Principal Cyber Security Consultant

QinetiQ; West of England; On-site; GBP 76,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension programme with life assurance

Generous holiday allowance

Health Insurance and Dental Insurance

Employee discount portal

Job summary

QinetiQ is seeking a Principal Cyber Security Consultant to advise customers and senior stakeholders on cyber security strategies, with responsibilities spanning advisory work and bid support across multiple UK sites. Expect leadership in security maturity assessments and risk-driven decision making.

Role requires experience with frameworks like NIST, ISO27001 and MITRE ATT&CK, and mobility to travel for customer engagements. The salary range reflects experience and site flexibility.

Qualifications

• STEM degree or equivalent or relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide cyber security consultancy to customers and senior stakeholders, helping organisations understand and respond to evolving security challenges and business risks.
• Support the development of business cases and investment strategies by articulating the impact of cyber security risks on operational and organisational outcomes.
• Oversee and apply outputs of cyber security maturity assessments to identify strengths, areas for improvement and opportunities to enhance resilience.
• Interpret cyber security risk models, audits and assurance activities to support informed decision-making and effective risk management across environments.
• Assess cyber vulnerabilities and organisational security maturity using frameworks such as NIST, MITRE ATT&CK and UK Government guidance to provide actionable recommendations.
• Contribute innovative cyber security solutions, methodologies and bid responses that deliver value to customers and support business growth.

Skills

Cyber security consultancy

Stakeholder influence

Team leadership

Bid responses

Education

STEM degree

Job description

Package: £75,825 – £84,250 (salary dependent on experience) + Benefits

Role ID: SF20649

Are you ready to be part of the future? At QinetiQ, we’re not just imagining tomorrow we are creating it. From cutting-edge defence technology to ground-breaking innovations our mission is to empower and protect lives. Join us as a Principal Cyber Security Consultant at either our Portsmouth, Farnborough, Malvern, Amesbury, Lincoln or Bristol site, where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in partnership with some of the most brilliant minds.

The Role

As a Principal Cyber Security Consultant, you will have the opportunity to work with customers providing cyber security consultancy with business or operational impact.

Day-to-day, you’ll be involved in a multitude of cyber security activities including leading cyber security consultancy with key customers at a senior level influencing an organisation response to the developing security landscapes.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing cyber security consultancy to customers and senior stakeholders, helping organisations understand and respond to evolving security challenges and business risks
• Supporting the development of business cases and investment strategies by articulating the impact of cyber security risks on operational and organisational outcomes
• Overseeing and applying the outputs of cyber security maturity assessments to identify strengths, areas for improvement and opportunities to enhance resilience
• Interpreting cyber security risk models, audits and assurance activities to support informed decision-making and effective risk management across a range of environments
• Assessing cyber vulnerabilities and organisational security maturity using recognised frameworks such as NIST, MITRE ATT&CK and UK Government guidance to provide actionable recommendations
• Contributing innovative cyber security solutions, methodologies and bid responses that deliver value to customers and support business growth

Essential experience of the Principal Cyber Security Consultant:

• Extensive experience applying cyber security principles and best practices across business and operational environments to deliver secure, resilient and effective outcomes
• Previous experience providing strategic cyber security advice, developing business cases and shaping security strategies that deliver measurable organisational benefits
• Prior experience evaluating cyber security solutions, architectures and emerging approaches, including Zero Trust, while applying frameworks and standards such as NIST, ISO27001 and MITRE ATT&CK within complex environments
• Extensive experience in a range of different areas/activities
• Previous experience leading customer engagement and business development activities, creating competitive solution strategies and contributing compelling content to successful bid responses
• The ability to influence senior stakeholders, building collaborative relationships and leading teams through coaching, mentoring and effective delivery across complex programmes and projects

Essential qualifications for the Principal Cyber Security Consultant:

• STEM degree or equivalent or relevant experience

We value difference and we don’t have a fixed idea when it comes to background or education, provided you can show the required level of experience and willingness to learn then we would like to hear from you.

This role is 37 hours per week based at either our Portsmouth, Farnborough, Malvern, Amesbury, Lincoln or Bristol site with a minimum average site attendance of three days per week. Customer travel will be required.

Multi-Site

QinetiQ operates state-of-the‑art facilities across the UK that focus on defence, security and technology innovation. These facilities enable QinetiQ to conduct a wide range of research, testing and development activities that support both military and civilian applications helping to advance technology and support national security.

Why Join QinetiQ?

As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there’s never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation and having the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges.

As a QinetiQ employee, you’ll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experiences enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you’ll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in a diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential. Visit our website to read more about our diverse and inclusive workplace culture. www.qinetiq.com/en/careers/life-at-qinetiq

• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Generous holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional days
• Options to join Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance
• Employee discount portal: Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more
• We are proud to support the Armed Forces community by honouring the Armed Forces Covenant and maintaining our Gold Award standard in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme
• Volunteering Opportunities - helping charities and local community

Our Recruitment Process:

We want to make sure that our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible and we aspire to bring out the best in our candidates by creating an environment where everyone feels valued, heard and supported. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your Recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting being completed, applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment. A number of roles are also subject to additional restrictions, which means factors such as nationality or previous nationalities may affect the roles that you can be employed in.

Please note that all applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum.

UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)