Lead Technical Architect
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Job summary
A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join the Companies House architecture team as a Lead Technical Architect, a key role in a small, high performing team within an organisation that truly values its staff. The team is responsible for developing technical architectures that deliver business objectives, while supporting and encouraging one another to create the most effective designs with a focus on delivering value. Team working is highly valued along with a willingness to challenge established thinking and ways of working.
This is an opportunity to advance your knowledge and technical understanding in a high-profile role which has an impact across the organisation, developing systems that are used nationally and at high volume. We're currently fulfilling around 14 million search requests per day with users including the general public, businesses, the police and other government organisations.
In this role you will work with the wider Digital and Data Directorate, working closely with business stakeholders to develop technical designs that address business priorities and guide the development teams in creating robust, secure solutions. This is an opportunity to work with the latest cloud technologies, develop microservice architectures and shape the technical direction of the organisation. You will have excellent technical skills, proven architecture design experience and a background in software engineering. Our current technology stack primarily comprises node.js, Java/Spring and MongoDB running in AWS and some exposure to these technologies would be beneficial, but we would consider applications from anyone with exposure to similar technologies.
We offer an excellent benefits package that includes a generous 30 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays and 1 privilege day, flexitime with no core hours and enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme with a contribution rate averaging 28%.
Job description
We're looking for a Technical Architect whose?responsibilities?will include:
- Providing technical guidance and architectural designs to help shape the future digital services at Companies House, and effectively communicating these to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Helping establish and maintain architectural principles, strategy, governance and technical direction for Companies House services.?
- Working closely with the architecture team to ensure designs are consistent and fit for purpose.
- Keeping up to date new technologies and processes and applying this knowledge to improve our services.
- Working closely with development teams, ensuring their output adheres to the architectural designs.
This is an exciting opportunity in digital services, designing and delivering quality services to our users. By helping us to shape our services, you'll have the opportunity to be at the forefront of digital transformation in government.?
Person specification
We are looking for someone to be part of our team in a time of great change and to play an integral part in shaping the architecture and design of future digital services that are used worldwide, help tackle economic crime at a national level and provide confidence to the UK economy.
We want someone keen to improve their skills using new and exciting technologies and develop their career working on diverse projects with a focus on continuous improvement, while being part of a supportive high-profile team.
We are seeking a talented individual who not only excels in architectural design but also possesses exceptional communication skills to effectively engage with colleagues and stakeholders across the business.
Experience
We are looking for the following experience, which will be assessed at sift and at interview. Please refer to the bullet points below when writing your personal statement.
Experience in several of the following would be desirable:
- Technical Architecture Design Experience.
- Technical Lead or Lead Development Experience.
- Designing redundant, distributed services at scale, covering all aspects of the technology stack, including infrastructure following microservice architecture patterns.
- Experience of public cloud service offerings, especially IaaS / PaaS.
- Experience of integrating third party and in house developed systems.
- Demonstrate experience of translating user requirements to solution designs.
- Knowledge of architectural tools, methods and industry best practice.
- Demonstrate ability to think strategically whilst having a strong focus on technologies and operational service delivery.
Technical Skills
We are looking for the following technical skills, which will be assessed at sift and at interview. Please refer to the bullet points below when writing your personal statement.
Proven commercial experience of a selection of the following technologies/skills is desirable but demonstrating a positive attitude and having an aptitude to learn is more important:
- Microservices Architectures
- API Development
- Cloud Computing Platforms
- Designing Secure and Scalable Systems
- NoSQL Databases
- Relational Databases
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Seeing the Big Picture
Benefits
Please note that the minimum salary does not reflect the 2023/24 pay deal and we are therefore expecting this to increase in the near future.
We believe that our success is driven by the well-being and satisfaction of our team members at all levels of the organisation. At Companies House we're committed to providing a comprehensive benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary, ensuring your career journey with us is not only fulfilling, but also rewarding. We pride ourselves on offering a quality work-life balance with our employee wellbeing being central to our working practices.
