Senior Cyber Security Solution Architects (IT & OT) Services

Blue Pearl PTY LTD; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Pearl PTY LTD is seeking a Senior Cyber Security Solution Architect to lead architecture for IT and OT initiatives, spanning cloud, identity, networks, and data domains. You will define target-state architectures, standards, and roadmaps, and design secure systems for enterprise IT, SCADA, and critical infrastructure.

Your role includes Zero Trust, IAM/PAM architecture, and governance support to ensure secure project delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Cyber Security, Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications or Information Technology.
• Honours or Master’s Degree in Cyber Security, Information Systems, Engineering or Business Technology is preferred.
• At least one of CISSP, CISM, SABSA, TOGAF or CCSP is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead security architecture authority for IT and OT initiatives.
• Align and maintain cyber security architecture across IT, OT, cloud, identity, network, application and data domains.
• Develop target-state reference architectures, standards, patterns, principles and roadmaps.
• Design secure architectures for enterprise IT, ICs, SCADA, generation, transmission, distribution and OT networks.
• Define segmentation, IT/OT integration, secure remote access and third-party connectivity using Purdue and Zero Trust principles.
• Review and approve security architectures, solution designs and technical specifications; conduct threat modelling and architecture risk assessments.
• Develop Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, SaaS, hybrid and multi-cloud security architectures; guide secure adoption of AI, analytics, IoT and emerging technologies.
• Define IAM, PAM, authentication and authorization architectures and Zero Trust access principles.
• Guide SOC, SIEM, SOAR, XDR, EDR, threat intelligence, cyber resilience, business continuity, disaster recovery and ransomware recovery architectures.
• Support governance, audit, regulatory engagements, procurement security requirements, technology evaluations, proofs of concept and rationalisation initiatives.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Influencing

Negotiation

Decision-making

Problem solving

Team leadership

Vendor management

Programme leadership

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or IT

Honours or Master’s Degree in Cyber Security or Engineering

Certifications: CISSP/CISM/SABSA/TOGAF/CCSP

Tools

SIEM

SOAR

XDR

EDR

IAM/PAM

Job description

The Senior Cyber Security Solution Architect will serve as the lead security architecture authority for assigned IT and OT initiatives and perform the following services:

• Align and maintain cyber security architecture across IT, OT, cloud, identity, network, application and data domains.
• Develop target-state reference architectures, standards, patterns, principles and technology roadmaps.
• Design secure architectures for enterprise IT, ICs, SCADA, generation, transmission, distribution, critical infrastructure and OT networks.
• Define segmentation, IT/OT integration, secure remote access and third-party connectivity using Purdue and Zero Trust principles.
• Review and approve security architectures, solution designs and technical specifications and conduct threat modelling and architecture risk assessments.
• Develop Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, SaaS, hybrid and multi-cloud security architectures and guide secure adoption of AI, analytics, IoT and emerging technologies.
• Define IAM, PAM, authentication and authorization architectures and Zero Trust access Principles
• Guide SOC, SIEM, SOAR, XDR, EDR, threat intelligence, cyber resilience, business continuity, disaster recovery and ransomware recovery architectures.
• Support governance, audit, regulatory engagements, procurement security requirements, technology evaluations, proofs of concept and rationalisation initiatives.

Requirements

Key Performance Indicators

• Improvement in IT/OT cyber security maturity and security control coverage.
• Reduction and timely closure of high-risk architecture findings.
• Compliance of reviewed solutions with approved security architecture standards.
• On-time secure delivery of strategic projects and agreed architecture-review turnaround times.
• Reduction in cyber risk exposure and improvement in resilience and recovery capability.
• Adoption of Zero Trust and secure-by-design practices
• Identified security technology optimisation and cost-saving opportunities.

Qualifications and certifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Cyber Security,
• Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications or Information Technology.
• Honours or Master’s Degree in Cyber Security, Information Systems, Engineering or Business Technology is preferred.
• At least one of CISSP, CISM, SABSA, TOGAF or CCSP is required.
• GICSP, ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Expert, Azure Security Engineer Associate,
• AWS Security Specialty, CRISC, CISA or CEH is preferred.

Experience

• 10 to 15 years of cybersecurity experience, including at least 7 years in security architecture.
• Demonstrated experience securing critical infrastructure and working across both IT and OT environments.
• Experience in security operations, identity management, cloud security, network security and enterprise security architecture development.

Prerequisites and skills

• Strategic thinking, executive communication, stakeholder management, influencing and negotiation.
• Strong decision-making, problem-solving, innovation, team leadership, vendor management and programme leadership.
• Ability to operate as security design authority and collaborate with Enterprise Architecture, IT, OT, engineering, risk, procurement and project teams.
• Ability to produce clear architecture artefacts and communicate complex security risk to technical and executive audiences.

Technical requirements

• Demonstrated capability in enterprise security architecture, IT/OT convergence, ICs/SCADA security, Zero Trust, cloud security, network segmentation, IAM/PAM, threat modelling, security engineering and cyber resilience.
• Working knowledge of SCADA, DCS, PLC environments, industrial protocols, Purdue architecture and industrial cybersecurity controls.
• Practical application of ISO 27001, NIST CSF, NIST 800-53, ISA/IEC 62443, SABSA, TOGAF, COBIT, ISO 22301 and MITRE ATT&CK.
• Experience with SIEM, SOAR, XDR, EDR, vulnerability management and secure software development considerations.

Platforms and technology experience

• Microsoft Azure, AWS, Google Cloud and SaaS platforms.
• ICS, SCADA, DCS, PLC and industrial network environments.
• IAM/PAM and security operations technologies, including SIEM, SOAR, XDR and EDR.

Delivery point and working arrangement

• Clients sites and approved remote-working locations, as directed by the requestor and subject to operational and security requirements.
• Travel to IT, OT and critical infrastructure sites may be required where architecture assessments, workshops or assurance activities must be performed on site.

Security clearance and vetting

All resources will be required to undergo security clearance and vetting

TRAINING AND SKILLS TRANSFER

The resource must provide continuous knowledge transfer to nominated internal personnel through architecture workshops, joint design reviews, mentoring, walkthroughs of standards and patterns, and documented handover of all artefacts. A skills-transfer plan and competency or attendance record must be maintained, with formal handover completed before task-order closure.