Lead Technical Architect

Can you turn complex business problems into innovative, high‑impact technical designs that shape the MCAs digital future?

Do you want to influence senior stakeholders, set architectural standards, and drive technology strategy across a national organisation?

If so, wed love to hear from you!

The MCA Architecture & Engineering function enables the organisation to deliver world class services as a costal state and search & rescue capability in UK waters. It is a centre of excellence that is responsible for the technology strategy, delivering a broad portfolio of change to transform the Agencys existing technologies, and deliver innovative new solutions designed around our business needs.

The architecture team is responsible for the definition of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency technology strategy, the development of the solutions architectures required to realise this strategy and ensuring that architecture and technology principles are met and maintained. Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here

• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the Kings birthday

• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at: Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Department for Transport Careers

As a Lead Technical Architect (Networks), you will provide technical leadership and architectural design. You will work with multiple projects and teams on problems that require broad architectural thinking.

Your responsibilities will include, but arent limited to:

1. Undertake analysis of current network infrastructure within the business, translating this analysis into technology roadmaps and designs that describe thepossible solutions and technology choices.
2. Engage with design and delivery partners to ensure low-level designs are created, be consulted on design decisions, andprovide design guidance.
3. Manage the network infrastructure portfolio for the Maritime & Coastguard Agency andidentify deeper technology issues in existing systems that need may need fixing.
4. Communicate the technology roadmap for Network Infrastructure with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
5. You will also need to ensure that the knowledge of the MCA architecture ismaintained in the architecture repository as well as be compliant with the architecture strategy and principles.
6. Be responsible forleading the technical design of systems and services, justifying and communicating design decisions.
7. Assure other services and system quality, ensuring the technical work fits into the broader strategy for government
8. Provide leadership to other architects.

Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public. 

For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Essential licenses:

1. A full UK driving license

You will be required to provide evidence that you hold any essential licenses at some point during the recruitment process. If you cannot provide evidence, your application will be withdrawn.

Required experience:

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• A functional appreciation of the application and technology architecture domains;
• A strong understanding of deployment models, including; Serverless computing, and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS);
• Strong experience of architecture methodology and tools, design and modelling techniques, and best practice;
• You will be expert in turning business problems into technical design and can design systems characterised by high levels of risk, impact and business or technical complexity;
• You will be proficient in evolving and defining governance and take responsibility for collaborating and supporting services in wider governance;
• You will be proficient in defining and challenging strategies, patterns, standards, policies, roadmaps and vision statements

Additional Information

The role is part of the Government Digital and Data (or Government Security Profession Career Framework) profession and utilises an enhanced CapabilityBased Pay Framework which provides access to a Digital and Data allowance.

The base pay is 57,515. In addition to this, the role attracts a DDaT pay allowance that is assessed at Interview, and can increase pay up to a maximum of 82,430, the additional allowance is non-pensionable and is dependent on a score assessed during the interview process.

The value of allowance awarded will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated through the selection process. Here are more details on the pay framework.

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week. This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a week will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays. 

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that we will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. Therefore, this role is not open to applications from those who require sponsorship candidates must ensure they have the appropriate right to work in the UK before applying. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

Security Checks

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is SC (Security Clearance)

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.