About us
Our aim is to be the best registry in the world achieved through?brilliant people?working on?brilliant systems?delivering?brilliant services. We are currently delivering an organisation wide transformation programme focussing on a complete redesign of our digital services, target operating model and culture. This change will need different skills, capabilities and mindset where adaptable, bold and curious behaviours are the norm and empowerment is encouraged and utilised.
To find out more about the great things we're doing at Companies House please have a look at our blog posts and podcasts.
Companies House values its people, their contributions and has created a real sense of community where people seek to create strong connections. Our commitment to learning and development is exceptional, and we believe passionately in the employee experience with is prevalent through the engagement, wellbeing and development strategies which have resulted in Platinum Investors in People and MIND index awards.
We encourage professional development, celebrate success and live our values to effect real change.
We celebrate diversity...
As an equal opportunity employer, we celebrate diversity, being committed to ensuring we're representative of the citizens we serve and creating an inclusive environment. Everyone in Companies House brings something different, and so will you. To fulfil our commitment to recruiting and attracting diverse talent we welcome applications from underrepresented groups. We also welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found.
Where will you be working?
We are currently using a hybrid approach to the way we work. The majority of our digital teams are based in our Cardiff head office. Remote/homeworking contracts will only be offered to successful candidates who are not within a commutable distance to our Cardiff office. If you are located within a commutable distance to one our offices, you will receive a hybrid contract.
At Companies House, hybrid working is about achieving an effective balance between working in the office and working from other appropriate locations. Our approach to hybrid working provides opportunities for you to be adaptable in the way you work so that you can achieve a healthy balance between your work and home life. We currently expect our people to attend the Cardiff office a minimum of one day a week but the exact degree of choice you have will depend on your role and your day-to-day work activities and should be agreed through discussions with your line manager.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
In your application form we'd like you to:
- Tell us about your employment history, including any key responsibilities and achievements.
- Write a personal statement of 750 words where you demonstrate how you meet the experience and technical skills listed in the person specification.
At sift candidates will be assessed against experience as well as the behaviours listed in the advert and are asked to supply work history/personal statement and reference any transferable skills using the job description for reference. Your personal statement should address the experience and technical skills listed (bullet points) in the person specification.
At interview candidates will be assessed against the behaviours listed in the advert and we will use Success Profiles Behaviours and Strengths. As part of the interview process you'll be asked to prepare a presentation (details will be sent at interview confirmation).
We're committed to being diverse and inclusive, so please make your application anonymous by removing all identifying personal information (such as names and dates) from your employment history and personal statement.
We understand that you might use AI and other resources for your application; however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original and doesn't include ideas or work that isn't your own. This is so that your application is authentically and credibly your own.
What will the process look like?
- We will sift applications and then invite successful candidates from the sift stage to attend a virtual interview.
Read more information and guidance about Applying for Your New Job.
Companies House uses a blended interview technique, allowing us to find out more about you. We use the Success Profile framework and may include Strength based questions in the interview.
Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of recruitment based on fair and open competition with decisions made on the basis of merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Principles.
Successful candidates must pass a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check before they can be appointed.?
BPSS is an entry level security check. It uses the Police National Computer (PNC) to make sure a candidate has no convictions. The check returns evidence of any current criminal record and un-spent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements for Security Check (SC) before they can be appointed.
To gain SC clearance you will normally need to have been a UK resident for a minimum of 5 years and will need to successfully complete all stages of the vetting process.
Nationality statement?
Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as Civil Service nationality rules. If you're applying for a role requiring security clearance, please be aware that foreign or dual nationality is not an automatic bar. However certain posts may have restrictions which could affect those who do not have sole British nationality or who have personal connections with certain countries outside the UK.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
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
- 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
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.
Apply and further information
Further information
Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Principles, our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of appointment on the basis of merit by fair and open competition.
Civil Service Commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road SW1A 2HQ
Contact Name:
Reference: TJ/10142/351240
Job ID: 3320376
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