Security Architect - Defence Security Clearance: SC cleared Location: Corsham – 2-3 days per week Rate: up to £650pd outside IR35 Duration: 9 months Exceed Cyber are working with a leading NCSC Assured Security Consultancy who require an experienced Security Architect to support the delivery of a large-scale Defence programme. This is an excellent opportunity to play a key role in shaping the security posture of a complex, high-profile environment, providing architectural leadership and Secure by Design expertise across a portfolio of critical projects and workstreams. The Security Architect will be responsible for: * Providing security architecture leadership and advice across assigned projects and workstreams. * Reviewing technical designs, architecture artefacts and delivery proposals to assess alignment with security requirements. * Supporting Secure by Design activity by embedding security considerations into project planning, design and delivery. * Defining, reviewing and validating security controls across relevant areas including infrastructure, endpoints, networks, identity and access, cloud services, integration boundaries and supplier-delivered components. * Identifying security risks, design weaknesses, dependencies, control gaps and assurance issues. * Providing risk-informed recommendations to project teams and Workstream Leads. * Supporting development and review of security cases, assurance evidence, risk positions and control mappings. * Contributing to architecture assurance reviews, security working groups, risk workshops and governance forums. * Supporting alignment with applicable MOD, HMG and NCSC policy and guidance, including relevant JSPs and Secure by Design expectations. * Ensuring security architecture remains coherent across assigned services, suppliers, projects and change activity