Solution Architect

at  Department for Energy Security Net Zero

JOB SUMMARY

The Integrated Corporate Services (ICS) is a new shared corporate service, launched in July 2023. It provides corporate services (HR, Finance, Digital, Commercial, Security and Estates) across the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT).
Our team of just over 300 professionals will be leading the way in how these functions will be delivered in the future. Our ambition is to be the leading provider of integrated corporate services for government and set the standard for quality, efficiency, and innovation in our field.
We offer great working benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.
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.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Join ICS Digital, where innovation meets expertise to create digital solutions. We are a cohesive digital community who work in the open, solving problems together and fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration. Our commitment to user-focused design and data-driven decision-making ensures that we deliver accessible services tailored to the needs of our customers.
The architecture team comprises of three architects. We are actively working to streamline our digital assets, support DESNZ and DSIT through new initiatives, and provide architectural oversight.
Visit our blog to learn more about us and our work: https://icsdigital.blog.gov.uk/
Please note that this vacancy is being offered on the DDaT Pay Framework and can include an allowance of up to £10,000 depending on skills, qualifications, and experience. Further details on the framework can be found on https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/technical-architect

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES:

• Experience in managing critical aspects of product development and system changes.
• Experience as a Solution Architect for complex applications, experience in designing and delivering public facing applications.
• Application of enterprise and domain architecture, understanding how systems fit. into the organisational context.
• Knowledge of multiple architecture and delivery frameworks.
• Experience in delivering technical information to a non-technical audience.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Technical design throughout the life cycle
• Architecture Communication

Benefits
Alongside your salary of £52,985, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £14,305 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an average employer contribution of 27%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
• 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.

Things you need to know

SELECTION PROCESS DETAILS

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please use your personal statement (in no more than 750 words) to describe how you address the skills and experience outlined in the job description.
Applications will be sifted on CV and Personal Statement.
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the personal statement.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
The interview will consist of behaviour, technical and strength-based questions.

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 (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• 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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

As a Solutions Architect you will be part of a community responsible for the Architectural Governance Board. You will work closely with our Business Partners in supporting new initiatives set out by policy teams, supporting and guiding decisions when developing or upgrading new systems.

You will be responsible for designing solutions and supporting technical teams with the implementation of these solutions, you will be supporting 3rd parties with any proposed solutions being placed upon our technical estate by ensuring that that they adhere to the standards set out by the department and ensure they are taking the correct path through our governance processes.

• Understanding the problem and shaping the solution.
• Tailoring the systems engineering and architecture processes to address product risks.
• Developing, maintaining, and communicating the vision, architecture, and technology roadmap for the product
• Developing high-level designs, solution outlines, and key design decisions.
• Managing the technology risk and design as the product evolves.
• Supporting integration with other products and release to service.