AI Technical Architect/CTO/Head of Engineering (AWS)

This is an excellent opportunity to shape the technical direction of a nationally significant AI-enabled digital service, working with modern cloud technologies and high-performing engineering teams.

We are seeking an experienced Head of Technical Architecture to lead the architecture of large-scale, public-facing digital products powered by AI. This is not an Enterprise Architect role. We need a hands-on technical leader who has designed and delivered AI-enabled digital services used by large numbers of users at a national scale.

You will provide end-to-end technical architecture leadership across application, infrastructure, networking and cloud environments, ensuring secure, scalable and resilient digital products. The successful candidate will have a strong track record of taking AI-enabled products from concept through multiple major releases and operating them successfully in production.

Essential Experience

Proven experience as a Head of Technical Architecture, Lead Technical Architect or similar senior technical leadership role with AI user facing product experience, working with AWS (Technical Architecture context, not Enterprise Architecture.)

Hands-on experience architecting and delivering public-facing AI products at national scale; serving AI agents direct to audiences including, establishing and managing guardrails, conducting red teaming and other threat assessments.

Strong experience designing AI-enabled applications, platforms or websites used by large external user bases.Experience of scaling to tens of thousands of concurrent users and evidence of agentic development.

Highly desirable: evaluation, user experience management, and policy/privacy/secure by design work (associated with AI products).

Hybrid/London - £875-900/day, inside IR35 Contract Posted by: SmartSourcing Ltd Posted: Wednesday, 21 October 2026 Head of Technical Architecture (AI Digital Products)/CTO/Director of Architecture/Technical Head of Engineering

£875 - £900 per day, inside IR35

SmartSourcing Ltd offers contract, permanent, fixed term and outcome based work package opportunities across Digital and Technology, Transformation, Project and Programme Management, PMO, Business Change, Cloud Services, Cyber Security and wider corporate functions. Our experienced team works closely with candidates throughout the recruitment process, from initial engagement and role matching through to pre interview preparation, onboarding, timely payments and ongoing assignment support.

We are committed to clear and personal communication, professional representation and a service led approach that helps candidates find the right opportunity for their skills, experience and career goals