Application Architect

Overview
You may be looking to step up into a more senior design role, or you may be a solution architect with a desire to specialise in application architecture on an enterprise-wide canvas. In any case you can expect to work with a friendly, dynamic, talented and self-motivated team with a great opportunity to apply your experience and ideas and make direct and tangible improvements to the services we deliver to our clients and colleagues.

The Chief Digital Office is the technology division of Social Security Scotland, responsible for live running, maintenance and continuous improvement of the technology required to operate the Scottish social security system for its clients and partners. The Application Architect role lies within the Architecture and Design branch of the Chief Digital Office.

The branch is responsible for developing, maintaining and governing technology strategies and designs which underpin the solution, application, data and infrastructure architectures which form the organisation’s overall enterprise architecture. Application Architecture and Cloud Architecture teams work closely with each other and with the wider operational business to inform those strategies and designs.

The post will be based in either Dundee or Glasgow with regular travel to provide leadership across all sites as well as engage extensively with Scottish Government colleagues based in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

As an Application Architect you will play a vital role in designing and implementing cutting-edge application architectures. You will use your expertise to collaborate with stakeholders, identify problems, and recommend innovative solutions. Be part of a dynamic and agile environment, where continuous improvement and collaboration are key. Help shape the future of digital support at Social Security Scotland and make a meaningful impact on people's lives.

DDaT Pay Supplement
This post attracts a £5,000 DDAT pay supplement after a 3 months DDaT competency qualifying period. The payment will be backdated to your start date in the role. Pay supplements are temporary payments designed to address recruitment and retention issues caused by market pressures and are subject to regular review. This post is part of the Scottish Government DDaT profession. As a member of the profession, you will join the professional development scheme, currently BCS RoleModel plus

Main Duties
• Engage with projects and partners to understand and design appropriate application architectures
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders, providing direction and challenge
• Proactively identify problems and translate them into non-technical descriptions
• Act as the application architecture domain expert in information gathering with stakeholders
• Support Social Security governance activities and contribute to the development of architectural strategies
• Build a deep understanding of the business and digital strategies and leverage them to identify suitable solutions
• Analyse options and recommend the most appropriate approach across different environments
• Provide guidance on technology best practices and continuous improvement
• Produce application architecture deliverables and collaborate with cyber security colleagues
• Review technical proposals from external suppliers
• Work in an agile, multi-disciplinary team environment
• Take an open and collaborative approach to working and sharing knowledge
• Support colleagues with application architecture expertise
• Contribute to the development of an Application Architecture Practice
• Act as a consultant and communicator between technical and non-technical stakeholders

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