Security Architect

Version 1; Belfast; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Quarterly Profit Share

Mentorship & Career Development

Flexible/remote working

Private healthcare

Pension plan

Wellbeing & gym discounts

Job summary

Version 1 in Belfast is seeking a Security Architect to partner with government, financial services, and private sector clients to design security solutions addressing complex digital risks. You will translate threat landscapes, compliance obligations, and business constraints into practical security architectures across the full engagement lifecycle.

You will join our central architecture practice, embedding security thinking early in delivery, guiding and upskilling delivery teams on

Qualifications

• Designed and validated security architectures for enterprise-scale programmes across cloud platforms, application security, identity and access management, and system integration.
• Experience securing workloads on AWS and/or Azure, including network segmentation, IAM, encryption, secrets management, and security monitoring.
• Knowledge of AppSec practices such as secure SDLC, SAST/DAST tooling, API security, and container security within agile delivery contexts.
• Experience working directly with clients and senior stakeholders to assess risk, facilitate threat modelling, and build consensus around security approaches.

Responsibilities

• Translate threat landscapes, compliance obligations, and business constraints into practical security architectures.
• Lead threat modelling and security options analysis across the engagement lifecycle, from design to delivery.
• Embed security thinking early in delivery and upskill teams on secure-by-design practices.
• Present recommendations to architecture review boards and senior leadership.

Skills

Threat modelling

Security architecture

Client communication

Stakeholder management

Delivery team coaching

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

CISSP / CISM / CCSP (or equivalent)

Tools

AWS

Azure

SAST/DAST tooling

Container security

IAM management

Job description

Job Description

As a Security Architect, you'll partner with government, financial services, and private sector clients to design security solutions that address their most complex digital risks. You'll translate threat landscapes, compliance obligations, and business constraints into practical security architectures, working across the full engagement lifecycle from threat modelling, security options analysis, through to facilitating design sessions with delivery teams and presenting recommendations to architecture review boards and senior stakeholders.

Whether that's defining a zero‑trust approach for a government department, designing security controls for a bank's cloud migration, or guiding development teams through secure‑by‑design decisions, you'll bring both depth and pragmatism. Your background in cloud security, application security, and public sector compliance means clients can trust your advice on what works in enterprise environments.

You’ll join our central architecture practice alongside experienced Technology Principals and Solution Architects. Security in delivery teams is often under‑served; your role is to change that, not through gates and sign‑offs, but by embedding security thinking early and keeping it there. That includes guiding and upskilling delivery teams on secure‑by‑design practices, helping engineers and product managers build security literacy without slowing down delivery.

Qualifications

Essential Requirements

• Designed and validated security architectures for enterprise‑scale programmes across cloud platforms, application security, identity and access management, and system integration, producing demonstrable outcomes and owning the security design decisions.
• Experienced securing workloads on AWS and/or Azure, including network segmentation, IAM, encryption, secrets management, and security monitoring.
• Knowledge of AppSec practices such as secure SDLC, SAST/DAST tooling, API security, and container security within agile delivery contexts.
• Experience working directly with clients and senior stakeholders to assess risk, facilitate threat modelling, and build consensus around security approaches; able to communicate clearly with both technical teams and non‑technical leadership.

Highly Desirable

• Gov.UK and public sector compliance experience (GDS service assessments, NCSC guidance, UK government security classifications).
• Financial services security experience (FCA/PRA expectations, PCI‑DSS, secure integration patterns for core banking or payment systems).
• Working knowledge of NIST CSF, ISO 27001, CIS Controls, or SABSA; holding or working towards CISSP, CISM, CCSP, or equivalent.
• GenAI security experience (assessing and mitigating risks in AI/ML solution architectures, data exposure, prompt injection, model supply chain, output integrity).

Benefits

• Quarterly Performance‑Related Profit Share Scheme – employees benefit from a share of the company’s profits.
• Strong career progression and mentorship coaching through Strength in Balance & Leadership schemes and a dedicated quarterly Pathways Career Development programme.
• Flexible/remote working with generous flexibility to support work‑life balance.
• Financial wellbeing initiatives: pension, private healthcare cover, life assurance, financial advice, and an employee discount scheme.
• Employee wellbeing schemes: gym discounts, bike‑to‑work, fitness classes, mindfulness workshops, employee assistance programme, generous holiday allowance, enhanced maternity/paternity leave, marriage/civil partnership leave, and special leave policies.
• Educational assistance and incentives for certifications and accreditations (AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, Red Hat).
• Reward schemes including Annual Excellence Awards and a 'Call‑Out' platform.
• Environment, Social and Community First initiatives supporting local fundraising and development opportunities as part of diversity, inclusion and belonging schemes.

Version 1 is an equal‑opportunities employer. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace where everyone feels valued and able to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences, and we value the different perspectives people bring.

We want every candidate to have a positive and accessible recruitment experience. If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process, please contact [e-mail] – we will consider all requests carefully, respectfully and confidentially.

Video links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_d3ELTH5zo