Security Architect

Sainsbury's; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK retailer is seeking a Security Architect to design and document security solutions within their Information Security team. You will work closely with technology teams to embed security best practices and ensure compliance. Key responsibilities include producing solution designs and supporting the integration of security controls. Ideal candidates will have a strong engineering background with at least 2-3 years of experience in similar roles, and expertise in network, cloud security or identity management. This role offers a hybrid working model and a generous benefits package.

Benefits

Colleague discount

Performance-related bonus

Health cash plans

Private healthcare

Qualifications

• 2–3 years minimum experience as a Security Architect or similar role in complex environments.
• Proven ability to produce and review security requirements and architecture diagrams.
• Deep expertise in a core security domain is required.

Responsibilities

• Produce key artefacts like solution designs and governance documentation.
• Support integration of security controls across platforms.
• Collaborate to ensure secure-by-design principles are implemented.

Skills

Solution design documentation

Network Security

Cloud Security

Identity and Access Management

Communication skills

Cross-functional team collaboration

Job description

The Security Architect is responsible for designing and documenting solutions across Sainsbury’s Information Security product stack, while working closely with the wider Tech community to promote and embed security best practices.

About the Team

Our Data Governance & Information Security team is at the heart of protecting the organisation’s systems, data, and people. We work across all areas of the business to identify risks, strengthen defences, and ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.

We value accountability, curiosity, and continuous improvement, and we’re passionate about building a culture where security is second nature. Joining us means being part of a team that tackles evolving threats, drives awareness, and helps the organisation remain resilient and trusted.

What you need to do :

We’re seeking a Security Architect with a strong engineering background to strengthen our Information Security team. You’ll play a key role in shaping secure solutions across Sainsbury’s security platforms and work alongside the wider technology community to embed robust security practices into everyday delivery.

Key responsibilities include :

• Produce key artefacts such as solution designs, technical evaluations, and governance documentation, ensuring that security is embedded throughout the solution lifecycle and aligned with the organisation’s strategy.
• Supporting capability roadmaps by evaluating current Information Security solutions and identifying areas for improvement.
• Supporting integration of security controls across infrastructure, applications, and data platforms.
• Lead and coordinate proof-of-concept (PoC) initiatives to ensure current Information Security tools and platforms remain aligned with organisational requirements, evolving threat landscapes, and long‑term security objectives.
• Supporting Information Security Solution Owners in gathering and refining security requirements.
• Collaborating with engineering teams to ensure secure‑by‑design principles are implemented effectively.
• Develop and maintain high‑quality documentation to support governance, audits, and compliance, while ensuring consistency across the Information Security team and alignment with broader Tech processes.

Essential Criteria

• Proven ability to produce and review solution design documentation, security requirements, and architecture diagrams.
• Deep expertise in one core security domain - preferably Network Security, Cloud Security or Identity and Access Management.
• 2–3 years minimum experience as a Security Architect, Security Solutions Architect, Engineer or similar role in complex enterprise environments.
• General knowledge of cloud security principles and zero‑trust models.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Ability to influence and guide cross‑functional teams in adopting secure practices.
• Awareness of governance, risk, and compliance considerations in design and delivery.

#LI-FP1

We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work‑life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. Think about the scale it takes for us to feed the nation. The level of data, transactions and variety it involves. Then you’ll realise that ours is a modern software engineering environment because it has to be. We’ve made serious investment into a Tech Academy and into setting standards and principles. We iterate, learn, experiment and push ways of working such as Agile, Scrum and XP. So you can look forward to awesome opportunities in everything from AI to reusable tech.

We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new - whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits. Here are some of them :

Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to get 10% off at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day. We've also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover. You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance‑related bonus of up to 20% of salary, depending on how we perform.

Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional holiday. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, interest‑free car loan of up to £10k, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, pay advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers. And if you ever need it there is also an Employee Assistance Programme, you will also be eligible for private healthcare too.

Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.

Please see for a range of our benefits (note, length of service and eligibility criteria may apply).