Principal Technical Architect (Azure)

Across government, cloud technology underpins the delivery of secure, scalable and modern digital services. As organisations adopt cloud-first strategies, strong architecture is essential to ensure platforms are well-designed, governed and able to deliver long-term value. Ofgem plays a vital role in the UK’s energy system, protecting consumers and enabling a more secure, fair and sustainable energy future, and a robust Architecture capability is central to this mission.

Ofgem is on an ambitious transformation journey. Within the Digital, Data and Security Services (DDSS) directorate, we are modernising our technology estate and expanding our use of Microsoft Azure as a core platform. This includes building secure, scalable and cost-effective solutions that support data, AI and digital services across the organisation.

As a Principal Technical Architect (Azure), you will play a key role in shaping how Azure is designed and used across Ofgem. You will define standards and governance, guide technical decision-making and support delivery teams to build high-quality cloud solutions. Working across programmes and domains, you will ensure architectural consistency, manage risk and embed architectural best practice across our Azure environment.

This is a highly influential technical role within a fast-paced and evolving environment, requiring deep Azure expertise and strong architectural capability., You will be responsible for:

• Defining and shaping Azure architecture standards, aligned to organisational and government frameworks
• Establishing and embedding architectural patterns, principles and governance
• Providing oversight and assurance for complex cloud solutions
• Supporting architectural decision-making and managing technical risk
• Promoting reusable frameworks and best practice across teams
• Collaborating with stakeholders to align technology and business needs
• Evaluating emerging Azure capabilities and supporting their adoption
• Mentoring architects and engineers, building capability across DDSS, You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word ‘personal statement’ evidencing how you meet the essential and desirable skills and capabilities listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the criteria listed in the role profile.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application or used during interview, including your CV and any statements or examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Ofgem takes any incidences of cheating very seriously. Please ensure all examples provided are of your own experience. Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant applications will be withdrawn from the process. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

Please refer to Civil Service candidate advice on the acceptable use of artificial intelligence within the recruitment and selection process - Artificial intelligence and recruitment , Civil Service Careers

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected, you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by [ https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn]. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check .

See our vetting charter . People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks., * 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)
• 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

A highly experienced technical architect who can shape and guide cloud architecture in a complex environment. You will bring strong Azure expertise alongside the ability to influence across teams.

You may come from a infrastructure, cloud, enterprise or platform background, but you will demonstrate:

• Strong experience designing and delivering solutions on Microsoft Azure
• Solid understanding of cloud architecture, governance and optimisation
• Experience contributing to architectural standards and decision-making
• Knowledge of security, identity and compliance in cloud environments
• Ability to collaborate across teams and guide technical outcomes

Relevant certifications (e.g. Azure Solutions Architect Expert) is expected (or achievable).

Experience with Infrastructure as Code, DevOps or regulated environments is beneficial., * Extensive experience in design and delivery of complex solutions on Microsoft Azure (Lead Criteria).

• Demonstrable proficiency in technical direction, team mentorship, and guidance across multi-disciplinary IT teams and architects (Lead Criteria).
• Understanding Azure security frameworks, compliance standards, and identity management models.
• Proven capability in the definition and implementation of governance models for cloud adoption and optimisation.
• Proficiency in architectural modelling tools such as Archi and frameworks, such as ArchiMate, UML, or equivalent, with the ability to create and maintain architectural artefacts.

Holds or can obtain the following certifications or equivalent within 6 months:

• Formal Architectural Qualification such as BCS EA Certification or equivalent.
• Cloud Architecture Certification: Microsoft Azure Solution Architect (Expert).

Desirable Criteria

• Experience with Infrastructure as Code and DevOps practices.
• Understanding government digital standards and assurance processes., * Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership

Technical skills

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

• You will also be asked to prepare a presentation. Full details of the presentation will be included in the invitation to interview., This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Alongside your salary of £63,443, OFGEM contributes £18,379 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides . Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but this is kept under review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about.