Senior Technical Architect

Job overview

This role provides senior technical architecture leadership for the Oriel programme, supporting the delivery of a digitally enabled, smart-ready hospital that can safely operate from Day 1 and evolve over time. The Senior Technical Architect will play a critical role in shaping, assuring and governing the technology architecture that underpins Oriel’s ICT infrastructure, smart building platforms, integration layers and data services, working across NHS, academic and construction environments.

As part of the Enterprise Architecture function, the post holder will act as a trusted technical authority within the programme, guiding design decisions, assuring vendor and contractor proposals, and ensuring that complex digital solutions align with Trust strategy, national standards and long-term operational needs. The role offers a rare opportunity to influence the technical foundations of a flagship healthcare estate and to translate architectural vision into safe, practical delivery at scale.

Main duties of the job

The Senior Technical Architect will provide architectural leadership and assurance across a portfolio of Oriel digital initiatives, including core infrastructure, cloud and hosting models, network and security architecture, smart building integrations, data platforms and interoperability services. The role will work closely with programme leadership, Digital Shared Services, delivery teams and external partners to ensure technical designs are coherent, secure and fit for purpose.

A key aspect of the role is governing technical design and decision-making through established approval and assurance routes. This includes reviewing and shaping designs, contributing to architecture standards and guardrails, and supporting governance forums to reach informed, timely decisions on complex or high-risk technical issues. The post holder will also play an active role in bridging technical and non-technical audiences, helping stakeholders understand trade-offs, risks and long-term implications of architectural choices within the Oriel context.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Senior Technical Architect will lead and assure technical architecture activity across the Oriel programme, ensuring that solutions delivered during construction, mobilisation and operational transition align with Trust strategy, enterprise architecture principles and long-term digital maturity goals. This includes shaping target architectures, validating solution designs and supporting the safe introduction of new platforms and services into live operation.

Key responsibilities include providing technical assurance of designs and submissions produced by internal teams, suppliers and construction partners, ensuring they meet agreed standards for security, resilience, interoperability and supportability. The post holder will support structured review and approval processes, tracking design evolution, managing technical risks and ensuring that decisions are formally recorded and progressed through the appropriate governance routes.

The role will work across multiple workstreams, supporting alignment between infrastructure, smart building systems, integration platforms and data services. This includes advising on cloud and hosting strategies, identity and access models, cyber and information security, disaster recovery and service transition considerations. The Senior Technical Architect will also mentor colleagues, contribute to the development of architectural standards and roadmaps, and help ensure that the technology delivered for Oriel can be sustainably operated, adapted and extended well beyond Day 1.