The posting
Since our establishment in 1990, Methods has partnered with a range of central government departments and agencies to transform the way the public sector operates in the UK.
Our mission is to improve and safeguard public-facing services. We apply digital thinking to ensure the future of our public services is centred around our citizens.
Our human touch sets us apart from other consultancies, system integrators and software houses - we have a customer-centric value system whereby we focus on delivering what is right for our clients.
We passionately support our clients in the success of their projects while working collaboratively to share skill sets and solve problems. At Methods we have fun while working hard; we are not afraid of making mistakes and learning from them.
Methods are experts in delivering secure, resilient cyber and information services – keeping systems and data safe.
We help reduce risk and vulnerabilities from cyber-attacks by developing a security road-map tailored to your unique needs.
We help organisations improve processes such as threat management by building an identity management programme, and establishing prevention, detection and response capabilities to cyber-attacks.
The Role:
As a Technical Architect, the position provides a focal point in delivering enterprise scale infrastructure services to Methods BDT customers. The objective of the Technical Architect is to work with customers and delivery teams to create technology solutions that meet the customer's objectives while supporting the company's goal of growing the business through profitable, well-structured engagements across the required technology domains.
Typically involved in the post-sales stage of a customer engagement, the Technical Architect is responsible for conceptualising and designing the overall solution to a detailed level, and where necessary for delivering and supporting major elements of that solution on customer site. The role calls for a strong generalist: an architect with broad experience and skills across all aspects of enterprise IT, able to see the whole picture and bring the individual parts together into a coherent whole. That breadth is underpinned by deep knowledge of Microsoft Azure, supported by a good working understanding of container orchestration, identity management, networking, and data processing and storage.
Requirements
- Design, build and support enterprise scale Azure environments, including landing zones, governance and security
- Design and support hybrid infrastructure spanning cloud and on-premises environments, ensuring secure and seamless integration between the two
- Review, assess and provide guidance on customer environments through structured reviews, aligning recommendations with the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF) and Well-Architected Framework (WAF)
- Design containerised workloads on Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), including scaling, networking and storage integration
- Design Azure networking, including virtual networks, hub-and-spoke topologies, ExpressRoute/VPN and network security
- Design Azure data processing and storage services appropriate to the customer's workloads
- Apply an understanding of infrastructure as code (IaC) and CI/CD principles (DevSecOps / GitOps) to inform solution design and delivery approaches
- Bring together the various technology domains into a coherent end-to-end architecture that meets the customer's objectives
Experience Required
- At least 2 years in a customer facing role, delivering and supporting technology solutions based on Microsoft technologies
- Broad experience across all aspects of enterprise IT, with the ability to operate as a generalist across multiple technology domains
- Significant knowledge & experience of various Microsoft technologies, with extensive experience in Microsoft Azure
- Experience of leading technical workshops
Essential Skills
- Excellent presentation and communication (verbal and written) skills
- Ability to create a technical design (HLD / LLD) and guide engineering teams through its delivery
- A generalist skill set with broad knowledge across all aspects of enterprise IT
- Deep knowledge of Microsoft cloud technologies, in particular Azure
- Good understanding of container orchestration using Kubernetes (ideally AKS), identity management (Entra / Active Directory), networking, and data processing and storage
- Understanding of infrastructure as code (IaC) and CI/CD principles
Desirable Skills
- Knowledge of VMWare Cloud Foundation considered a bonus
- Hands-on experience with IaC tooling such as Terraform or Bicep
This role will require you to have active SC & the willingness to progress this to DV. As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard; details of the evidence required to apply may be found on the government website Gov.UK. If you are unable to meet this and any associated criteria, then your employment may be delayed, or rejected . Details of this will be discussed with you at interview
Benefits
Methods is passionate about its people; we want our colleagues to develop the things they are good at and enjoy.
By joining us you can expect
- Autonomy to develop and grow your skills and experience
- Be part of exciting project work that is making a difference in society
- Strong, inspiring and thought-provoking leadership
- A supportive and collaborative environment
Development – access to LinkedIn Learning, a management development programme, and training
Wellness – 24/7 confidential employee assistance programme
Flexible Working – including home working and part time
Social – office parties, breakfast Tuesdays, monthly pizza Thursdays, Thirsty Thursdays, and commitment to charitable causes
Time Off – 25 days of annual leave a year, plus bank holidays, with the option to buy 5 extra days each year
Volunteering – 2 paid days per year to volunteer in our local communities or within a charity organisation
Pension – Salary Exchange Scheme with 4% employer contribution and 5% employee contribution
Life Assurance – of 4 times base salary
Private Medical Insurance – which is non-contributory (spouse and dependants included)
Worldwide Travel Insurance – which is non-contributory (spouse and dependants included)
Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay
Travel – season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme
For a full list of benefits please visit our website (www.methods.co.uk/careers/benefits)
