Cryptography Operations Engineer

Barclays; Knutsford; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Barclays in Knutsford is seeking an experienced Cryptography Operations professional within the CISO. This hands-on role focuses on encryption key management, cryptographic services across enterprise applications, and operation of HSM tools from Thales and Entrust.

You will work across Windows and Linux environments and participate in a 24/7 on-call rotation to safeguard cryptographic assets. The role emphasizes policy-driven security controls, risk management, and collaboration with

Qualifications

• Experience in Cryptography and Information Security.
• Experience in Key Management.
• Experience in HSM configuration/installation/support.
• Certificate management experience.
• Stakeholder management with the ability to influence and negotiate.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Manage cryptographic assets and ensure confidentiality, integrity and authenticity of data.
• Operate and support production-grade cryptographic applications and key management solutions.
• Collaborate across Windows and Linux infrastructure and data centres.
• Provide training content and document cryptographic designs and standards.
• Manage incident/problem/change/vulnerability aspects of cryptography services.
• Present complex information to leadership and stakeholders.

Skills

Cryptography

Information Security

Key Management

HSM configuration

Certificate management

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Tools

Thales HSM tooling

Entrust tooling

SharePoint

Confluence

JIRA

Job description

Join Barclays in Cryptography Operations within the Chief Information Security Office (CISO), where you will play a critical role in safeguarding encryption keys and cryptographic services that support secure, multi-tenancy encryption across multiple enterprise applications.

This is a hands‑on role for an engineer with excellent knowledge of symmetric and asymmetric cryptography, cryptographic algorithms, and policy‑driven security controls. You will work extensively with Hardware Security Modules, using Thales and Entrust vendor tools, and be responsible for operating and supporting production‑grade cryptographic applications and key management solutions at scale. You will also need to be comfortable working across complex infrastructure environments, with familiarity in both Windows and Linux servers. This is an excellent opportunity to grow technical and service managements capability in Cryptography within a supportive engineering environment.

The role follows anchor days on Monday and Tuesday and operates on standard UK hours (9 AM–5 PM), with 24/7 on‑call support rotation. The role will require off site working to support the implementation of equipment within data centres.

To be successful in this role, you will need the following:

• Experience in Cryptography and Information Security.
• Experience in Key Management.
• Experience in HSM configuration/installation/support.
• Certificate management experience.
• Stakeholder management with the ability to influence and negotiate at all levels.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy. Ability to make informed decisions under tight deadlines and manage multiple priorities effectively.

Some Other Highly Valued Skills May Include

• Relevant security or project management experience.
• Background in operational environments, IT Infrastructure, incident response and change management.
• Documentation skills for operational procedures.
• Familiarity with SharePoint, Confluence, and JIRA.
• Unix/Windows operating system knowledge.

You may be assessed on the key critical skills relevant for success in role, such as risk and controls, change and transformation, business acumen strategic thinking and digital and technology, as well as job‑specific technical skills.

Location of you role is Knutsford.

Purpose of the role

To manage and monitor the banks cryptographic assets, for all use cases, whilst ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of sensitive data, both through BAU support and On‑Call support as part of a 24/7 global team.

Accountabilities

• Collaboration with internal and external customers and stakeholders to understand and identify cryptographic needs across the organisation, sharing best practices including solutions to business applications and processes.
• Execution of security assessments and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities in cryptographic implementations and procedures and guide the implementation of mitigation strategies and communicate findings to relevant findings to relevant senior stakeholders.
• Implementation and monitoring of cryptographic solutions used in various banking applications to ensure they function correctly and meet the Cryptography Standard.
• Development of training content for colleagues to share expertise on cryptographic concepts, best practice and security procedures in line with Standards and Industry regulations Contribute to the creation of technical documentation and specifications related to cryptographic designs and implementations. Provision of subject matter expertise in cryptography methodologies.
• To manage and support the service management of cryptography solutions consumed by the Bank globally, in line with Technology Controls and Standards, including but not limited to Incident/Problem/Change/Vulnerability Management.
• Understanding of industry cryptographic principles including algorithms, protocols and technologies including symmetric and asymmetric keys, digital signatures, key exchange and encryption. Advocate the improvement and implementation of security controls when appropriate.
• Presentation of complex ideas effectively to technical and non‑technical audiences at all levels of Leadership.

Assistant Vice President Expectations

• To advise and influence decision making, contribute to policy development and take responsibility for operational effectiveness. Collaborate closely with other functions/ business divisions.
• Lead a team performing complex tasks, using well developed professional knowledge and skills to deliver on work that impacts the whole business function. Set objectives and coach employees in pursuit of those objectives, appraisal of performance relative to objectives and determination of reward outcomes
• If the position has leadership responsibilities, People Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.
• OR for an individual contributor, they will lead collaborative assignments and guide team members through structured assignments, identify the need for the inclusion of other areas of specialisation to complete assignments. They will identify new directions for assignments and/ or projects, identifying a combination of cross functional methodologies or practices to meet required outcomes.
• Consult on complex issues; providing advice to People Leaders to support the resolution of escalated issues.
• Identify ways to mitigate risk and developing new policies/procedures in support of the control and governance agenda.
• Take ownership for managing risk and strengthening controls in relation to the work done.
• Perform work that is closely related to that of other areas, which requires understanding of how areas coordinate and contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the organisation sub‑function.
• Collaborate with other areas of work, for business aligned support areas to keep up to speed with business activity and the business strategy.
• Engage in complex analysis of data from multiple sources of information, internal and external sources such as procedures and practises (in other areas, teams, companies, etc).to solve problems creatively and effectively.
• Communicate complex information. 'Complex' information could include sensitive information or information that is difficult to communicate because of its content or its audience.
• Influence or convince stakeholders to achieve outcomes.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.