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About the job
Job summary
About Us
Were MI6, also known as SIS. Our mission is to protect the security and economic wellbeing of the UK from overseas threats such as regional instability, terrorism, and cyber-attacks. Working across the globe and in close partnership with MI5 and GCHQ, we help the Government to counter these threats through the provision of secret intelligence. A role in MI6 will see you providing vital support to this work, within a supportive and encouraging environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.
Job description
The Role
Architecture and technology are core to MI6s successful operations and intelligence delivery. There is a constant need to develop and maintain capabilities that provide us with mission advantage in a rapidly changing, technology and data-driven world. So, we use Agile and Lean methodologies to innovate, deliver and upgrade products. Whether you work on data analytics, knowledge systems, communications or technical operations capabilities, the nature of our work presents unique and fascinating architecture challenges, the likes of which you will never have seen before.
We build products that provide capability across MI6. Our multi-disciplinary teams are made up of architects & engineers who work alongside product owners, business analysts and delivery colleagues to ensure MI6 gets what it needs by balancing tactical and strategic goals and objectives. And as a Solution Architect, youll lead the design and systems engineering approach for a specific area of our organisation, creating new products, and working to continually improve the capabilities of our existing ones.
As a Solution Architect youll be part of a community responsible for design authority. Youll collaborate with the Product Manager and Business Lead to deliver a balanced plan that considers UX, cost, time, and quality. And youll be delivering the architecture and systems engineering elements of the product plan throughout its whole life cycle.
This will include:
Understanding the problem and shaping the solution.
Tailoring the systems engineering and architecture processes to address product risks.
Developing, maintaining, and communicating the vision, architecture and technology roadmap for the product.
Developing high-level designs, solution outlines, and key design decisions.
Managing the technology risk and design as the product evolves.
Supporting integration with other products and release to service.
Person specification
About You
Ideally, youll have led significant elements of product and system delivery and change; been a technical domain subject matter expert; worked as a Solution Architect or part of a solution architecture team for complicated solution; have experience of the application of enterprise and domains architecture, influencing stakeholders and conducting trades across requirements and solution spaces; and knowledge of multiple architecture and delivery frameworks with experience of embedding such tools and techniques.
Youll also have a range of soft skills to support communication and decision-making including curiosity, teamwork and problem solving. Youll be a strong communicator and influencer, having successfully negotiated trades across requirements and solution spaces. Youll line manage junior solution architects and contractors supporting delivery so youll be confident leading multi-disciplinary teams. Plus, you will be committed to continual learning and development.
Training and Development
At MI6, were proud to offer an inclusive and supportive working environment. As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we are committed to helping you fulfil your potential. In fact, you could spend around a third of your time on training and development. We’re committed to developing our staff and recognise this will look different for everyone, so well work with you to build your skills and help you plan your future career path.
When you join, youll have an induction so that you can settle in and get a full understanding of how your work will impact our mission. Then, there will be continuing opportunities to receive tailored training, coaching, and mentoring. And throughout your career with us, you will have access to a wide range of online and classroom learning, as well as external accredited training options. These include industry recognised qualifications such as CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) or similar.
Benefits
Rewards and Benefits
Youll receive a starting salary of £64,893 to £79,744, dependent on skills and experience*.
Other benefits include:
– 25 Days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays
– Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
– Interest-free season ticket loan
– Excellent pension scheme
– Cycle to work scheme
– Facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bar at some locations
– Paid parental and adoption leave.
* Salary Detail: Most new starters can expect to start at the lower end of our pay range. Candidates who both meet our higher competency requirements and can demonstrate evidence of our very specialised technical work can expect to receive a higher starting salary which will include pensionable and non-pensionable elements.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Equal Opportunities
At MI6, diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.
Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website:
https://www.MI6.gov.uk/explore-careers.html
Were Disability Confident
MI6 are proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWPs Disability Confident scheme. This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people. Being Disability Confident, we aim to offer a person-to-person interview to any candidate who self-identifies as disabled and meets the essential criteria for the role. This is our Offer of Interview (OOI). To secure an interview for this vacancy, the essential criteria (in order of application process) are:
Demonstrate experience working in architecture or systems engineering functions measured at application sift.
Motivation for applying to work at the organisation and the role assessed at sift.
Demonstrate an applied level of experience developing technology portfolios and/or playing a major role in digital transformation programme delivery measured at application sift.
What to Expect
Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:
Application sift, looking at motivation, technical aptitude, skills and experience for the role and the organisation
Telephone technical interview.
Assessment Centre Day including a response to a Solution architecture scenario.
If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment.
Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6 – 9 months to process including vetting, so we advise you continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.
Before You Apply
To work at MI6 you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteria here.
This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). Its something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. You can find out more about the vetting process here.
Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you cant take any recreational drugs and youll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevant stage.
The role is based in Central London so youll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application. A loan is available to support people relocating to London.
Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member.
Right to Withdraw Statement:
Please be aware that we withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful of this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Recruitment
- Email : careers@recruitmentservice.org.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : careers@recruitmentservice.org.uk
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