Active Directory Architect

MBDA UK Ltd; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 57,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence organisation in the United Kingdom is seeking an Active Directory Architect to lead the design and development of directory services in complex environments. The ideal candidate will have expert knowledge in Active Directory, Azure AD, and related security protocols. Responsibilities include defining architectural roadmaps and overseeing governance. The role offers a competitive salary of up to £68,000 along with a company bonus and a range of benefits including enhanced parental leave and training opportunities.

Benefits

Company bonus up to 21%

Pension contributions up to 14%

Enhanced parental leave

Subsidised meals

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of Active Directory and relevant services.
• Strong understanding of Azure AD and federation models.
• Experience with authentication protocols and security.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and optimisation of directory services.
• Define architectural roadmap for AD environments.
• Oversee governance and compliance across systems.

Skills

Active Directory Domain Services

Group Policy

Azure AD / Entra ID

Kerberos

PowerShell

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Tools

PowerShell

Ansible

Microsoft Exchange

M365

VMware

Job description

Bristol

We are seeking a highly skilled Active Directory Architect to lead the design, development and optimisation of directory services. In this strategic role you will shape the future state architecture of complex AD environments. Defining standards, best practice and ensuring our infrastructure remains robust, scalable and compliant.

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.

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