Details
Reference number
418012
Salary
£60,300 - £70,730
New entrants to the Civil Service will start their role on the salary band minimum: £60,300 for National Roles and £64,300 for London Roles.
You may be eligible for an additional non-pensionable allowance, pending a Capability and Skills assessment, with a value of up to £20,100.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Grade 7
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
HO - Digital Data and Technology
Type of role
Architecture and Data
Digital
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Compressed hours
Number of jobs available
9
Contents
* Location
* About the job
* Benefits
* Things you need to know
* Apply and further information
Location
Croydon, Glasgow, Manchester, Sheffield, Southport
About the job
Job summary
Join the Home Office as a Lead Security Architect and steer the secure-by-design delivery of critical systems that protect citizens and national interests. Working with the Principal Security Architect, you will own security architecture for a major portfolio, translate business goals and threat intelligence into practical controls, and mentor SEO level architects to raise capability across multiple programmes.
You will engage senior stakeholders, balance risk against usability and cost, and shape patterns that let teams adopt cloud, DevSecOps, IoT and zero-trust approaches safely. If you can blend deep technical insight with clear, influential communication and enjoy turning complex risks into elegant, proportionate solutions.
This role offers the chance to make a tangible impact on services millions rely on every day.
Due to business requirements this post is available on a full time/flexible working basis. Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. Where this is the case, employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office. Applicants can raise any queries to the email address at the bottom of the advert.
We value diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from the widest diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We encourage applications from women, people with disabilities and LGBT+ as they are currently under-represented in the Home Office at this grade level. Appointments will be made on merit based on fair and open competition.
Watch this video to hear from members of the team talking about the projects they work on and their experience of working here.
Job description
As a Lead Security Architect, you will directly secure architecture across a portfolio worth hundreds of millions of pounds. Working with product owners, delivery managers and enterprise architects, you will ensure every new or changed service conforms to Home Office and NCSC standards while enabling rapid, user-centred delivery.
You will analyse emerging threats, advise on proportional mitigations, and produce or tailor reference patterns covering identity, network segmentation, container security, data protection, and monitoring. By modelling risks with frameworks such as ISO 27005, NIST, or STRIDE, you will rationalise design choices to technical and non-technical audiences and document them for reuse. You will champion "secure by default" in agile pipelines embedding IaC scanning, SAST/DAST, SBOM and cloud native guardrails so security becomes a quality attribute owned by delivery teams.
Through communities of practice and one-to-one coaching, you will nurture architects and engineers, acting as escalation point for complex design decisions. Finally, you will cultivate relationships with external suppliers, government peers and industry forums to import good practice and influence future standards, ensuring Home Office services remain resilient, cost-effective and compliant.
Person specification
Key responsibilities
* Set portfolio level vision & patterns in line with Principal Security Architect strategy, translating them into reusable templates and guardrails.
* Lead architecture reviews for projects, providing actionable recommendations and tracking remediation through to closure.
* Perform and interpret threat modelling / pen-test results, converting findings into road mapped improvements and measurable risk reductions.
* Advise on security controls for hybrid and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Kubernetes, serverless), balancing usability, cost and compliance.
* Mentor and quality assure Security Architects' work, fostering a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing.
* Engage senior stakeholders across technology, policy and operations, presenting security trade-offs in business terms and gaining consensus.
* Scan the horizon for emerging threats, tooling and regulatory change, recommending timely adoption or mitigation strategies.
* Oversee vendor and SaaS evaluations, ensuring contracts include appropriate security clauses and ongoing assurance.
Essential skills criteria
The essential skills are used to assess your demonstrable passion for Security Architecture, with the following skills or shown experience expected to be highlighted in your CV and Personal Statement:
* Secure system design leadership: demonstrable track record creating or validating architectures for largescale, high-risk services using recognised frameworks (SABSA, TOGAF, NCSC).
* Risk based decision making: expert in ISO 27001 / NIST / CIS controls, able to quantify and articulate risk, then select proportionate, cost-effective controls.
* Technical depth: hands on knowledge of cloud security, IAM, container & API security, network segmentation, encryption and DevSecOps toolchains; capable of explaining exploitability of complex vulnerabilities.
* Pentesting & threat modelling: scoping, overseeing and translating results into enforceable patterns and backlog items.
* Influential communication: proven ability to engage C suite and delivery squads alike, adapting style to gain agreement and drive secure by design culture.
* Mentoring & governance: experience line managing or coaching security architects/engineers and running architecture assurance or design review boards.
SFIA capability framework
Skills for the Information Age (SFIA) is the technical framework that sets the standard capability and development of all levels in the Home Office. This is a link to the capability framework: All skills A - Z English (sfia-)
We use set SFIA technical skills to form our interview questions and we will assess you against these technical skills during the selection process at interview.
