Lead Architect - Network

• Title: Lead Architect/Cyber Security Analyst
• Location: Cheshire, UK - Hybrid (2 days per week in office)
• Pay Rate: Depends on Experience
• Type & Duration: Contract |12 Months Contract with OutsideIR35

Job Description:

Role Overview:
We are seeking a Lead Architect to drive the high-level and low-level designs for a complex Shared Layer 3 project.

The role involves technical leadership, secure architectural design, and ensuring alignment across IT and OT systems.

The architect will own designs, documentation, and decisions, providing guidance to both projects and less experienced architects.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as domain lead architect for Shared Layer 3, ensuring design integrity and secure-by-design practices.
• Translate business and risk requirements into secure architecture across IT and OT systems.
• Produce architectural artefacts (threat models, design patterns, blueprints) and ensure governance compliance.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to teams.
• Collaborate with architecture, cyber, and delivery functions for alignment and risk mitigation.
• Influence design and investment decisions with expert insight.
• Conduct security assurance activities (design reviews, architecture assessments).
• Maintain awareness of evolving cyber threats and security technologies.
• Lead end-to-end architecture, from outline to high/low-level design, for multi-million-pound deployments.

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Extensive IT experience: virtualization, directorate services, management, monitoring, updates.
• Some OT exposure desirable.
• Experience in cross-domain solutions is a strong plus.
• Proven track record in leading large-scale, multi-million-pound deployments of virtualization platforms, private clouds, and modern infrastructure.
• GCSE English and Maths (A-C) - certificates must be available for interview.