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Principal Technical Architect

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Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £69,501 – £98,061 (Depending upon assessment)

Closing date: Apply before 11:55 pm on Tuesday 19th May 2026

Number of open roles: 2

Location: Swansea

Grade: Grade 6

OPEN SESSION

Would you like to find out more about the role, the digital team and what it’s like to work at DVLA? If so, we are organising a familiarisation session where you can virtually ‘meet the team’ on Thursday 14th May at 12pm.
Please click here to book on.

Please take note of ‘How to Apply’ section of this advert before submitting the application.

Job summary

Can you demonstrate experience of providing technical design and governance over a programme of work?

Do you have a strong understanding of, and hands-on experience with, cloud technologies?

Have you worked in senior architectural role within a dynamic and innovative environment?

If you can show the appetite and commitment required to help drive an organisation through a significant transformation, we’d love to hear from you.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday
Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Job description

The DVLA deliver wide reaching digital services to the UK public and industry. We maintain the national record of vehicles and drivers which means we reach over 53 million people a year. If you have applied for a driving licence, changed vehicle, taxed your vehicle, or completed a vehicle enquiry you would have used one of our services.

You’ll get to work alongside our business service designers and agile software development teams and use modern and exciting technologies. Right now, we’re rebuilding our services on a cloud-first platform using Containers and Serverless technologies as well as modern CI/CD tooling, so it’s a great time to join.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

Network and communicate with senior stakeholders across organisations.
Proactively seek opportunities for digital transformation.
Support multiple teams, finding and using best practice and emerging technologies.
Inspire other architects and help them understand how to deliver the goals of the organisation.
Define and assure solution architectures across multiple programmes, ensuring alignment to enterprise architecture, reference architectures, and strategic direction.
Work across organisational and departmental boundaries, including DfT and other government bodies, to ensure alignment of architecture and interoperability of services.
Ensure that solution designs incorporate appropriate security considerations, working with Security Architecture to align with Secure by Design principles and agreed security standards.
Establish and maintain architectural governance, ensuring that designs are robust, consistent, and meet required standards for build, operation, and support.

Person specification

You will have an Architectural / Engineering background having worked in an architect or engineering lead role delivering enterprise and cloud-based software systems.

You will also hold the following skills and experience:

Knowledge of designing / building cloud native software on a platform such as AWS.
Experience with data security principles and systems designed to protect sensitive data.
Experience of owning the cross-project architecture vision (principles, patterns, target state)
Knowledge of programme-level risks (e.g., dependency conflicts, technical debt, scalability, compliance)
Ability to work inside and suggest improvements to project governance processes
Experience of turning business goals into an executable technical roadmap
Desire to create and maintain solution designs in an iterative and collaborative manner.
Ability to think strategically about business, product and technical challenges.
Excellent technical skills with the experience to be held accountable for technical aspects of delivering complex solutions, including end-to-end solution design, delivery governance, assurance and support for Engineers and Delivery Managers.
Great interpersonal skills allowing you to work with technical and non-technical stakeholders alike.
You will be able to drive discussions with senior leaders across the agency as well as having the technical background that will enable you to easily interact and give guidance to software developers, testers and engineers.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of up to £98,061, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency contributes £20,134 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

Best in class learning and development tailored to your role 
An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance 
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues 
Generous employer contribution of 28.9%, depending on chosen pension scheme
Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance
Digital communities with clear career frameworks
On-site gym plus personal training available (membership applies)
On-site nursery, restaurants and coffee bar 
25 days holiday (plus bank holidays), increasing by 1 each year (up to 30) & 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday
24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff
Free parking

Working for the DVLA Digital Team

At DVLA, licensing is just the start. Every project you implement, touch and deliver has a ripple effect that’ll wash across the nation. Here the work you’re doing has the capacity to change the way 53 million people interact with our services. As we aim to keep our roads some of the safest in the world, our innovative, transformative digital-led services help optimise a nation of individuals and business every single day.

To see how our people are transforming our digital services, head over to our DVLA Digital Services Blog and, to understand more about the great opportunities and benefits of working at DVLA read our Inside DVLA blog.

Additional Information

The role is part of the Government Digital and Data profession

and utilises an enhanced Capability–Based Pay Framework which provides access to a Digital and Data allowance.

The base pay is £69,501. In addition to this the role includes a Digital and Data allowance of up to £28,560. Therefore total salary is up to £98,061

The value of allowance awarded will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated through the selection process. Here are more details on the pay framework.

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week. Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 35 hours per week.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (the location cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Security Check

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, candidates will be required to have at least 5 years continuous residency in the UK. All applicants for this role must ensure that they meet this minimum residency requirement – if you do not, your application will be withdrawn.

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.

