Lead Technical Architect

Summer-Browning Associates is supporting our client in the Central Government who is seeking a Lead Technical Architect for an initial 6-month assignment, with the possibility of extension.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in enterprise cloud architecture, AI security, systems integration, and architectural governance, with the ability to translate complex technical requirements into end-to-end solutions. A strong understanding of UK government security standards and experience operating within highly secure environments.

The following skills and experience are required:

Enterprise Cloud Architecture

• Extensive experience leading cloud architecture across GCP and/or AWS environments.
• Expertise in secure Cloud Landing Zones, Identity and Access Management (IAM) hierarchies, and microservices architecture.
• Proven ability to design secure, scalable solutions for complex enterprise environments.

AI Guardrails & Perimeter Defence

• Hands-on experience designing deterministic AI safety controls and secure AI architectures.
• Knowledge of human-in-the-loop approval mechanisms, VPC Service Controls, Workload Identity Federation (WIF), and Microsoft Entra ID.
• Experience establishing privacy, data protection, and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) masking controls.

Strategic & Technical Architecture Leadership

• Proven experience leading both strategic architecture and detailed technical design.
• Ability to design modular components and services, ensuring seamless interoperability and delivery of end-to-end business outcomes.
• Strong understanding of architectural patterns, design principles, and technical solution delivery.

Systems Integration & API Architecture

• Experience designing modular, vendor-neutral software architectures and API layers.
• Ability to integrate core enterprise platforms with central AI capabilities and workflow systems.
• Strong understanding of interoperability, integration patterns, and technology-agnostic design.

Architectural Governance & Assurance

• Experience navigating UK central government architectural governance and Technical Design Authority (approval processes.
• Understanding of Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), cyber security assurance, and relevant NCSC standards.
• Familiarity with Secure by Design, Cloud Security Principles, GDS guidance, and Government Functional Standards.

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience working within central government, defence, or other highly secure environments.
• Familiarity with UK government security frameworks and the challenges of delivering AI and cloud solutions in high-threat settings.