National Physical Laboratory (NPL)
Telecoms Architect
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About the Role
Salary for UKTL specialist roles are benchmarked against the external market and may include additional compensation to recognise in-demand technical expertise.
Shape the Future of Telecoms Security
At UK Telecoms Lab (UKTL), we're building the UK's leading capability for telecoms security testing and research. As a Telecoms Architect, you'll play a pivotal role in identifying, evaluating, and shaping the technologies that will underpin the future of communications.
This is more than a traditional architecture role. You'll be at the forefront of emerging telecoms technologies, working across industry, government, vendors, operators, and academia to understand what's next, assess security implications, and help define how the UK's telecoms ecosystem can be made more secure and resilient.
If you're passionate about telecoms innovation, enjoy solving complex technical challenges, and want the opportunity to influence the industry's future direction, we'd love to hear from you.
What You'll Be Doing
As our Telecoms Architect, you'll become a trusted technical authority across UKTL, providing architectural leadership and helping shape our technology and security research roadmap.
You'll:
- Identify and evaluate emerging telecoms technologies for future security testing and research programmes.
- Mentor colleagues and help develop technical capability across the wider organisation.
- Work closely with Research, Testing, Engineering, and Programme teams to bring new technologies into the lab environment.
- Evaluate new products, technologies, and vendor solutions through proof-of-concept and assessment activities.
- Design secure, scalable, and resilient architectures that support UKTL's testing and research objectives.
- Define and maintain the technical roadmap for systems under test, ensuring UKTL remains at the cutting edge of telecoms security.
- Lead architectural governance activities, including design reviews and technical assurance.
- Analyse new technologies and identify potential vulnerabilities, security challenges, and research opportunities.
- Build strong relationships with operators, vendors, researchers, standards bodies, and partner laboratories to support collaboration and knowledge sharing.
- Produce technical papers, reports, and presentations for both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Represent UKTL at conferences, industry forums, and customer engagements, sharing insights and influencing industry thinking.
Successful Applicants
Successful Applicants must be able to commute to the UKTL offices in Birmingham at least twice a week.
We strive to offer a great work life balance - if you are looking for full time, part time or flexible options, we will try to make this work where business possible. This will be dependent on the kind of role you do and part of the business you work in.
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About You
What We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who combines deep technical expertise with curiosity, strategic thinking, and a passion for emerging technologies.
You'll likely have:
- Significant experience in telecommunications architecture across mobile, fixed, and emerging network technologies.
- Strong knowledge of technologies such as 4G, 5G, RAN/Open RAN, Fixed Broadband, Private Networks, eSIM, and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN).
- Experience defining technology roadmaps and influencing strategic technical decisions.
- A strong understanding of cloud-native architectures, microservices, APIs, virtualisation, automation, and orchestration technologies.
- Experience designing secure, scalable, and highly resilient architectures.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and confidently.
- Experience leading architecture reviews, governance activities, and technical assurance processes.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, particularly within complex technical environments.
It Would Be Great If You Also Have
- Experience within telecoms security, assurance, testing, or research environments.
- Knowledge of cybersecurity frameworks and secure-by-design principles.
- A recognised Solution Architecture certification.
- Experience with Enterprise Architecture frameworks such as TOGAF or Zachman.
- Experience publishing technical papers, speaking at industry events, or contributing to telecommunications standards and working groups.
Why Join UKTL?
At UKTL, you'll have a unique opportunity to influence the future of UK telecommunications.
You'll work alongside leading experts in telecoms, security, and research, gaining exposure to cutting-edge technologies while helping strengthen the resilience and security of critical national infrastructure.
If you're excited by innovation, emerging technologies, and solving some of the most important challenges facing the telecoms industry today, this could be the role for you.
Please note: Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as practical.
We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in this specific area means that nationality, residency and security requirements are more tightly defined than others. To work in this role, you will need to hold an SC clearance with no restrictions. You are welcome to apply without already holding SC clearance; however, you will not be able to start in post until the clearance has been successfully granted.
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About Us
UKTL is building leading edge Telecoms testing facilities to keep our telecommunications networks safe, accelerate the roll-out of new technologies, and grow our world leading telecoms sector to maintain resiliency and security.
Read more about UKTL here!
Successful candidates will join a state-of-the-art facility and be supporting the team conducting testing and research on the latest technologies and innovations in the industry. You will work alongside our infrastructure and Cybersecurity professionals to ensure that the UK’s world class Telecoms infrastructure grows in a resilient and secure manner underpinning growth in other industry sectors.
As a trusted and independent national capability, UKTL interacts with standards bodies, Academia, and Government Departments as well as Communications Service Providers and equipment vendors.
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK. Find out more about what it is like working here - The measure of us - Overview
NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.
At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome. More about this on our Diversity & Inclusion page.
We offer a wealth of above industry standard benefits, such as enhanced pension scheme, flexible working, and more that can be found here rewards, benefits and recognition. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success. To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing
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