Behaviours

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

Leadership

Technical skills

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

Technical Design Throughout the Lifecycle – Expert
Architecture Communication – Expert
Making Architectural Decisions – Expert

How to apply:

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant’s qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation. The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV

Stage 2: Interview including a technical exercise

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1: Sift

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a CV to Inspire People for an initial sift evidencing your experience of the following criteria:

Experience of creating and maintaining solution designs in an iterative and collaborative manner.
Excellent technical skills, with the ability to demonstrate accountability for end-to-end solution designs and stakeholder management.
Experience with architectural governance processes and practices.

On receipt of your CV, DVLA Hiring Managers will complete a sift which will take place from 27/05/26.

Stage 2: Interview

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements only:

Behaviours: Leadership

Technical:

Experience: Experience of architectural governance processes and practices.

The interview will also include a technical exercise. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

The interviews will take place week commencing 08/06/26

Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change.

This interview will be conducted in person at our Swansea office. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

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

Click here to view advert on Civil Service jobsite

Attachments

Role Profile (type, size)

DVLA Digital Job Brochure – V1 2025 (type, size)

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Do you meet the nationality requirements for this role?*

To apply you must meet the eligibility requirements to work in the UK Civil Service. You can apply if you are a UK, EU, EEA or Swiss national. You may be able to apply if you are a Commonwealth or Turkish national or a family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss national. Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Location of Residence*

Have you lived in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years?*

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, candidates will be required to have a minimum number of continuous residency years in the UK. All applicants for this role must ensure that they meet this minimum requirement – if you do not, your application will be withdrawn.

This registration process collects personal details about yourself and your employment history so that we can process any applications you make as well as find suitable employment for you. Under General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we must obtain consent from you in order to process your information. Please contact us via our website regarding our Privacy Policy for further information on how we protect and manage your data, or to withdraw at any time.

This role requires SC clearance. DVLA’s requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 5 of the last 5 years. Failure to meet this requirement means we are unable to progress further with your application. Thank you for your interest in the DVLA

This role requires you to meet the above nationality requirements to work in the UK Civil Service. Failure to meet this requirement means we are unable to progress further with your application. Thank you for your interest in the DVLA

Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS)

You may be eligible to apply via the Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) if you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010. This means you must have:

– A physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term (over 12 months) adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day to day activities

– A long term health condition; and

– Demonstrated that you meet the minimum qualifying criteria set out in the job advertisement.

For more information please use this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guaranteed-interview-scheme

Do you feel that you meet the criteria and would like to apply under the GIS scheme?*

Will you require a reasonable adjustment during the interview/assessment stages? For instance, you may require wheelchair access?*

If you require assistance during the selection stages, please provide further details

Veteran Interview Scheme (VIS)

You may be eligible to apply as of 1st April 2022 if:

– You are currently serving in the Armed Forces and are within 12 months of your discharge date

– The Armed Forces were your last long term substantive employer and no more than 3 years has elapsed since you left the Armed Forces.

– You meet the minimum qualifying criteria set out in the job advertisement.

Do you feel that you meet the requirements and would like to apply for the Veteran Interview Scheme?*

Redeployment Interview Scheme

You may be eligible to apply as of 1st April 2022 if you are an existing Civil Servant and if:

You are at risk of redeployment in your current role
You have already been made redundant and placed on a RRR list
You have demonstrated that you meet the minimum qualifying criteria set out in the job advertisement.

Do you feel that you meet the requirements and would like to apply for the RIS Scheme?*

Please confirm if you have any UK Government Security Clearance:*

DVLA know that they deliver better services when their workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society they serve. To continue to do this Inspire People need your help in filling out a short monitoring form.

None of the information you provide will be visible as part of your application. It will only be used anonymously to monitor the inclusivity of our selection processes. You can select ‘prefer not to say’ if you would rather not answer any question.

The personal data provided by the candidate in their application form and other associated documents will be stored and processed for monitoring the effectiveness of DVLA’s equal opportunities policy. In completing this form, the candidates give their consent for their details to be used for this purpose. Inspire People will only retain candidates’ personal data for as long as it is needed for the purposes set out above or for as long as is required by law. In general, this means that Inspire People will only hold a candidate’s personal data for a minimum of 6 months year and a maximum of 2 years. Candidates may withdraw their consent at any time by contacting the recruitment team at hello@inspirepeople.net. Should candidates wish to gain access to the recruitment data that Inspire People holds about them, or amend any incorrect information, they can contact the recruitment team on the above email or telephone 0845 450 4000.

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Thinking back to when you were aged about 14, which best describes the sort of work the main/ highest income earner in your household did in their main job?*

Thinking back to when you were aged about 14, did the main/highest income earner in your household work as an employee or self-employed?*

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The post you are applying for is based in Northern Ireland. Select one of the following statements:*