Security Architecture Consultant

Leonardo; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 44,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Time to Recharge

Pension scheme

Mental health support

Flexible working

Job summary

Leonardo UK is seeking a Cyber Security Architect to join the Cyber & Security Solutions Division in a hybrid role based in Bristol. You will design secure architectures for major programmes, translating business outcomes into robust security controls from the outset, working closely with customers and delivery teams.

You will engage engineers, managers and senior stakeholders, assess risks, and shape secure solutions while contributing to reusable architectural patterns and offerings.

Qualifications

• Experience translating complex IT/security requirements into clear solutions.
• Ability to communicate with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Consulting mindset with focus on high-quality outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Build trusted relationships with customers and understand their missions and environments.
• Engage with engineers, project managers, security professionals and senior stakeholders.
• Analyze IT environments and apply security principles and frameworks to real-world systems.
• Identify architectural risks, threats and vulnerabilities; explain trade-offs clearly in business terms.
• Define secure, layered architectures and recommend practical controls for project delivery.
• Review designs for compliance and support security governance and assurance activities.
• Contribute to reusable patterns and provide technical leadership in bids and shaping solutions.

Skills

Strong communication

Stakeholder engagement

Consulting mindset

Security architecture

Risk assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

TOGAF

AWS/Azure

Job description

Job Description:

Salary Range: £44,171 - £63,000

Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.

Your impact

Are you a network, systems,cloudor software engineer looking to take the next step intocyber security consultancy?
Do you enjoy solving complex technical problems, working with customers, and influencing how systems are designed-not just built?

Leonardo UK is looking for a Cyber Security Architectto join our Cyber & Security Solutions Division. This role is ideal for experienced IT professionals who want tobroaden their impact, move into aconsultative role, and help shape secure solutions for some of the UK’s most critical and complex environments.

Whatyou’llbe doing:

As a Cyber Security Architect,you’llwork at thedesign and decision-making layerof major programmes. Rather than focusing on day-to-day operations,you’llhelp customers build security in from the start-translating technical realities and businessobjectivesinto clear, robust, and proportionate security architectures.

You’llwork in acollaborative, agile consultancy environment, blending home and on-site working, and engaging closely with customers, deliveryteamsand fellow specialists.

Your role inpractice:

You’lluse your technical background to:

Work with customers

• Build trusted relationships and understand customer missions,constraintsand operating environments
• Engage confidently with engineers, project managers, securityprofessionalsand senior stakeholders

Understand complex systems

• Analyse existing and proposed IT environments, even where information is incomplete
• Apply recognised security principles, architecturalpatternsand frameworks to real-world systems

Think in terms of risk

• Identifyarchitectural risks,threatsand vulnerabilities
• Explain security trade-offs in clear, business-relevant languagerather thanjust technical detail

Design secure solutions

• Define layered, secure by designarchitectures across people,processand technology
• Recommend practical security controls and patternsthat willsupportprojectdelivery

Provide assurance

• Review designs and implementations against agreed standards and regulatory expectations
• Support architecture governance,complianceand security assurance activities

Grow the practice

• Contribute to reusable architectural patterns,frameworksand offerings
• Provide technical leadership in bids,proposalsand early solution shaping

Whatyou’llbring

This role suits experienced engineers or consultants who are comfortable with complex systems and are ready tostep into a broader, more influential security role.

Core strengths

• Strong communicationand stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly and confidently
• A consulting mindset: adaptable,dependableand focused on high-quality outcomes
• Enjoy working collaboratively and supporting the development of others

Technical background

• Solid understanding of core IT fundamentals such as TCP/IP, networking,protocolsand system interactions
• Experience designing or supporting complex IT, cloud,applicationor networked systems
• Ability to decompose large systems into logical, secure architectural components

Security and architecture

• Experience translating high-level functional or missionobjectivesinto technical or security requirements
• Understanding of security controls, threatmitigationand architectural trade-offs
• Ability to justifywhya control or design decision is needed — to both technical and non-technical audiences

Additionalexperience (beneficial, not essential)

• Previousexposure to security architecture, riskassessmentor design assurance
• Experience mentoring junior engineers,architectsor consultants
• Familiarity with UK MOD,defenceor national security environments

Certifications

We value practical experience, but relevant certifications are welcomed, such as:

• Security+: CISMP, CCSP
• TOGAF
• AWS or Azure cloud certifications

This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS).Anadditionalrange of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV).For more information and guidance please visit:

https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whetheryou’relooking to grow professionally, care for your health, orplan for the future,we’rehere to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge: Enjoygenerous leavewiththe opportunity toaccrueup to 12additionalflexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance : All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning : Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks : Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Primary Location:

GB - Bristol - Coldharbour Lane

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid