Architect (Hybrid Working) in Surrey

SOC Architect (SC CLEARED) Start: ASAP Duration: 6-9 months Location: Surrey (travel to site 1-2 days every 2 weeks) Rate: up to £710 p/day (inside IR35) We are seeking an experienced Senior SOC Architect to join a Defence-focused project, designing and delivering Security Operations Centre solutions for customers. This is a senior, client-facing role for someone with proven SOC architecture experience who can shape solutions across Services, People, Policy & Process, Technology, and Physical Infrastructure. Key responsibilities Engage with client stakeholders to define security requirements, including accreditation requirements. Architect SOC solutions and contribute to CONOPS, high-level, low-level, and deployment-level designs. Support the design, deployment, and configuration of security tools. Assess existing SOC deployments and client capabilities to improve security maturity. Lead solution architecture across the SOC lifecycle, from concept through to deployment and operation. Work with product specialists and technical teams to deliver secure, scalable, and resilient solutions. Key skills & experience Proven experience in SOC Architecture within a senior role. Experience designing, building, and deploying SOC technology, including at least two of SIEM, SOAR, EDR, Vulnerability Management, or Threat Intelligence. Strong understanding of Security Operations best practice, secure architecture principles, and risk assessment. Experience with on-premises and cloud security architectures. Experience working with Government systems and senior stakeholders. Familiarity with architectural frameworks such as TOGAF or Zachman. Experience across Agile, Lean, iterative/incremental, and Waterfall delivery environments. Defence experience highly desirable. Current UK SC clearance essential. Important The role is Surrey-based with travel to client sites. The current on-site requirement is 1-2 days every 2 weeks, but this may increase to a couple of weeks per month as the project ramps up. Candidates must be flexible and willing to travel. If you are a senior SOC Architect with strong Defence or Government experience, we would be keen to hear from you. JBRP1_UKTJ