Principal Technical Architect

This position can be based at either MOD Corsham, Wiltshire (SN13 9NR
), MOD Abbey Wood Bristol (BS34 8JH
) or MOD Main Building London (SW1A 2HB
).

Eligible for a Digital Skills Allowance of up to £18,000 per annum.

The MOD's digital teams ensure we remain among the most technologically advanced Armed Forces in the world. We develop and lead in cutting‑edge data science, automation, and cybersecurity solutions to protect the UK and its interests, at home and abroad. Our mission goes beyond the battlefield, by leading humanitarian efforts and driving innovation that impacts lives across the globe.

As Principal Technical Architect, you’ll be the driving force behind defining and embedding architectural strategy, ensuring it’s not only well‑crafted but consistently delivered. In this leadership role, you’ll influence, engage and advise teams (engineering and architecture), making enterprise‑wide technology decisions that shape national capability. With a primary focus on apps, you’ll address design, development, enterprise CI/CD, tooling and product selection, overseeing delivery when required.

You’ll also manage the architecture and migration to cloud‑based providers, such as AWS, Azure and Oracle. This is an exciting opportunity to join our team in a senior leadership position, supporting our mission to provide strategic advantage and capability for Defence, through rapid and effective software delivery, based on clear prioritisation and agile practices.

• Set technical direction and make enterprise‑level decisions on digital technologies, and product selections that drive integration and alignment with the overarching architectural vision and business requirements.
• Plan and deliver a prioritised schedule of work, using agile methodologies, securing agreement from stakeholders and ensuring all technical architecture artefacts are captured and maintained, within relevant repositories.
• Serve as a Service Assessor, evaluating internal and cross‑government services to ensure compliance with the service standard and alignment with architectural principles.
• Promote re‑use and scalability across Defence, driving integration by default and reducing duplicate technologies, to support sustainability and value for money.
• Lead, inspire and influence engineering and architecture teams to deliver high‑quality outputs, aligned with strategic priorities.
• Role‑model and champion product and service delivery, using agile user‑centred design methodologies, helping Defence modernise its delivery practices.

We’d expect to see expertise in architectural tools (e.g., Archi Mate) and frameworks, such as design patterns, modelling languages and component building blocks, to support complex design, governance and stakeholder engagement. You’ll be able to demonstrate a breadth of technical knowledge, enabling you to advise and challenge teams to find the best solutions for Defence. You’ll have knowledge of data and security architecture and approaches to data storage and management.

This role may also be suitable for individuals who have progressed into technical architecture from previous roles in software engineering or architecture, working in cross‑functional teams.

• Strong stakeholder management skills, able to build working relationships across diverse groups, influencing decisions and aligning outcomes with strategic goals.
• Adaptability and resilience, able to manage shifting priorities and guiding others to deliver at pace.
• Experience in leading, supporting, coaching and mentoring colleagues.
• Passion for security and technology and identifying and solving problems.
• Motivation, commitment and desire to continue learning and development.

Opportunity may be provided to gain the following when in post:
TOGAF certification and Open Agile Architecture™ Practices
.

Alongside your salary of £72,840, Ministry of Defence contributes £21,101 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role with a dedicated minimum…