Senior Security Architect (AD Level)

Associate Director, Security Architecture | Manchester (Hybrid) £85,000 - £95,000

This company are seeking a highly technical and autonomous Associate Director, Security Architecture to join its Information Security team. This is an assurance function that provides expert advice to create trust in technology development by assessing security risks with minimal friction. If you're a hands-on technologist who thrives on complex challenges that can work with little guidance, then please do apply.

Key Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will lead the tactical and strategic design and implementation of control sets for emerging technologies. They will review target architecture designs and meaningful changes—like application updates or network/identity modifications—to understand and document security risks. A critical focus is owning the continuous optimisation of team workflows using agentic technology and scrum tooling. The role requires independent execution on complex, multi-faceted security issues with minimal steering. This is a balanced role requiring contribution to people, process, and technology

Essential Requirements:

We are looking for a candidate who is a "hardcore technologist" with the following . . .

• A strong background including effective experience building and assessing enterprise systems. Deep conceptual understanding of AWS and Azure, and their identity platforms is essential.
• The candidate must have a strong understanding of OAuth, OIDC, and modern access control, with fluidity in designing and reviewing authorization flows. This requires strong familiarity with adversary tradecraft, including identity and network perimeter attack primitives.
• Prior experience in a hands-on technical vertical is preferred, such as offensive security/penetration testing—including the ability to produce PoC attack sequences —SOC operations, or orange teaming (building tooling for cybersecurity)
• The role demands an AI-first mindset and strong scripting or automation skills (Python, Go, PowerShell).
• Crucially, the candidate must have the ability to rapidly learn and adapt, and be comfortable being thrown into an unknown technology with a "blank page, unknown technology, go" mindset.

The company are a well known and established FinTech business with new offices in the centre of Manchester and offers a compelling blend of professional growth and an excellent work-life balance. Their products expose technologists to cutting-edge FinTech challenges, including the application of AI, machine learning, and big data analytics to complex financial modelling and risk management.

The Manchester office is often a key development hub, meaning you'll be working on global projects and high-impact technology solutions, rather than just regional support. Tech are required to work two days in the Manchester office with the other 3 being remote. Employee are also entitled to work from any location for up to one month once per year.