PAM Architect

Job title: Privileged Access Management (PAM) Architect/SME
- Cyber Ark

Location: UK-Based
- Travel to secure customer sites required

Contract Duration: Until end of March 2027 - Likely extension

Rate: Competitive/Negotiable depending on experience

Clearance Required: Active SC required with a willingness to under-go DV

IR35 Status: Inside IR35

Role Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Privileged Access Management (PAM) Architect/Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support a major programme within a highly secure UK Defence environment.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the architecture, design, implementation and optimisation of enterprise-scale Privileged Access Management solutions, with a particular focus on Cyber Ark.

This role requires a combination of strategic architectural expertise, hands‑on technical delivery and strong stakeholder engagement, working across complex, high-assurance environments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the architecture, design and implementation of Cyber Ark PAM solutions across complex, on‑premise enterprise environments.
• Act as the technical Subject Matter Expert for Privileged Access Management, providing guidance on security best practices, standards and emerging technologies.
• Design, deploy and optimise Cyber Ark solutions, including Privileged Access Security (PAS), Privilege Cloud and associated components.
• Define and implement privileged access policies, credential life cycle management, session monitoring and secure vaulting strategies.
• Produce comprehensive technical documentation, including High‑Level Designs (HLDs), Low‑Level Designs (LLDs), security architecture documentation and operational runbooks.
• Collaborate with security, infrastructure and application teams to integrate PAM controls into existing enterprise environments.
• Conduct security assessments, gap analyses and remediation activities aligned with recognised standards, including NIST and ISO 27001.
• Support security audits, regulatory compliance and governance requirements.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring and guidance to internal engineering and security teams.
• Engage directly with stakeholders and attend secure customer sites as required to support successful delivery.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, automation and enhanced security capabilities.

Essential

Skills & Experience:

• Proven experience working as a PAM Architect, Cyber Ark Architect or Senior PAM SME.
• Extensive hands‑on experience designing, implementing and supporting enterprise Cyber Ark solutions.
• Strong technical knowledge of Cyber Ark components, including:
• Privileged Access Security (PAS)
• Central Policy Manager (CPM)
• Privileged Session Manager (PSM)
• Password Vault Web Access (PVWA)
• Privileged Threat Analytics (PTA)
• Demonstrable experience delivering enterprise‑scale PAM architecture and implementations.
• Strong experience producing HLDs, LLDs, security architecture documents and implementation runbooks.
• In‑depth understanding of Identity and Access Management (IAM), privileged credential life cycle management and least privilege security principles.
• Experience implementing privileged session isolation, monitoring, recording and secure credential vaulting.
• Experience integrating Cyber Ark with Active Directory, LDAP, SIEM and ITSM platforms.
• Strong understanding of enterprise security frameworks, standards and compliance requirements.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and technical leadership skills.
• Ability to operate independently across both architectural design and hands‑on implementation.

Desirable

Skills & Experience:

• Previous experience delivering PAM solutions within UK Defence, Aerospace or other highly regulated environments.
• Experience with Cyber Ark Privilege Cloud and cloud‑based PAM…