Security Architect - DV Cleared

MOD DV Cleared Senior Security Architect

Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire (Full-Time Onsite)
Contract: 12-Month Rolling Contract
Rate: £700-£750 per day (Outside IR35)
Clearance: Active UK MOD DV Clearance Required

The Opportunity

We are currently seeking an experienced Senior Security Architect to join a high-profile government programme delivering secure, resilient, and mission-critical capabilities within a highly regulated defence environment.

This role offers the opportunity to shape security strategy and architecture across complex enterprise platforms, ensuring security is embedded throughout the full solution lifecycle. Working closely with technical, delivery, and stakeholder teams, you will be responsible for developing security architectures, producing high-level designs, driving assurance activities, and providing expert guidance on secure-by-design principles.

This position is ideally suited to an architect with experience operating within MOD, Defence, National Security, or other highly secure government environments who can balance business objectives, operational requirements, and security risk.

Due to the nature of the programme, active MOD DV clearance and full-time onsite attendance in Basingstoke are essential.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the development of end-to-end security architectures for complex enterprise and mission-critical systems.
Produce and maintain High-Level Designs (HLDs), security architecture documentation, and technical decision records.
Define security patterns, standards, and architectural principles aligned with programme objectives.
Conduct security control mapping and gap analysis against applicable frameworks and security requirements.
Translate business, operational, and security requirements into pragmatic, risk-based security solutions.
Provide architectural leadership throughout the project lifecycle, from concept and design through to implementation and assurance.
Support governance, risk management, design reviews, and technical assurance activities.
Identify security risks, vulnerabilities, and improvement opportunities across existing and proposed solutions.
Collaborate with engineering, infrastructure, cloud, delivery, and programme teams to ensure security requirements are effectively implemented.
Engage with customer stakeholders, security authorities, and assurance teams to support accreditation and compliance objectives.
Champion secure-by-design and security-by-default principles across all stages of delivery.

Essential Skills & Experience

Security Architecture

Proven experience operating as a Senior Security Architect within Defence, MOD, National Security, Government, or other highly regulated environments.
Strong understanding of enterprise security architecture principles and security-by-design methodologies.
Demonstrable experience producing:
High-Level Designs (HLDs)
Security architecture documentation
Technical decision records
Security standards and guidance
Risk and threat assessments

Security Governance, Risk & Assurance

Experience conducting security control mapping against recognised frameworks and standards.
Strong understanding of security governance, risk management, and assurance processes.
Experience supporting accreditation, compliance, and assurance activities within secure environments.
Familiarity with:
NIST 800-53
NCSC guidance
MOD security policies
JSP 440
Defence assurance and accreditation processes
Secure by Design principle
Industry certifications such as:
CISSP
SABSA
TOGAF
CCSP
CISM
CCSK