Lead Cyber Security Architect

Work Initiatives; North Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Work Initiatives is seeking an experienced Lead Cyber Security Architect to guide security architecture across hybrid ICT environments in a large Australian Government context. The role demands translating business needs into secure, integrated solutions with strong governance and risk discipline.

You will drive architecture artefacts, assess new technologies, and provide technical leadership to delivery teams while promoting secure-by-design principles and cross-team collaboration.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated capability designing secure architectures across hybrid environments.
• Experience implementing Zero Trust and secure-by-design principles.
• Security across Azure, AWS and on-premises environments.

Responsibilities

• Translate complex business requirements into end-to-end solution architectures.
• Develop architecture artefacts aligned with standards and roadmaps.
• Assess emerging technologies and inform cyber security strategy.
• Lead solution analysis with stakeholder input.
• Provide technical advice to resolve architectural risks and issues.
• Establish security standards and governance across the lifecycle.
• Build relationships with stakeholders and negotiate outcomes.
• Identify dependencies and plan long-term approaches in complex environments.
• Promote innovation, knowledge sharing and team capability growth.
• Support APS workforce with architecture capability development.

Skills

Secure architecture

Zero Trust

Cloud security

IAM

Encryption

Network security

Risk-based solutions

Job description

Locations:NSW, VIC, QLD, WA or SA
Working arrangement:Hybrid

About the Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Lead Cyber Security Architect to support a large Australian Government environment delivering critical services to Australians.

This senior role will provide security architecture and technical direction across complex ICT solutions, platforms and services, with a strong focus on secure-by-design architecture. You will operate with substantial autonomy, translating business and functional requirements into secure, integrated solutions while helping delivery teams manage architectural risks and meet organisational objectives.

Key Responsibilities

You will:

• Translate complex business and ICT requirements into conceptual, logical and end-to-end solution architectures.
• Develop architecture artefacts aligned with enterprise standards, technology strategies and architecture roadmaps.
• Assess emerging technologies and capability gaps, recommending practical options to inform cyber security and technology strategy.
• Lead solution analysis and incorporate stakeholder input into architecture options and recommendations.
• Provide technical advice and help identify, communicate and resolve complex architectural risks and issues.
• Establish security standards and governance across the solution lifecycle.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and negotiate effective outcomes.
• Identify dependencies and develop long-term approaches within complex and ambiguous environments.
• Promote innovation, continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
• Build architecture capability across the team and broader APS workforce.

Technical Skills & Experience

You will bring demonstrated capability in:

• Designing secure architectures across hybrid environments.
• Zero Trust, network segmentation and secure-by-design principles.
• Securing Microsoft Azure, AWS and on-premises environments.
• Identity and access management.
• Encryption and key management.
• Network security controls.
• Identifying security and architectural gaps and recommending clear, risk-based solutions.

Strong knowledge of relevant cyber security frameworks and standard is also important, including:

• ACSC Information Security Manual (ISM)
• Essential Eight
• Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF)
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework
• ISO/IEC 27001
• Applicable privacy requirements

Essential Criteria

Candidates must demonstrate the ability to analyse complex business issues within the cyber security domain, develop pragmatic and risk-based recommendations, influence stakeholders, collaborate across multidisciplinary teams and transfer knowledge to APS personnel.

Highly Desirable

Experience in one or more of the following areas will be highly regarded:

• Architecture principles and end-to-end solution design, particularly incorporating cyber security throughout the architecture lifecycle.
• Australian Government cyber security, protective security, resilience and architecture governance frameworks.
• Designing secure systems supporting critical government services.
• System and subsystem boundaries, centralised monitoring, security technologies and security automation.
• Presenting clear architectural advice and recommendations to senior governance bodies and executive forums.

Application Requirements

Candidates are required to provide a one-page pitch addressing the specified criteria, with a limit of 5,000 characters.