most complex technology environments in the Scottish public sector. The role offers exposure to modern cloud-native platforms, shared government capabilities, digital identity services, enterprise integration and large-scale service transformation. You'll work in multidisciplinary teams alongside engineers, delivery managers, designers and product specialists to solve complex public sector challenges.
You'll provide leadership throughout the lifecycle of digital services, from early discovery and design through to implementation and assurance, helping balance delivery with Scottish Government objectives, user needs, and long-term service outcomes.
Unlike many architecture roles focused on a single product, platform or programme, you'll work across a broad portfolio of services, shared capabilities and transformation initiatives supporting Scotland's Digital Strategy and wider Public Sector Reform ambitions.
This role offers the opportunity to contribute to major national programmes and help shape the future direction of digital public services across Scotland.
Why Join Us?
Few architecture roles offer the opportunity to improve services relied on by millions of people while working across nationally significant digital platforms and transformation programmes.
You'll have the chance to:
- Help shape services and platforms relied on by millions of people across Scotland.
- Combine strategic architecture with hands-on delivery across live services and transformation programmes.
- Play a leading role in delivering technology-enabled public service transformation.
- Develop your expertise across a broader range of technologies, services and large-scale digital programmes.
- Coach and mentor colleagues while continuing to develop your own expertise.
- Join a collaborative architecture community of around 20 architects spanning enterprise, cloud, security and solution architecture.
You'll also benefit from a 35-hour working week, flexible hybrid working, a competitive Civil Service pension and the opportunity to build a rewarding career while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Our Architecture Practice
Our architecture community provides leadership, consultancy and governance across Scottish Government and the wider public sector. We help teams make better technology decisions, establish common approaches, and deliver services that are accessible, secure, scalable and designed for long-term sustainability.
You'll work alongside experienced architects from across enterprise, cloud, security and solution architecture, sharing expertise, shaping standards and influencing technology decisions across government.
Alongside delivery work, we develop and maintain architecture standards, reference architectures and guidance that help shape technology decisions across government.
Current Areas of Work include:
- Shared platforms and common capabilities.
- Scottish Government Mobile and Mobile Web Applications
- Cloud Platform Architecture and Design
The Role
As a Lead Technical Architect, you’ll provide architectural leadership across national digital services, platforms, and shared capabilities, helping teams solve complex technical challenges and deliver secure, sustainable services.
Responsibilities
- Lead the design and review processes for new solutions and services, evidencing the inclusion of Secure by Design principles within the technical designs you produce, oversee, and approve.
- Create optimal technical designs through an iterative process, aligning user needs, system requirements, security considerations, and organisational objectives.
- Contribute to the overall technical strategy and roadmap for the department within your area of expertise.
- Present recommendations for technologies and improvement opportunities to senior leaders, based on technical expertise and analysis of business and system requirements.
- Be recognised as a subject matter expert, contributing to the development of architectural practice and helping shape a coherent strategy across cybersecurity, cloud, data centre, storage, networking, mobile and infrastructure user experience.
- Manage, coach and mentor Technical Architects, helping to strengthen architecture capability across the organisation.
- Develop and document technical designs for the integration and implementation of solutions, working across GDD, business areas, and delivery teams.
- Act as a key contributor to architecture governance activities, promoting effective working methods and the consistent application of technical architecture standards.
- Ensure technical designs meet security and operational requirements.
- Evaluate implemented solutions, identifying lessons learned and opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Provide feedback to leadership and support the adoption of lessons learned and best practice in future delivery and integration plans.
Success Profile
Success profiles are specific to each job, and they include the mix of experience, skills and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.
Experience:
- Lead Criteria 1: An ability to understand the complex landscapes of technologies and the required collaboration with 3rd party suppliers, internal and cross-government teams across multiple projects to deliver successful outcomes in line with business and technical requirements.
- Lead Criteria 2: To be successful, you should also be able to balance potentially conflicting requirements and interests, negotiate a consensus, and justify your architectural design decisions.
- Managing Human Resource activities, including interviewing, selection / hiring, and conducting performance assessments.
- You should have the experience, skills and personal qualities that allow you to be effective whilst working unsupervised in a dynamic environment with fluid priorities and high levels of uncertainty.
Experience is assessed at sift, along with a more in-depth assessment at interview.
Technical Skills:
This role is aligned to the Technical Architect Job Role within the Architecture Job Family.
You can find out more about the skills required, here: Technical architect - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework
These skills are assessed by technical assessment, designed to represent the role. Candidates reaching this stage will receive a Technical Assessment Candidate Pack which outlines the specific skills to be assessed, plus the method of assessment.
Behaviours:
- Seeing the Big Picture (Level 4)
- Making Effective Decisions (Level 4)
You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here.
Behaviours are assessed at interview. Full details will be shared in advance with all candidates invited to this stage.
How to apply
Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 words) which provides evidence of how you meet each of the 4 Experience criteria listed in the Success Profile above.
Vacancy closes at 23:59 on Tuesday 17 November.
Candidates will have their applications assessed against all Experience criteria. If a large number of applications are received an initial sift will be conducted on the Lead Criteria highlighted above. Candidates who pass the initial sift will have their applications fully assessed.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.
If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and GDD Technical assessment where the behaviours, experiences and technical skills outlined in the Success Profile will be assessed.
The sift is scheduled for w/c Monday 16th November.
Interviews and Technical assessments are scheduled for w/c Monday 30th November; however, these may be subject to change.
Recruitment Principles
As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.
About Us
The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including education, health, the economy, justice, housing, and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.
Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.
We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.
As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.
Working Pattern
Our standard hours are 35 hours per week, and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles are required to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact Digitalcareers@gov.scot.
Security Checks
Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).
You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.
Following appointment further security checks may be required depending on the nature of work undertaken.
Skilled Worker Sponsorship being offered
This role has been assessed as eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship and is therefore being advertised with the option of sponsorship where required. Any offer of sponsorship remains subject to the individual meeting all other relevant Home Office eligibility and compliance requirements at the time of appointment.
Government, Digital and Data Profession
The Government Digital and Data (GDD) Profession is a UK-wide group of over 24,000 civil servants dedicated to driving digital transformation in government through more efficient, data-driven public services. This community oversees a wide range of responsibilities, including architects, data scientists, engineers, and content designers, across different, multidisciplinary teams.
The profession, sponsored by the Government Digital Service (GDS), offers the frameworks, skills, and development routes necessary for these individuals to thrive and produce improved outcomes for the public.
Pay Supplement
This post is part of the Government Digital and Data (GDD) profession and currently attracts a £4,000.00 annual GDD pay supplement, which is paid monthly – pay supplements are reviewed regularly.
Equality Statement
We are committed to equality and inclusion, and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.
Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.
Further information
Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.
Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.
Apply before: 17/11/2026 (23:59).
If you would like to learn more about the role before submitting an application, or if you have any questions, please contact:
Contact Name: Salvador Llopis-Quinnn
Contact e-Mail: Digitalcareers@gov.scot
