IT Principal Architect

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Job Reference: HCC
624861
Salary Range: £65,895 - £73,902 per annum, plus Market Supplement of £7,000 per annum available for the right candidate (subject to review)
Work Location: Elizabeth II Court, Winchester (Hybrid Working)
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 13 September 2026

Please note applications will be reviewed once submitted, therefore this advert may close early depending on volumes of applications received.

Are you an experienced IT professional with a passion for architecture, innovation, and designing solutions that make a real difference?

Hampshire County Council is looking for an
IT Principal Architect to join our diverse and talented IT Delivery Team
, helping us shape the future of our services and improve the lives of people across the county.

As a senior member of the Delivery Architecture team, the Principal Architect is responsible for leading the design, assurance, and implementation of secure, resilient, and scalable cyber, infrastructure, and cloud solutions across a diverse and complex technology portfolio.

The role provides strategic architectural leadership, shaping technology direction and influencing key design decisions across multiple business and technology domains. Working closely with senior stakeholders, the Principal Architect ensures that solutions align with organisational objectives, architectural principles, and enterprise standards.

Acting as a recognised subject matter expert, the post holder will provide specialist guidance across a broad range of design domains, supporting the successful delivery of business and technology change. The role also carries responsibility for mentoring and developing Delivery Architects, fostering architectural excellence, knowledge sharing, and capability growth across the function.

A key aspect of the role is the establishment, maintenance, and governance of architecture standards, patterns, frameworks, and controls. The Principal Architect will champion best practice, ensure compliance with governance processes, and act as a role model for architects and technical specialists, promoting consistency, quality, and continual improvement across the department.

• Design robust, scalable solutions built on enterprise‑class platforms
• Deliver architecture and design documentation, ensuring alignment with standards
• Identify risks, issues, and constraints throughout the project lifecycle
• Work with technical and business stakeholders to shape projects from early stages
• Support the development of business cases through technical input and solution modelling
• Act as a trusted advisor across IT and the wider organisation
• Apply your knowledge of new and emerging technologies to identify opportunities for improvement
• Support the organisation during Local Government Reorganisation

You will be a motivated, enthusiastic architect with:

• A passion for architecture, design, and innovation
• Proven experience delivering architectural solutions in fast‑paced environments
• Strong presentation skills and the ability to explain complex ideas simply
• The ability to quickly learn new technologies and adapt to different ways of working
• Strong problem‑solving skills and an aptitude for understanding business challenges
• Experience in early‑stage technical shaping and project involvement
• Excellent stakeholder‑management skills and the ability to work independently
• A collaborative approach and enjoyment of team discussions and workshops
• Senior‑level technical experience across similar IT domains

Our benefits package includes details of the holiday entitlement, pension scheme, flexi-time scheme, family friendly policies and interest free travel loans and discounts. We offer a flexible, motivating and inclusive workplace. We have created an environment that you can look forward to being a part of, where you are empowered to be your best and a workplace built on teamwork where people can grow and develop in their roles.

Hampshire County Council offers a pleasant, supportive, and collaborative working environment.

Hampshire County…