Lead Architect – Cloud-Native Data Integration Platform

Lead Architect – Cloud-Native Data Integration Platform (Contract)

Role Summary

We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Lead Architect to lead the design and delivery of a secure, cloud-native data integration platform within a complex, highly regulated government environment.

This is a critical contract role focused on enabling the secure integration and use of sensitive data across Health & Disability services. You will provide technical leadership across architecture, engineering direction, security, governance, and delivery, working closely with multiple stakeholders across government and regulated sectors.

The successful candidate will combine strong technical architecture capability with practical delivery experience in modern cloud-native platforms, secure data integration, and large-scale public sector programmes.

Project Overview

This programme is establishing a new capability to securely integrate and utilise sensitive health-related data across digital services.

Key elements include:

• Designing and delivering a new microservice-based platform to ingest and process structured data from external systems
• Mastering and exposing data securely to downstream platforms and services
• Supporting operational decision-making and new digital user journeys
• Delivering through an Agile, iterative, test-and-learn approach, beginning with an MVP and evolving toward production-ready services
• Operating within strict governance requirements including security assurance, DPIA, and data sharing agreements
• Building a secure AWS-hosted platform using CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code, secure APIs, and scalable data models

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end architecture for a secure, cloud-native integration platform
• Define architecture principles, standards, and target-state designs
• Guide engineering teams on microservices, APIs, security, and distributed systems patterns
• Ensure alignment with governance, security, and assurance requirements
• Collaborate with delivery, product, engineering, security, and policy stakeholders
• Drive best practices across CI/CD, DevSecOps, infrastructure-as-code, and automated testing
• Support architecture governance, technical design authority, and assurance activities
• Shape integration approaches across legacy and modern platforms
• Provide technical leadership throughout MVP and iterative delivery phases

Essential Skills & Experience

Strong experience in:

• Microservices and API architecture
• AWS cloud platform architecture and delivery
• Secure data integration, ideally involving highly sensitive or regulated data

Deep understanding of:

• Distributed systems and scalable platform design
• Data modelling and integration patterns
• CI/CD pipelines and modern engineering practices
• DevSecOps and cloud-native delivery approaches

Experience working within:

• Government or highly regulated environments
• Formal governance, assurance, and security processes
• Multi-stakeholder programmes with complex delivery landscapes

Desirable Experience

• Familiarity with GDS standards and delivery approaches
• Knowledge of identity, consent, and access control patterns
• Experience with event-driven architecture and messaging platforms
• Experience integrating with complex external or third-party systems