Full job description

Head of Technical Architecture - AIContract | Inside IR35 | 6 Months


Contract Length: 6 Months
IR35 Status: Inside IR35
Location: London, Bristol or Manchester (predominantly remote)
Clearance: BPSS Required
Daily rate - £750 - £850
We are seeking an experienced Head of Technical Architecture - AI to lead the technical architecture function for a major, high-profile AI transformation programme within the UK public sector.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape the architecture, strategy, and governance behind innovative AI-powered digital products that are transforming how users interact with public services.
LocationFlexible across London, Bristol, or Manchester, with a predominantly remote working model. Occasional travel to London is required for team meetings (approximately once every two months).
Clearance*BPSS required
*Existing SC clearance is advantageous but not essential
*Candidates currently holding SC may transfer their clearance during onboarding
The RoleAs the Head of Technical Architecture, you will provide technical leadership across a large AI programme, driving architectural excellence and ensuring solutions are scalable, secure, resilient, and aligned with strategic objectives.
You will lead a team of architects, define technical standards and governance, and work closely with senior stakeholders to influence decision-making across complex technology landscapes.
A key aspect of the role will be evaluating multiple technical approaches, presenting options to senior stakeholders, and providing clear recommendations based on business outcomes, scalability, and risk.
Key Responsibilities*Lead and develop a team of technical architects within a complex AI programme
*Define and drive technical architecture strategy across AI-enabled digital products
*Establish and promote architectural best practices, standards, and governance
*Shape technology roadmaps and influence strategic technical decisions
*Work closely with multidisciplinary teams in Agile delivery environments
*Ensure solutions are scalable, secure, reusable, and operationally sustainable
*Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
*Collaborate with senior stakeholders to align technology investments with organisational objectives
*Champion continuous improvement and innovation across architecture practices
Essential ExperienceCandidates should demonstrate:
*Strong experience designing and delivering AI-enabled digital products
*Proven leadership of technical architecture teams and communities
*Deep understanding of cloud-native and modern application architectures
*Experience developing and implementing enterprise-wide technical strategies
*Strong knowledge of:*Cloud technologies
*Serverless architectures
*DevOps practices
*CI/CD pipelines
*Test-driven development (TDD)
*Security architecture and threat modelling

*Experience working within Agile, multidisciplinary environments
*Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills
*Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business-focused recommendations
Highly Desirable ExperienceParticular interest will be given to candidates with demonstrable expertise in:
*Knowledge Architecture
*Knowledge Graphs
*Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
*Designing scalable AI platforms and services
*Building architectures focused on component reusability
*Delivering large-scale technology programmes with proven scalability outcomes
What We’re Looking ForThe successful candidate will be:
*A strategic technology leader who can provide clear recommendations and architectural direction
*A collaborative individual who thrives in cross-functional teams
*An excellent communicator capable of engaging senior stakeholders and non-technical audiences
*Experienced in designing reusable and scalable technology solutions
*Passionate about AI and emerging technologies and their application to real-world challenges