Network Security Architect

Talent Smart; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm is seeking an experienced Security Solution Designer in Sheffield. This role focuses on owning and producing reference architecture for secure application and network security. The ideal candidate will blend application architecture and network security expertise, particularly in the financial sector. Strong communication skills and the ability to present designs at a senior level are essential. This position requires someone to be on-site up to three days a week, with an inside IR35 contract.

Qualifications

• Must have strong background in application architecture standards and designs.
• Solid understanding of network architecture and security is essential.
• Experience in producing high-quality architecture documentation is required.
• Financial services experience, particularly in regulated environments, is ideal.
• Strong communication skills to engage with stakeholders and regulatory bodies.

Responsibilities

• Produce reference architecture for application and network security.
• Ensure solutions are secure and compliant from design to delivery.
• Present designs and provide technical leadership across multiple programs.

Skills

Application architecture background

Software development understanding

Network security architecture experience

Financial services knowledge

High-quality architecture documentation production

Communication and stakeholder engagement

Knowledge of security frameworks

Experience in threat modelling

Education

Degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Software Engineering or similar

Tools

BizzDesign

Archi

UML

Jira

Confluence

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Security Solution Designer to work with a financial services client, combining application architecture and network security design in a highly regulated environment.

This role blends application-first architecture with deep understanding of how networks must be designed to securely support and protect applications.

The contract is inside IR35 and we need someone willing to be in the Sheffield office up to 3-days per week.

The Role

You will own and produce reference architecture for application and network security, with a strong focus on network segmentation, application protection, and security controls. Working closely with CTO teams, security architecture, engineering, and regulatory stakeholders, you will ensure solutions are secure, compliant, and fit for purpose from design through to delivery.

You will be comfortable operating at senior level, presenting designs at design authorities, and providing technical thought leadership across multiple programmes.

Essential Experience

• Strong application architecture background (standards, patterns, designs) – must-have
• Software development background with solid understanding of network architecture and security
• Experience combining application architecture and network security architecture
• Financial services experience, ideally within regulated environments (e.g. retail banking, hedge funds, challenger banks)
• Proven experience producing high-quality architecture documentation (standards, patterns, roadmaps)
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including interaction with regulatory bodies
• Deep knowledge of security frameworks such as NIST, SANS, ITU
• Experience with threat modelling, risk assessment, and audit support

Technical Focus

• Application security, SDLC and lower-environment security
• Network and application segmentation (including micro-segmentation)
• Zone-based network design and secure migration from legacy architectures
• Inter- and intra-zone controls : WAAP, NGFWs, NIPS / NIDS, DDoS, API gateways, reverse proxies, AuthN / AuthZ

Tools and Platforms

• Legacy and modern networking infrastructure
• Architecture modelling tools (BizzDesign, Archi, UML)
• Jira and Confluence

Qualifications (preferred)

• Degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Software Engineering or similar
• SABSA, TOGAF, or equivalent architecture certifications
• Network infrastructure and application security certifications (e.g. CEH)