Security Lead

Job Title:

Security Architect – Joint Design Team (JDT)

Contract Length: Initial 6 months (strong likelihood of extension up to 9 months)

Start Date: ASAP (subject to BPSS checks)

Engagement Type: PAYE / Inside IR35 only

Location: Secure site, South of Reading (onsite 5 days per week
, full-time)

Security Clearance:
HLC – active and transferable

Nationality Requirement: British Citizen

We are seeking an experienced Security Architect to join a Joint Design Team (JDT), reporting directly to the Design Team Security Lead
. The role focuses on ensuring that Managed Service Provider (MSP) designs and implementations meet required security standards.

The successful candidate will play a critical role in reviewing solution designs, assessing security compliance, managing risk, and providing authoritative security guidance within a highly secure environment.

• Review high-level and low-level designs to ensure alignment with security standards
• Review MSP security compliance tests and assessments
• Review and contribute to security cases, risk assessments, and design decisions
• Undertake formal security assessments
• Act as Risk Management Software (STREAM) Administrator
  , including ongoing maintenance
• Provide clear, pragmatic security advice and guidance to stakeholders
• Ensure security considerations are embedded throughout design and delivery phases

Candidates must hold active and transferable (NSV) clearance that meets the following criteria:

• Clearance must be:
• No more than 10 yrs old (or 7 years for DV
  )
• Have at least 12 months remaining before expiry (ideally 18 months)
• The individual must:
• Have taken up post within 6 months of the clearance being granted
• Have worked on a government contract or within a government department / Police Force in an NSV-cleared role within the last 12 months
• Not have resided overseas for more than 6 months during any break in government service

• Must hold only a UK/British passport
• No dual nationality permitted (including OCI, NICOP, or any other identity cards)
• Candidates not born in the UK must:
• Hold the required level of clearance
• Have formally renounced all rights to previous citizen ships
• Proven experience in security architecture within secure or regulated environments
• Strong understanding of risk management, security assurance, and compliance
• Experience reviewing MSP designs and security solutions
• Familiarity with risk management tooling
  , ideally STREAM
• Ability to operate effectively in highly secure, on-site environments
• Strong stakeholder engagement and advisory skills

• This role is fully onsite due to the secure nature of the work
• Clearance eligibility will be strictly validated prior to submission
• Applications that do not meet clearance and nationality requirements cannot be considered