Active Directory Architect

MBDA; Bolton; Hybrid; GBP 57,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence organisation is seeking a specialist in Active Directory to oversee the strategic design and governance of its directory services. The ideal candidate will possess expert knowledge of Active Directory Domain Services and a deep understanding of hybrid identity management. You will be managing complex multi-domain environments and contributing to the organization’s commitment to national and international defence initiatives. This role offers a competitive salary and a bonus structure.

Benefits

Company bonus of up to 21%

Pension contribution of up to 14%

Enhanced parental leave

Subsidised meals and free car parking

Excellent career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of Active Directory Domain Services, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, Replication, and Trusts.
• Deep understanding of Azure AD / Entra ID, ADFS, Hybrid Join and identity federation models.
• Strong background in Kerberos, LDAP, NTLM, and PKI-based authentication.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for strategic design and governance of directory services.
• Define and maintain the Active Directory architectural roadmap.
• Oversee complex multi-domain and multi-forest environments.

Skills

Expert knowledge of Active Directory Domain Services

Deep understanding of Azure AD / Entra ID

Strong background in Kerberos, LDAP, NTLM

Familiarity with PowerShell, Ansible

Integration knowledge across Microsoft Exchange, M365

Understanding of Zero Trust architecture

Strong stakeholder management

Tools

PowerShell

Ansible

Job description

Salary

Up to £68,000 depending on experience

Location

Bristol, Bolton or Stevenage

Dynamic working

1-2 days per week on-site due to workload classification and dependant on business need.

Security Clearance

British Citizen

This role will require DV Clearance. Restrictions and/or limitations relating to nationality and/or rights to work may apply. As a minimum and after offer stage, all successful candidates will need to undergo HMG Basic Personnel Security Standard checks (BPSS), which are managed by the MBDA Personnel Security Team.

What we can offer you

• Company bonus: Bonus of up to 21% salary
• Pension: maximum total (employer and employee) contribution of up to 14%
• Enhanced parental leave: offers up to 26 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave. Enhancements are available for paternity leave, neonatal leave and fertility testing and treatments.
• Facilities: Fantastic site facilities including subsidised meals, free car parking and much more…
• Training and Development: Excellent career progression, training and career development opportunities

The opportunity

The role will be responsible for the strategic design, governance and continual improvement of MBDAs directory services. Defining and maintaining the AD architectural roadmap. The role will oversee complex multi domain and multi-forest environments.

• Become part of a unique, well respected team of dedicated people that have been recognised within our company for its professionalism, dedication and flexibility.
• Having the opportunity to work both nationally and internationally, broaden your horizons by embracing the rich cultural diversity of our company.
• Be part of an organisation with a values-led culture that is committed to investing in its workforce with a personal development programme.

What we're looking for from you

• Expert knowledge of Active Directory Domain Services, Group Policy, DNS, DHCP, Replication, and Trusts.
• Deep understanding of Azure AD / Entra ID, ADFS, Hybrid Join and identity federation models.
• Strong background in Kerberos, LDAP, NTLM, and PKI-based authentication (smartcards, certificates).
• Experience architecting bastion forests and Just-In-Time / Just-Enough Administration (JIT/JEA).
• Familiarity with PowerShell, Ansible and automation frameworks for provisioning and compliance.
• Integration knowledge across Microsoft Exchange, M365, VMware and enterprise IT ecosystems.
• Understanding of Zero Trust architecture, identity threat detection, and SIEM integration.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing, and communication skills.
• Ability to translate complex technical challenges into executive-level decisions and investment cases

Our company

Peace is not a given, Freedom is not a given, Sovereignty is not a given

MBDA is a leading defence organisation. We are proud of the role we play in supporting the Armed Forces who protect our nations. We partner with governments to work together towards a common goal, defending our freedom.

We are proud of our employee-led networks, examples include: Gender Equality, Pride, Menopause Matters, Parents and Carers, Armed Forces, Ethnic Diversity, Neurodiversity, Disability and more…

We recognise that everyone is unique, and we encourage you to speak to us should you require any advice, support or adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

Follow us on LinkedIn (MBDA), X (@MBDA_UK), Instagram (MBDA_UK) and Glassdoor or visit our MBDA Careers website for more information.