Chief Security Architect

Chief Architect – Cyber Security Architecture & Assurance (DV Cleared)

£120,000 - £140,000 DOE

A boutique defence consultancy is seeking a Chief Architect to lead cyber security architecture and assurance across sensitive defence and national security programmes. This is a senior client-facing role for someone who can set architectural direction, provide design authority, and lead assurance activity in highly secure, mission-critical environments.

The successful candidate will shape secure-by-design solutions, oversee architecture governance, support bids and growth, and act as a trusted advisor to defence clients and senior stakeholders. The role requires active DV clearance and substantial on-site delivery in secure locations.

Responsibilities

• Lead cyber security architecture and assurance across multiple defence programmes, providing senior technical oversight and direction.
• Act as design authority for secure systems and platforms, identifying risks and driving proportionate mitigation.
• Define security architecture standards, principles, and reusable patterns across consultancy engagements.
• Support governance, accreditation, RMADS, and wider assurance activities with clients and authorities.
• Work with senior stakeholders to turn security requirements into practical, scalable architectural outcomes.
• Contribute to bids, solution shaping, and capability growth within the consultancy.
• Mentor consultants and architects, helping build a high-performing cyber architecture capability.

Experience required

• Strong background in senior security architecture roles within defence, national security, or government.
• Proven experience leading cyber security architecture assurance for complex, high-assurance systems or programmes.
• Deep knowledge of secure system design, threat modelling, risk management, and architecture review.
• Experience working within defence or HMG security frameworks and formal assurance processes.
• Strong stakeholder skills, with the credibility to operate across client leadership, technical teams, and delivery functions.

Skills and qualifications

• Broad security architecture expertise across enterprise, solution, cloud, infrastructure, application, and data domains.
• Strong understanding of assurance, governance, and secure-by-design delivery in classified environments.
• Active DV clearance is essential
• Certifications such as CISSP, CISM, SABSA, TOGAF, or equivalent are desirable.
• Must hold ChCSP (Security Architecture) or equivalent UKCSC Chartered title and supporting evidence.