The essential skills listed above are reflective of the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession Career Framework (based on the industry standard SFIA framework- Use the SFIA Levels of responsibility to understand what would be expected for each technical skill listed). Please see below for the relevant skills for your role:
Technical skills (SFIA):
We will assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
Strategy & Architecture:
Strategy and Planning
* Strategic Planning (ITSP) – Level 3
* Solution Architecture (ARCH)– Level 5
* Innovation (INOV) – Level 3
* Enterprise and Business Architecture (STPL) – Level 3
Advice & Guidance
* Consultancy (CNSL) – Level 4
* Specialist Advice (TECH) – Level 4
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Strategic Planning (ITSP) – Level 3
* Solution Architecture (ARCH)– Level 5
* Innovation (INOV) – Level 3
* Enterprise and Business Architecture (STPL) – Level 3
* Consultancy (CNSL) – Level 4
* Specialist Advice (TECH) – Level 4
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £60,300, Home Office contributes £17,468 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Why work for us...
* A highly competitive pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
* 25 days annual leave on appointment rising 1 day per year up to 30 days, plus 8 days public holidays and 1 day for the King's Birthday.
* Flexible working options to enable you to achieve the work life balance that is right for you including; Full time, part-time, flexi time, compressed hours and job sharing.
* A hybrid working model of a minimum 60% of your contracted hours in the workplace and 40% remote.
* A capability allowance reviewed annually.
* Training and development opportunities tailored to your role, including access to technical and professional accreditations.
* Access to funded qualifications (subject to approval)
* A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
* Enhanced parental leave schemes.
* Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards.
This link is to a short guide to employee benefits: Benefits - Home Office Careers
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.
As part of the application process, you will be required to submit both a Personal Statement (up to 1250 words) and a CV. Please note that both your CV and Personal Statement will be assessed as part of your application. It is important to ensure that both components are completed thoroughly.
Please note your personal statement should include all your relevant experience that relates to our essential skills criteria listed in the advert and role description. Use STAR format in your examples.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Remove information that identifies you (for example your name, age or place of education) so that you will be judged on merit alone and not your personal background, circumstances, race or gender. (Do NOT include e-mail addresses or links to online profiles, resumés, or prior work, either personal or business. Active links or e-mail addresses will result in your application being rejected).
Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. All applications are screened for plagiarism, copying, and generating of examples/ answers from internet sources including Artificial intelligence. If detected, the application may be withdrawn from the process.
Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving civil servants. Providing false or misleading information would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all civil servants.
Sift Stage
The sift will be held on the Personal Statement (1250 words) and CV.
Please read the essential skills for this position carefully. We will only consider those who meet the listed requirements.
Interview Stage
Candidates reaching the required standard will then be invited to attend a final interview. The interview will assess your Technical Skills using technical questions based on the SFIA Framework.
Candidates will also be required to prepare and deliver a presentation. Further details will be provided if invited to interview.
Sift and Interview dates
The sift will commence from 07/10/2025.
Interviews are expected to take place from 27/10/2025.(Subject to the Panel's operational requirements/priorities).
Interviews will be conducted remotely via MS Teams.
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application; however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Further information
Please read the essential skills for this position carefully. We will only consider those who meet the listed requirement.
If you have previously made an unsuccessful application for a role with the same essential skills and are not able to demonstrate how you have developed these skills since your last application please reconsider applying as your application is unlikely to be successful.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service / Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.
If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre- stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email
For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder listed in the advert for further advice.
NSV
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page
Reserve List
A reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.
UK residency and security requirements
Please note that all roles require Security Check (SC) clearance, which would normally need 5 years' UK residency in the past 5 years. Some roles will also require Developed Vetting (DV), which normally requires 10 years' UK residency, and/or police NPPV3 clearance.
However, in exceptional circumstances security clearance applications for candidates who have been present in the UK for at least 3 of last 5 years may be considered. Failure to meet the required residency requirement will result in your security clearance application being rejected.
Similar Roles
Job offers to this post are made based on merit. We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need to go through a further selection process providing the role has the same competencies and essential skills.
Visa sponsorship
We are unable to sponsor any individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas as we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License.
Capability and Skills allowance
The advertised role is part of the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession. This role has access to a digital capability-based allowance. Applicants who are successful at interview will be invited to complete a Capability and Skills Assessment (CaSA) post-interview. Any allowance awarded will be based on the assessment of your capability against the six skills advertised for this role. Please see the Home Office Pay Framework Allowance Careers page for more information.
The allowance values are set by the Home Office, subject to remaining in a qualifying role and are non-pensionable. This allowance is non-contractual, subject to an annual review and could be withdrawn at any time.
For both new entrants and existing civil servants, the total compensation offer is a combination of base salary and, if applicable, a capability-based allowance. New entrants to the Civil Service will start on the pay range minimum. For existing civil servants, our policies on level transfer and promotion will apply.
Working at the Home Office
Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people can bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.
We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.
Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.
Transfer Terms: Voluntary.
If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.
You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up.
For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. Learn more on our website. Security Checks - Home Office Careers
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.
Any move to the Home Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
Complete the "Assistance Required" section in the "Additional Requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you are deaf, a language service professional
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check .
See our vetting charter .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
* UK nationals
* nationals of the Republic of Ireland
* nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
* individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
* Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
* Name : AC Recruitment
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
Further information
If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance
If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission