Principal Security Architect

On behalf of the MOD, we are looking for a Principal Security Architect (Inside IR35) contract until 31st March 2027 based hybrid in Corsham or London (occasional onsite attendance as required). As Principal Security Architect, you will play a key role in shaping and assuring the security of complex systems and services across the MOD. You will provide strategic security leadership, influence enterprise level decisions and work closely with senior stakeholders to ensure security is embedded throughout major transformation programmes.

Working across multiple projects and technologies, you will drive security best practice, support risk based decision making and help define the long term security architecture vision for the organisation. As a Principal Security Architect, your main responsibilities will be to:

• Work on projects with high strategic impact, setting a strategy that can be used in the long term and across the breadth of the organisation.
• Communicate with a broad range of senior stakeholders and be responsible for defining the vision, principles and strategy for security architects.
• Recommend security design across several projects or technologies, up to an organisational or inter-organisational level.
• Have a deep and evolving level of technical expertise, so you can act as an exemplar.
• Make and influence important business and architectural decisions.
• Research, identify, validate and adopt new technologies and methodologies.
• Be a recognised expert and demonstrate this expertise by solving unprecedented issues and problems.
• Further the profession, demonstrating and sharing best practice within and outside the organisation.

PLEASE NOTE: SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role, as a minimum you must be willing & eligible to undergo checks. Please note, due to the exceptional requirements of this position (short-term nature of this role and speed at which we require a postholder in situ) preference may be given to candidates who meet all of the essential criteria and hold active security clearance.

Essential:

• Extensive Security Architecture experience within complex enterprise environments.
• Minimum 5 years' experience leading the secure design of products, services and solutions.
• Experience designing, reviewing and assuring secure systems and architectures.
• Strong understanding of security risk management, governance, compliance and assurance.
• Ability to influence senior business and technical stakeholders and communicate complex security concepts effectively.
• Experience defining security strategy, standards and governance across large programmes, organisations or transformation initiatives.
• Ability to lead risk based security decision making and act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders.
• Deep cyber security expertise across multiple security domains.

Desirable:

• Public sector or defence experience
• CCSP, TOGAF, SABSA or equivalent

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident

As a Disability Confident employer, the MOD encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent candidates. Applications from candidates who identify as having a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant

As a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, the MOD welcome applications from veterans, service leavers, reservists and military spouses or partners. Applications from eligible candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.