At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the migration of legacy IAM systems to a cloud platform and manage a dynamic team.
- Company: Join Standard Life, a leader in retirement savings with a focus on innovation and flexibility.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, private medical cover, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working options available to suit your lifestyle.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by modernising security systems and enhancing customer experiences.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading IAM teams and knowledge of authentication technologies required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 85000 £ per year.
If you’re someone who enjoys modernising legacy platforms and improving security at scale, Standard Life could be the place for you. We’re looking for a Lead Identity and Access Management (IDAM) Engineer to join our Digital Engineering team.
Job Type: Permanent
Location: Hybrid in Birmingham, Telford, Edinburgh or London, with occasional travel to office locations as required.
Flexible working: All roles are open to part-time, job-share and other types of flexibility. We will discuss what is important to you and balancing this with business requirements during the recruitment process.
Closing Date: 10/08/2026
Salary and benefits: £70,000-£85,000 depending on experience, plus an indicative bonus range of 8–16%, private medical cover, 38 days annual leave, excellent pension, 12x salary life assurance, career breaks, income protection, 3x volunteering days and much more.
Who are we? We’re Standard Life, a retirement specialist focused entirely on retirement savings and income. We champion the belief that everyone’s journey to and through retirement can be better, and for more than 200 years, we’ve been helping our customers plan and prepare for their financial futures.
The role:
- As a Lead Identity and Access Management (IAM) Engineer, you will play a critical leadership role in modernising our identity platform, supporting the migration of our legacy on-premises ForgeRock AM solution to a cloud-based IAM service.
- You will lead a small team of internal IDAM engineers, providing technical direction, coaching and delivery oversight while ensuring the team can operate the platform safely, effectively and with increasing autonomy.
- You will also work closely with a strategic IAM vendor during the migration phase, helping to ensure successful delivery, knowledge transfer and alignment to our architecture, security and operational standards.
- Following migration, you will take a leading role in owning and evolving the IAM platform, managing ongoing change and ensuring it continues to meet the needs of our digital products.
- You will also act as the key internal interface with third‑party managed service support, ensuring effective escalation, coordination and resolution for complex fourth‑line support issues.
- A key aspect of the role is working closely with digital engineering teams to ensure identity services enable secure, resilient and high‑performing customer journeys.
What are we looking for?
- Experience leading IAM or IDAM engineering teams, including providing technical direction, coaching and day‑to‑day delivery oversight.
- Strong experience working with IAM platforms, ideally including ForgeRock AM, PingOne Advanced Identity Cloud or comparable identity and access management technologies.
- Experience leading or supporting the migration and modernisation of legacy platforms, preferably to cloud‑based solutions.
- Strong understanding of authentication and authorisation technologies such as OAuth2, passwordless authentication (FIDO2/WebAuthn), OIDC, SAML, MFA, SSO and federation.
- Experience working with third‑party vendors or managed service providers, including escalation management, knowledge transfer and complex fourth‑line support coordination.
- Ability to work closely with digital teams to deliver secure, resilient and well‑integrated customer‑facing services.
We Want To Hire The Whole Version Of You. We are committed to ensuring that everyone feels accepted and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If your experience looks different from what we’ve advertised and you believe that you can bring value to the role, we’d love to hear from you. If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please let us know so we can help you to be at your best.
Lead IDAM Engineer in Birmingham employer: Standard Life plc
At Standard Life, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that values flexibility and personal growth. With competitive benefits including up to £105,000 salary, generous annual leave, and opportunities for career development, our London-based team thrives in an environment that encourages innovation and collaboration. Join us as a Principal Cloud Architect and be part of a company dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the retirement sector while enjoying a balanced work-life approach.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead IDAM Engineer in Birmingham
✨Get Involved in the Cybersecurity Community
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✨Show Off Your Skills with Capture the Flag Competitions
Participate in Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions; these are not just a fun way to boost your skills but also a chance to showcase your talent to potential employers. Many companies, including Standard Life plc, love seeing candidates who actively engage in these challenges.
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✨Apply Directly Through Standard Life plc
Don’t forget to head straight to our website and check out any openings for cybersecurity roles at Standard Life plc. Applying directly can sometimes give you an edge, especially if you can mention that you've been following our work or engaging in the community.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead IDAM Engineer in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your technical skills:In cybersecurity, it's crucial to highlight your technical prowess. Make sure your CV showcases specific skills like network security, penetration testing, or threat analysis. If you have relevant certifications (like CEH or CISSP), pop those on the front page to grab attention!
Tailor your portfolio for the role:Even for a full-time role, a portfolio can set you apart. If you've worked on any cybersecurity projects—be it CTF challenges, security assessments, or research papers—include these in your application. This demonstrates not just your skills, but also your hands-on experience!
Use real-world examples:When writing your cover letter, don’t just stick to your qualifications. Share real-world examples of how you’ve tackled security issues or vulnerabilities. This gives the hiring team at Standard Life plc insight into your practical problem-solving abilities and makes your application memorable.
Demonstrate your passion for cybersecurity:Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, so show us that you’re always learning! Mention any recent courses, webinars, or industry events you’ve attended. This not only exhibits your enthusiasm but also signals to Standard Life plc that you’re committed to staying ahead in the game.
How to prepare for a job interview at Standard Life plc
✨Sharpen Your Technical Skills
For a role in cybersecurity, it’s essential to be up-to-date with the latest tools and techniques. Brush up on your knowledge of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and vulnerability assessment tools. Be ready to discuss specific scenarios where you’ve applied these skills, as hands-on experience can really set us apart in interviews.
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Expect the interviewers at Standard Life plc to throw in some hypothetical situations to see how you’d handle them. Think about common security breaches or incidents and be prepared to explain how you would respond. This not only shows your problem-solving skills but also your understanding of real-world cybersecurity challenges.
✨Highlight Your Certifications
Certifications like CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or CEH can give you a significant edge in a full-time role in cybersecurity. Make sure to mention these during your interview and be prepared to discuss what you learned through those certifications and how they relate to the position at Standard Life plc.
✨Show Your Passion for Cybersecurity
Since you’re going for a full-time gig, showing genuine enthusiasm for the field can make all the difference. Share any personal projects, blogs, or communities you’re part of that relate to cybersecurity. This not only showcases your passion but also your commitment to staying engaged in this ever-evolving field.
