Technical Architect

Job Title: Contract Technical Architect - Software Focus (SC Cleared)

Location: Hybrid (Remote & Ad Hoc Leeds/Manchester/London)

Contract Type: Contract

IR35: Inside

Duration: 6 months +

Rate: £450-£525 (DOE)

Clearance Required: Active SC Clearance

About the Role

A UK Government department is seeking a skilled Technical Architect with a strong background in software engineering to support the delivery of complex digital services. This is a contract opportunity to work on high-impact public sector programmes, helping shape the technical direction of modern, scalable systems.

You'll work closely with delivery teams, product owners, and other architects to ensure technical solutions are robust, secure, and aligned with strategic goals. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in fast-paced environments and has a passion for designing high-quality software systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and document technical architectures for new and existing services.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership and guidance to development teams.
• Ensure solutions adhere to government standards, security policies, and best practices.
• Collaborate with Solutions Architects to align technical designs with business needs.
• Evaluate and select appropriate technologies, frameworks, and tools.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks early in the delivery life cycle.
• Support integration, testing, and deployment strategies.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Active SC Clearance (must be currently valid).
• Strong experience as a Technical Architect in software-focused environments.
• Solid foundation in software engineering (eg, Java, .NET, Node.js, Python).
• Deep understanding of architectural patterns (eg, microservices, containerisation, API design).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Familiarity with DevOps tooling and CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.

Desirable

• Experience working within UK Government or public sector.
• Knowledge of GDS service standards and technology governance.
• Exposure to Agile and iterative delivery models.
• Understanding of security and data protection requirements in government systems.