Lead Security Architect

Lead Security Architect

Leeds | Permanent | Hybrid Working | Up to £82,000

An influential UK Financial Services organisation is seeking a Lead Security Architect to play a key role in shaping and delivering its cyber security strategy across a complex technology estate.

This is an opportunity to influence major technology decisions, define security standards, and ensure secure-by-design principles are embedded across critical transformation programmes spanning cloud, on-premise and SaaS environments. You'll work alongside architects, engineers, delivery teams and senior stakeholders to help drive a modern, risk-based approach to security.

The Opportunity

As Lead Security Architect, you'll act as a senior security authority across strategic technology initiatives, ensuring solutions are secure, resilient and aligned to business objectives.

You'll define architectural guardrails, lead security design governance, and provide expert guidance to delivery teams, balancing risk management with business outcomes and technological innovation.

This role offers significant visibility and influence, with the opportunity to shape security architecture across a large-scale, enterprise environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and evolve security architecture principles, standards, patterns and roadmaps.
• Champion a modern, threat-informed security posture focused on reducing organisational risk.
• Embed secure-by-design practices throughout the solution lifecycle, from discovery through to delivery.
• Provide security architecture leadership across strategic projects and transformation initiatives.
• Lead architectural governance, design reviews and assurance activities.
• Translate business and technology strategies into secure target-state architectures.
• Partner with risk and assurance teams to ensure appropriate controls are implemented and understood.
• Communicate complex security decisions and trade-offs to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Influence senior leaders, architects and engineering teams to deliver secure, scalable solutions.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Strong background in Security Architecture, Enterprise Architecture or a senior cyber security role.
• Broad understanding of infrastructure technologies, architecture patterns and modern enterprise environments.
• Good knowledge of networking, security and encryption technologies.
• Experience reviewing solution designs and technical documentation to identify security risks and vulnerabilities.
• Ability to articulate technical vulnerabilities in terms of business risk and impact.
• Proven stakeholder management experience across technology and business teams.
• Strong communication and documentation skills.
• Demonstrable experience delivering secure architectural solutions within large or complex organisations.

Desirable Experience

• Knowledge of frameworks such as NIST, MITRE ATT&CK and ISO 27001.
• Team leadership, coaching or management experience.
• Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CISM or equivalent.

What's on Offer?

• Salary of up to £82,000
• Hybrid working with approximately 50% office attendance
• Flexible working arrangements and work-life balance support
• Generous pension and benefits package
• Annual performance-related bonus
• Private medical cover and income protection
• Ongoing training, career development and professional certification support
• Modern Leeds city centre office with access to a collaborative and highly skilled technology community

Why Apply?

This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly regarded financial services organisation where cyber security plays a strategic role in technology decision-making. You'll influence enterprise-wide initiatives, work on complex technical challenges, and help shape the future security landscape of a business that invests heavily in technology, resilience and innovation.

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