Technical Architect – Digital Services

We are now looking for a Technical Architect to help with a detailed and complex systems build to enable an innovative change to how procurement is delivered in a digital age.

This role sits within the technology function, and forms part of an expanding architecture team. You will design external-facing services, including websites, web services, and API’s for supplier and buyer organisations to use, meeting the transformation agenda and driving increases in both volume and value.

You will provide advanced technical support in the research, experimentation, business analysis and use of systems technology including architecture, integration capabilities and web-based services.

On a daily basis you will be responsible for creating and revising conceptual and physical design, within existing standards and guidelines, of all aspects of front-end services, responsive web design, modular coding, style guides, web services and API’s. As well as designing the system the role will be responsible for designing development and operations tools chains and processes, including language and framework selection, testing and deployment, resilience, monitoring and security.

You will work with development teams and advise on coding techniques and practices. Your designs and patterns should be the primary source of design guidance for development teams.

Additional responsibilities will include advising on technology choices for Software as a Service (SaaS) and commercial software packages.   You will also be expected to keep abreast of developments in technology, advising on changes to standards as technology evolves.

Essential Criteria:

                                                                                               
You​ ​will​ ​have​ ​a​ ​good​ ​understanding​ ​of​ ​a​ ​broad​ ​range​ ​of​ ​technologies. You’re​ ​able​ ​to​ ​converse​ ​easily​ ​with​ ​and​ ​translate​ ​between​ ​non-technical​ ​stakeholders and​ ​technology ​practitioners.​ ​ You will be able to translate technical concepts between software engineering, delivery management and service management so they are understood by all.

Communicating between the technical and the non-technical

Able to effectively translate and accurately communicate across technical and non-technical stakeholders as well as facilitating discussions within a multidisciplinary team, with potentially difficult dynamics. Able to advocate for the team externally and can manage differing perspectives.

Code

Understands many different web languages, including but not limited to HTML, CSS, Java, JavaScript and Ruby, as well as libraries and frameworks and content management platforms such as jQuery, AngularJS, Symfony and WordPress. Advises on the best technology to use for a particular development and is able to advocate rationally for that approach. Able to tailor designs to the specific intricacies of the approach. Able to design web services and APIs to meet integration requirements.

 
Documentation

Able to create and maintain a library of design patterns and style guides which are treated by developers as essential components for the production of solutions. Able to document outline code flow and the tool chain, from development through testing and acceptance, into deployment and migration.

Testing

Able to describe and define at a high level testing requirements and processes, including unit, performance, usability/acceptance, regression and end-to-end testing.

Process

Understands and is able to define the development process, from code style and use, through source control workflow, and all aspects of operations, including continuous integration, automation, orchestration, and containerisation.

Software as a Service/Commercial off-the-Shelf Software

Able to evaluate and assess SaaS and COTS products against business and technical requirements and form a view regarding their suitability and technical fit with the organisation’s digital services.

Turning business problems into website design

Designs front-end architecture by dealing with specific business problems and aligning it to enterprise-wide standards and principles. Works within the context of well understood architecture and identifies appropriate patterns.

Core Competencies

• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture