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.