Technical Assurance Lead

Develop; Slough; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Develop is seeking a Technical Assurance Lead to support a major international defence programme with strategic technical oversight. The role focuses on maturing the Digital Assurance capability and defining assurance strategy, working with senior stakeholders in a high-assurance environment.

You will guide assurance across complex capabilities, review design and test activities, and produce formal assurance documentation in collaboration with clients.

Qualifications

• Must already hold active SC clearance.
• Experience leading assurance across complex programmes.
• Experience within Defence or CNI.
• Strong technical writing skills.
• Able to work 2 days per week on-site in Reading.

Responsibilities

• Develop and mature the client's Digital Assurance capability.
• Develop the programme's assurance strategy and assurance plan.
• Lead assurance activity across complex technical capabilities.
• Provide assurance during formal design reviews and test events.
• Review technical capabilities and provide robust professional feedback.
• Establish and maintain the programme's strategic technical baseline.
• Produce high-quality technical assurance documentation.
• Develop technical policies and supporting documentation where required.
• Engage directly with senior client stakeholders.
• Establish and communicate expectations around technical assurance.
• Support activities relating to Authorisation to Operate (ATO).

Skills

Technical assurance

Stakeholder management

Technical writing

Defence/CNI experience

Security architecture

Solution architecture

Digital assurance strategy

Job description

Technical Assurance Lead

Location: Reading 2 days per week on-site
Employment Type: Permanent
Clearance: Active SC Clearance required
Start Date: October/November 2026

We are currently recruiting for a Technical Assurance Lead to join a leading UK Cyber & Digital consultancy, supporting a major international defence programme.

This is a significant, long-term programme involving the UK, Italy and Japan, providing an excellent opportunity for an experienced technical assurance professional to work within a complex, high-assurance defence environment.

The Role

As Technical Assurance Lead, you will be responsible for helping to develop and mature the programme's Digital Assurance capability, establishing the assurance strategy and providing strategic technical oversight across the programme.

This is a strategic technical role, rather than a hands-on engineering or project management position. You will work closely with senior stakeholders and technical teams to establish assurance expectations, review technical capabilities and provide professional challenge where required.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and mature the client's Digital Assurance capability

• Develop the programme's assurance strategy and assurance plan

• Lead assurance activity across complex technical capabilities

• Provide assurance during formal design reviews and test events

• Review technical capabilities and provide robust professional feedback

• Establish and maintain the programme's strategic technical baseline

• Produce high-quality technical assurance documentation

• Develop technical policies and supporting documentation where required

• Engage directly with senior client stakeholders

• Establish and communicate expectations around technical assurance

• Support activities relating to Authorisation to Operate (ATO)

About You

We are looking for an experienced Technical Assurance Lead, Technical Architect, Solution Architect, Security Architect or similar who has operated within a defence, government or other high-assurance environment.

You will ideally have:

• Demonstrable experience developing technical assurance strategies and plans

• Experience leading assurance activity across a complex programme

• Experience within Defence or Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)

• Strong technical writing and documentation skills

• Experience reviewing and assuring technical capabilities

• Strong stakeholder management and client-facing skills

• Experience working across digital, technical and/or security domains

• A strategic approach to technical assurance and governance

Desirable Experience

Experience with the following would be highly advantageous:

• Authorisation to Operate (ATO)

• Defence networks

• Cyber security

• Security architecture

• Technical architecture

• Solution architecture

• Secure/high-assurance environments

• Technical policies and standards

• Complex international programmes

Essential Requirements

• Must already hold active SC clearance

• Must be a sole UK national dual nationality cannot be accepted

• Demonstrable technical assurance experience within Defence or CNI

• Experience developing assurance strategies and plans

• Experience leading assurance across complex programmes

• Strong technical writing skills

• Able to work 2 days per week on-site in Reading

The on-site requirement is non-negotiable.

What's On Offer?

• Permanent position

• Opportunity to work on a major international defence programme

• Exposure to complex digital, technical and security environments

• Opportunity to work directly with senior client stakeholders

• Significant influence over the programme's Digital Assurance strategy

• Long-term career opportunity within a major international defence environment

• Target start date of October/November 2026