> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/1636852-lead-technical-architect-ai](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/1636852-lead-technical-architect-ai). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Lead Technical Architect (AI) - **Company:** scrumconnect ltd - **Location:** Newcastle upon Tyne, UK - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** £76,000.0 - £85,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Agile Methodology, Artificial Intelligence, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Continuous Integration, Information Engineering, Software Architecture, Search Technologies, Value Engineering, Delivery Pipeline, Large Language Models, Multi-Agent Systems, Multi-Cloud, Generative AI, AI Platforms, Integration Frameworks, Free and Open-Source Software, Machine Learning Operations, Software Version Control - **Published:** July 17, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.careerboard.com/pt/en/find-jobs-in-United-Kingdom/-946BD429C84B1CE08B/ ## About the Role * AWS/Azure/GCP architecture certifications, AI related certifications most desirable. * Experience contributing to GOV.UK Service Standard Alpha or beta assessments * Prior delivery of AI or digital services within UK central government or wider public sector * Familiarity with ATRS submissions, HM Treasury Orange Book, or equivalent public-sector risk/assurance frameworks * Open-source contributions or active engagement in engineering/AI communities * Experience designing for sustainability/Green IT commitments ## Description We're looking for a Lead Technical Architect (AI) to act as the technical authority for a full-scale AI Operating Model and Responsible AI Governance Framework at a central government department. This is a large, high-visibility AI adoption and scale-up programme covering systems and services handling high-volume, sensitive public sector data. You'll work as part of a collaborative "Rainbow Team" alongside civil servants, with a mission that goes beyond delivery: build sustainable internal capability so the department can eventually operate and govern its own AI capability without long-term reliance on external suppliers. Key Responsibilities Architectural Leadership & Integration Design and implement enterprise-grade AI platforms - including semantic search, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and broader generative AI/agentic capabilities - integrating cleanly with the department's complex Legacy and multi-cloud environments. Responsible AI Governance Embed end-to-end responsible AI controls across the full lifecycle: alignment with the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS), NCSC "Secure by Design" principles, and active mitigation of algorithmic bias. Ensure every system operates as a decision-support tool that enforces meaningful human control. Risk & Value Management Navigate trade-offs between value, risk, pace, and quality using HM Treasury Orange Book and Technology-Organisation-Environment (ToE) frameworks. Identify and resolve systemic risks via Joint Risk Registers. Zero-Dependency Handover & Capability Uplift Co-deliver within blended agile teams. Drive knowledge transfer using the OKUA (Ownership, Knowledge, Understanding, Awareness) framework and "Docs-as-Code" practices so internal staff can independently operate and govern AI capability long after the engagement ends. Environmental Sustainability (Green AI) Design low-modality, energy-efficient AI architectures aligned with "Circularity Performance Requirements" (Buy Better, Use Better, Use Longer), supporting Net Zero 2030/2040 commitments., * Technical Design Throughout the Life Cycle (Expert) : technical designs for high-risk, high-impact, high-complexity systems; leading others toward organisational objectives; refining standards from feedback. * Architecture Communication (Expert) : communicating complex or contentious architecture to technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels; mediating difficult discussions; securing executive buy-in. * Making Architectural Decisions (Practitioner) : medium-to-high-risk design decisions spanning multiple domains; active contribution to architectural governance and assurance boards. * Architect for the Whole Context (Practitioner) : tracking emerging AI and technology trends; influencing colleagues across the organisation to solve or mitigate problems. * Strategy Design (Practitioner) : defining architectural principles, AI patterns, and strategic vision aligned to wider government objectives; building implementation roadmaps. * Community Collaboration (Practitioner) : proactive networking, resolving team-dynamics issues, using Agile health checks to strengthen the multidisciplinary delivery team. Alongside the DDaT competencies, given the scale of this programme, hands-on depth across the modern AI engineering stack is essential, not just RAG in isolation: * Semantic search, vector/embedding infrastructure, and retrieval architecture design * LLM orchestration and agentic frameworks (eg LangChain/LlamaIndex-style tooling, multi-agent patterns) * LLM evaluation, guardrails, and red-teaming tooling (hallucination detection, safety/bias testing) * LLMOps/MLOps: model versioning, deployment pipelines, monitoring, and rollback for AI services in production * Fine-tuning and parameter-efficient adaptation techniques where appropriate to use case * Data engineering for AI: ingestion, cleaning, and lineage across Legacy and multi-cloud sources * Infrastructure-as-Code and CI/CD practices adapted for AI workloads, with strong observability * Secure-by-design engineering appropriate to sensitive public-sector data (identity, access control, data protection) ## Related Videos - [The Open-source Java SDK for Multi-Cloud Development - Sandeep Pal](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2113-the-open-source-java-sdk-for-multi-cloud-development-sandeep-pal) - [This App Reached 10,000 Users in One Week. Here's How.](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100329-this-app-reached-10-000-users-in-one-week-here-s-how) - [Your imaginations is (no longer) the limit: how Generative AI empowers people to be creative](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/741-your-imaginations-is-no-longer-the-limit-how-generative-ai-empowers-people-to-be-creative) - [AI Driven Development](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100340-ai-driven-development) - [Supercharge your cloud-native applications with Generative AI](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/950-supercharge-your-cloud-native-applications-with-generative-ai) - [Leverage Cloud Computing Benefits with Serverless Multi-Cloud ML ](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/78-leverage-cloud-computing-benefits-with-serverless-multi-cloud-ml) ## Related Articles - [Navigating the AI Shift](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/629-navigating-the-ai-shift) - [Best US AI Conferences for CTOs in 2026: Build vs. Buy, Vendor Evaluation, and Peer Intelligence](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/736-best-us-ai-conferences-for-ctos-in-2026-build-vs-buy-vendor-evaluation-and-peer-intelligence) - [Got AI ideas but no money? Here are 10 free ways to level up your AI skills with Google Cloud](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/600-got-ai-ideas-but-no-money-here-are-10-free-ways-to-level-up-your-ai-skills-with-google-cloud) - [MLOps And AI Driven Development](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/82-mlops-and-ai-driven-development) - [How to Become an AI Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/331-how-to-become-an-ai-engineer) - [Dev Digest 120 - Apple and peers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/455-dev-digest-120-apple-and-peers)