Associate Enterprise Architect

GCHQ is an intelligence, cyber and security agency with a mission to keep the UK safe. We use cutting‑edge technology, ingenuity and partnerships to identify, analyse and disrupt threats. Working with our intelligence partners, we protect the UK from terrorism, cyber‑attacks and espionage. At GCHQ, you’ll do varied and fascinating work in a supportive and inclusive environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.

As one of our Associate Enterprise Architects, you’ll work with support from senior architects to develop and deliver GCHQ’s enterprise architecture. By translating organisational goals into actionable architectural strategies, you’ll lead design initiatives, proactively identify risks and constraints, and optimise environments across technology, data, and processes to deliver impactful solutions. The nature of our work means our technology must be cutting edge and is often unique to our one‑of‑a‑kind mission.

So, the opportunity for learning in this role is extensive, with lots of interesting challenges and plenty of development opportunities on offer.

Mentored by one of our Enterprise Architects, you’ll collaborate with delivery teams and stakeholders throughout the organisation, applying best practice and emerging approaches while growing your own skills. Every day, you’ll play an important part in helping teams deliver mission‑critical work as you contribute to designs and documentation and provide analysis. Working with technical and business teams, you’ll then collaborate to align solutions to their needs and our organisational strategies.

You’ll work with other architects, engineers, project managers and delivery leads across GCHQ. And sometimes, with support, you’ll liaise with external suppliers and partners. Please note that occasional travel will be required to sites across the UK to enable you to work closely with colleagues from all areas of the organisation.

Salary: £55,758 to £63,948 comprising a basic salary of £53,000 and a concessionary payment of £2,758. The exact salary offered within this range will depend on your skills and experience. An additional Skills Payment is available once your skills level is confirmed, £3,822 for Level 1 or £8,190 for Level
2. Once in role, there may also be opportunities to qualify for further allowances and additional skills‑related payments.

Flexible working: We recognise the importance of a healthy work‑life balance and offer a range of working patterns, including full‑time, part‑time, and compressed hours. While most of our work is carried out on‑site due to its sensitive nature, occasional homeworking may be possible depending on business requirements. We also support flexible start and finish times to help you manage your personal and professional commitments.

You’ll have practical experience working as an Associate Enterprise Architect, and we’re most interested in your support for our shared mission and how you’ve contributed to architectural work across technology, data, digital or business change initiatives. Whether that’s supporting designs, analysing impacts or documenting architectures, you’ll have gained practical experience in the field.

Your working knowledge of enterprise architecture comes from real delivery environments, where decisions are shaped by organisational goals, constraints and trade‑offs. Working with or deputising for senior architects in these environments has helped you build confidence in forming and explaining architectural viewpoints. And your curiosity means you’re eager to learn more.

Architectural standards, principles, and governance are familiar territory for you, and you've worked with at least one modern architecture framework/Standard (like Archi Mate TOGAF, Zachman or MODAF) to guide your work.

Sound communication and problem‑solving skills are vital in this role. You can analyse requirements, shape solutions at the right level of detail, and clearly articulate risks and trade‑offs to both technical and non‑technical audiences. You can also collaborate well, adapt as priorities shift, and manage your time effectively.

We’re proud to offer an inclusive and…