Security Architect - DV Cleared - Perm

Sanderson Government and Defence; Farnborough; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced pension

Private medical insurance

Flexible working

Job summary

Sanderson Government and Defence in Farnborough is seeking a Security Architect with DV clearance to design and implement enterprise security architectures for defence IT environments. You will develop security strategies, lead programme implementations and ensure compliance with MOD security requirements in a challenging, mission-critical setting.

You'll apply deep expertise in risk management, cloud and network security, and defence standards to build resilient architectures and secure SDLC

Qualifications

• 12+ years of information security experience with 5+ years in architecture.
• Proven ability to design enterprise-scale security architectures.
• Strong background in defence, aerospace or government security programmes.
• Expertise in security operations, incident response and threat management.
• Proficiency in cloud security (AWS/Azure) and security tooling.
• Knowledge of ISO 27001, NIST CSF and related standards.

Responsibilities

• Design enterprise security architectures across network, data, and applications.
• Lead security strategy development and architecture design reviews.
• Architect integrated defence-in-depth solutions aligned with MOD requirements.
• Support security governance, risk assessments and compliance activities.
• Lead security technology evaluations and implementation programmes.

Skills

12+ years information security

5+ years architecture

security operations

incident response

threat management

cloud security

defence/ gov security

Tools

MOD security requirements

Job description

Security Architect - DV Cleared Location: Farnborough, Hampshire, UK Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time Security Clearance: Developed Vetting (DV) - Essential Salary: £70,000 - £85,000 Benefits

About the Role

The Security Architect designs and implements comprehensive security architectures protecting defence and aerospace IT environments. You will develop enterprise security strategies, lead security programme implementations, architect integrated defence-in-depth solutions, and ensure compliance with stringent MOD security requirements. This role demands exceptional expertise in security architecture, risk management and defence security standards.

Key Responsibilities

Security Strategy & Architecture Design holistic security architectures incorporating people, process and technology security Develop enterprise-wide security strategies aligned with MOD Classification Guides and Defence Security Policy Architect defence-in-depth security solutions across network, application, data and endpoint layers Lead security architecture reviews and technical security assessments Design zero-trust security models and continuous verification frameworks Cyber Threat & Risk Management Assess cyber threat landscape and design threat-informed security architectures Lead security risk assessments and vulnerability management programmes Design incident response, threat intelligence and cyber defence capabilities Architect security monitoring, detection and response solutions Design business continuity and cyber resilience frameworks Compliance & Standards Implementation Ensure security architectures comply with MOD security requirements and ITAR regulations Design security solutions supporting Information Security Management System (ISMS) compliance Architect compliance and audit capabilities for regulatory reporting Lead security standards implementation and controls frameworks Security Solutions & Integration Architect endpoint protection, data loss prevention (DLP) and advanced threat protection solutions Design cloud security architectures supporting hybrid and multi-cloud environments Architect application security, API security and secure SDLC integration Design security operations centre (SOC) capabilities and security information and event management (SIEM) Lead security technology evaluation and implementation programmes Technical Leadership & Governance Lead security technical teams and provide architectural mentoring Establish security design standards, architecture patterns and operational governance Drive technical decision-making through security design reviews Document security architecture decisions and design specifications Customer & Stakeholder Engagement Serve as technical authority for security architecture discussions with customer leadership Present security recommendations to defence programme teams and executive stakeholders Lead security architecture workshops and customer engagement activities Communicate complex security concepts to technical and non-technical audiences

Essential Requirements

Experience & Expertise Minimum 12 years' information security experience with 5 years in architecture role Proven experience designing enterprise-scale security architectures Strong background in defence, aerospace or government security programmes Demonstrated expertise with security operations, incident response and threat management Track record of leading security transformation and programme implementations Technical Knowledge Deep expertise in security architecture frameworks, methodologies and best practices Expert-level knowledge of network security, endpoint security and application security Strong understanding of threat models, attack vectors and defence-in-depth strategies Proficiency in cloud security (AWS, Azure security, or equivalent) Knowledge of security tools (SIEM, DLP, EDR, WAF, firewalls, etc.) Understanding of cryptography, encryption and security protocols Familiarity with MOD security requirements, Classification Guides and defence standards Knowledge of compliance frameworks (ISO 27001, NIST CSF, etc.) Personal Attributes Exceptional strategic thinking combined with strong technical depth Outstanding communication and stakeholder engagement skills Strong problem-solving and analytical capabilities Proven ability to lead technical teams and influence executive stakeholders Passion for security excellence and continuous improvement

Desirable Requirements

Experience with defence or aerospace security programmes CISSP, CISM, CCSK or equivalent security certifications AWS Security or Azure Security certifications Experience with security governance and compliance frameworks Knowledge of ITAR compliance and export controls Armed Forces or military security background

What We Offer

Highly competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package Enhanced pension and private medical insurance Flexible working and professional development support Opportunity to architect security for mission-critical defence organisations Reasonable Adjustments: Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.