Principal Architect - Public Sector
£120,000 to 140,000 GBP Bonus Onsite WORKING Location: Central London, Greater London - United Kingdom Type: Permanent Principal Architect - Public Sector £120-140,000 + bonus UK-based | Hybrid/Remote
We are looking for multiple Principal Architects to join a leading technology consultancy, working on large-scale digital transformation programmes across the UK public sector. This is a senior technology leadership position for someone with deep software engineering and architecture expertise who has progressed into leading complex technical programmes and advising senior stakeholders. Consultancy experience is essential. We are specifically looking for architects who have built their careers within technology consultancies , rather than candidates whose experience is solely within large systems integrators, outsourcing organisations or end-user environments.
The role
You will provide technical leadership across complex public sector programmes, shaping the architecture of large-scale digital services and helping organisations modernise their technology estates. You will work with senior technology, digital, operational and policy stakeholders, while providing architectural direction and assurance to architects and engineering teams.
Responsibilities include:
- Leading software and solution architecture for complex digital services
- Setting technical direction across multi-team programmes
- Designing modern, scalable and resilient digital services
- Providing architectural assurance across applications, integration, data, cloud, security and infrastructure
- Advising senior and C-level stakeholders on technology strategy and architecture
- Leading modernisation of complex legacy technology estates
- Establishing architectural principles, standards and reusable patterns
- Working across complex multi-supplier environments
- Mentoring and developing architects and engineers
- Contributing to bids, proposals, account strategy and business development
What we're looking for
- Extensive experience working within the UK Public Sector , ideally UK Government
- Strong technology consultancy background - essential
- A genuine software engineering background , with deep technical expertise
- Proven experience delivering software or solution architecture for complex digital services
- Strong understanding of whole-solution architecture across applications, integration, data, infrastructure, cloud and security
- Strong AWS and/or Azure experience
- Experience with cloud-native, containerised and distributed architectures
- Experience with APIs, event-driven architecture and modern data platforms
- Experience modernising legacy technology through migration, replacement, re-platforming or incremental transformation
- Strong understanding of security, resilience, scalability, performance and availability
- Experience influencing senior and C-level stakeholders
- Experience working across complex governance and assurance environments
- Experience leading, mentoring and developing technical teams
- Commercial awareness and experience contributing to bids, proposals or account growth
- Understanding of UK Government digital and technology standards
The key requirement
This role is not for someone who has simply moved into an architecture title . You should have a genuine technical foundation in software engineering , with the depth to challenge technical decisions, guide engineering teams and lead architecture across complex digital services. You must also have professional services / technology consultancy experience . UK-based candidates only. No sponsorship is available for this position.
If you are an experienced Principal Architect, Lead Architect, Technical Architect or similar with a strong consultancy, software engineering and UK public sector background, please get in touch for a confidential discussion.