Technical Architect (Security and Availability Technologist) - DV Required

DSIT • Full-time • Bristol, City Of Bristol, England, United Kingdom • £60.60k - £77.22k / year • 12h ago

Job summary

Whilst GDS are recruiting for this role, The National Security Digital Centre sits centrally within DSIT.

Please note, This role requires DV Level clearance to be held already. This role is available both as a permanent vacancy, or as a 2 year secondment/loan - if you have a preference please let us know.

The National Security Digital Centre (NSDC) is a new, ambitious team within DSIT, created to drive digital, data and technology transformation across the national security community. Our purpose is simple but high impact: to help departments use digital, data and technology more effectively to deliver their missions, and ultimately keep the country safe.

We are a small but growing team, based in the Digital Foundations Directorate under the Director of the Government Cyber Unit. As we scale, you’ll have the opportunity to shape how this work develops and make a tangible contribution from day one.

We care deeply about the environment we create. Diversity and inclusion are central to how we work, and you’ll be joining a team with a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences. Together, we are building a culture where everyone can do their best work and feel they belong.

If you are motivated by meaningful work, enjoy solving complex challenges, and want to play a role in shaping the future of national security digital, we would love to hear from you.

Job description

You will be aligned to a Grade 6 Principal Technologist who will mentor and support you as well as set you challenging tasks to further your team’s objectives.

As Lead Technologist within the NSDC Platforms team, you will play a key role in developing and building a high-performing team working alongside principal technologists, engagement leads and a delivery manager to:

Undertake research, input into and shape a 10-year intent and strategy for platform security, resilience, and availability across national security platforms, and support colleagues in gaining cross-government endorsement for this
Work with stakeholders to shape government digital strategy for secure and resilient platforms, translating complex security and availability concepts into straightforward language to influence strategic decision makers. This includes drafting strategy papers, guidance, and delivering presentations to senior stakeholders and ministers
Identify and/or develop security, resilience, and availability principles, standards and best practice and promote them, or form and lead a group of technologists from across UK Public Sector to create these, strengthening assurance across SECRET and TOP SECRET platforms
Work with vendors to maximise their offer to UK Public Sector in delivering secure and highly available platform capabilities, and with Crown Commercial Service in commercial engagements where relevant
Build a network of peers across UK Public Sector and the National Security Community to regularly engage with on security, resilience, and availability challenges
Promote your work where appropriate through speaking engagements and hosting community events, particularly in areas of platform security, assurance, and resilience
Help upskill others in GDS, DSIT, and the National Security Community in your specialist area, embedding secure-by-design and resilient-by-default approaches

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Person specification

We’re interested in people who:

are excited about thinking long-term and helping deliver technology-related change, particularly in improving the security, resilience, and availability of national security platforms
have a strong technical background and be able to use this experience to make and guide architectural design decisions, build credibility with others, evaluate proposals and decide an execution approach characterised by medium risk and complexity, particularly in secure and resilient system design
have strong written and verbal communication skills, and are able to translate complex security, risk, and resilience concepts into straightforward language with ease to support wider organisational objectives
have some experience working with technology suppliers, particularly in delivering secure and resilient services within complex or multi-supplier environments
are comfortable presenting to senior stakeholders, both technical (e.g. Principal DDaT professionals) and non-technical (including SCS and ministers), on topics relating to platform security, risk, and availability
have learning embedded in the way you approach your working week, and you should be keen to share your learning with those around you, particularly in security, resilience, and assurance practices

Benefits

There are many benefits of working at NSDC, including:

flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days
an extra day off for the King’s birthday
an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
death in service benefits
cycle to work scheme and facilities
access to an employee discounts scheme
10 learning days per year
volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning

Any move to Government Digital Service from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Office attendance

The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period.

DSIT does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements 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, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

The standard selection process for roles at NSDC consists of:

a simple application screening process - We only ask for a CV and answer 2 application questions
a 60 minute video interview

Depending on how many applications we get, there might also be an extra stage before the video interview, for example a phone interview or a technical exercise.

In the event we receive a high volume of applications, we will conduct the initial sift against the lead criteria which is: Describe a significant piece of work where you were responsible for shaping or assuring the security, resilience and availability of a complex digital platform, system, or service.

In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We’ll be assessing your technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours that are relevant to this role.

For this role we’ll be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours:

changing and improving
leadership
communicating and influencing
managing a quality service

We’ll also be assessing your experience and specialist technical skills against the following skills defined in the Government Digital and Data Capability Framework for the Technical Architect role:

Architect for the whole context
Architecture communication
Making architectural decisions
Strategy design

Want to know more about who Government Digital and Data are?Click Here

Recruitment Timeline

Sift completion: 3rd August 2026

Panel interviews: Starting from 10th August 2026

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

Security

This role requires Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. Due to the critical nature of the post, we require that candidates hold existing DV clearance before applying

DV is required when an individual has long term, frequent and uncontrolled access to ‘Top Secret’ (Information that could directly threaten the national security of the UK, cause long-term damage to our economy or lead to widespread loss of life) information.

To gain DV clearance an applicant will normally need to have been a UK resident for a minimum of 10 years. There are several stages to the vetting process which usually takes 6 month +:-

SC Level Clearance
Completion of a DV supplementary questionnaire
Completion of a financial questionnaire
A review of the candidate’s personal finances
A medical and psychological assessment
Interviews with the candidates referees
A detailed interview with the candidate

More information on DV clearance is linked here

Nationality Requirements - Further Information for Candidates

1. This post is classed as ‘Reserved’ as per Civil Service Nationality RulesSection 3. In accordance with these rules, ‘only UK nationals may be employed in reserved posts in the Civil Service’1 (Paragraph. 3.1).

UK National Definition

2. The definition of a ‘UK National’ can be found at Paragraphs. 1.4-1.8 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Dual Nationals

3. As per Paragraph. 1.41 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules:

4. ‘Candidates with dual nationality are in principle eligible for employment in the Civil Service provided that they meet the requirements in relation to one of their nationalities [i.e. UK National]. They may not be eligible, however, for employment in certain reserved posts where additional nationality requirements are imposed.’

Additional Restrictions for Reserved Posts

5. As per Paragraphs. 3.10-3.11 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules:

6. ‘…departments and agencies are entitled to impose additional requirements in reserved posts if this is considered necessary. This could include, for example, requirements as to the residency of the applicant or the nationality of one or both parents of the applicant.’

7. If you are a Dual National who possesses UK Nationality and wish to check your eligibility for the post, please contact our recruiting team at the details below. Please be advised that we will not be able to provide a justification for our decision for security reasons.

8. Irish nationals and Commonwealth citizens are also eligible for employment in reserved posts if they were in the Civil Service at 31 May 1996 or before, or were appointed from a recruitment scheme with a closing date for receipt of applications before 1 June 1996. (Paragraph. 3.1)

Please note offers of employment are subject to achieving satisfactory pre-employment and security checks. These include an Occupational Health Assessment and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). As part of this you will need to confirm your identity, employment/education history, nationality and any criminal record (unspent convictions only).

Sponsorship

DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

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