Lead IT Technology Architect
| Posting date: | 04 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £47,410 to £54,210 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 18 February 2026 |
| Location: | UK, B4 6GA |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week |
| Company: | National Highways |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7034_1770205322 |
Summary
About the role.
As part of the development of our Digital Services function, we are recruiting to strengthen internal digital capability within the Digital Technical Competence team. These roles are central to building sustainable in-house expertise that supports the design, development and delivery of digital solutions across the transport network.
A key focus of this campaign is creating new opportunities. As a result, we are recruiting a Lead IT Technology Architect. This is a pivotal role in shaping, designing and assuring technical solutions for one of the UK's most complex and nationally important operational environments. You will lead the architecture for substantial, high‑value and multifaceted solutions, setting architectural standards, providing clear technical direction, and guiding delivery teams through pragmatic, well‑informed decision making. This role drives enterprise‑wide architecture, promoting reuse and interoperability, while ensuring digital services are operationally sustainable, cyber resilient and deliver value for money.
This is a hybrid role, requiring two days per week in the office, based at any National Highways office location.
- Translate organisational strategy into actionable technical architectures, guiding delivery teams and influencing senior stakeholders to drive digital transformation across public services.
- Architect solutions across the whole business context and communicate those decisions effectively.
- Provide strategic technical leadership across complex digital programmes ensuring technology solutions are robust, scalable, secure and aligned with government standards and business objectives.
- Develop best practice for IT Technology architecture to meet our need for continuous improvement.
- Create technical designs for solutions of high complexity and risk.
- Lead teams of more junior architects in designing solutions for National Highways, building relationships with senior stakeholders across different business or technical areas in the organisation to correctly direct solutions and meet business needs.
About you.
- Strong understanding of public sector strategy, policy, and service delivery models.
- Proven experience in leading architecture across complex digital programmes with familiarity with Agile and hybrid delivery models and managing legacy-to-modern transitions.
- Expertise in cloud, infrastructure, and emerging technologies within regulated environments.
- Skilled in stakeholder engagement, influencing senior leaders, and cross-government collaboration.
- Experience in architectural governance, technical assurance, and aligning solutions to business outcomes.
- Commercial awareness of public sector procurement, cost optimisation, and value delivery.
About us.
Here at National Highways, we manage and improve England's motorways and major A roads, helping our customers have safer, smoother and more reliable journeys. Our priorities are safety, customers and delivery, and at the core of this, are our values of passion, integrity, safety, teamwork and ownership.
The Digital Services Directorate is helping to reshape the way National Highways operates by delivering digital, data, and technology services across all areas, from frontline to back office, in a modern and efficient manner. Our vision is to develop integrated information and technology that empowers our colleagues and provides real-time information to our customers, as well as integrating with intelligent vehicle and transport systems as they evolve, to enhance journey safety and reliability.
External candidates will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of the pay scale, while current employees will be appointed in accordance with our established pay policy.
We are committed to creating a diverse environment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme