Security Architect - Contract - £600-650 P/Day

Contract: 6 monthsRate: £600–£650 per day (Inside IR35)Location: Fully remote, with occasional UK team meet-upsStart Date: ASAPClearance: BPSS required; candidates must be eligible for SC clearanceWe are looking for an experienced Security Architect to support a major public-sector transformation programme.You will provide Secure by Design guidance and architectural oversight across a varied portfolio of projects. The work can change quickly, so you must be comfortable managing multiple priorities and applying your security expertise across cloud, infrastructure, enterprise technology, physical security and data-centre environments.Key ResponsibilitiesDeliver Secure by Design solutions across multiple projects and programmes.Translate discovery findings and security risks into secure, scalable designs.Produce high-level and low-level security designs.Conduct security risk, maturity and compliance assessments.Define security requirements, controls, principles and technical standards.Provide security advice and recommendations to delivery teams.Support security testing strategies, scopes, vulnerability assessments and remediation activities.Ensure solutions align with recognised frameworks, including NCSC CAF, NIST CSF and NIST SP 800-53.Communicate security risks clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.Work collaboratively with delivery teams, operational stakeholders and security leadership.Required ExperienceStrong experience working as a Security Architect.Practical knowledge of Secure by Design principles and frameworks.Experience designing and selecting security controls.Strong cloud security knowledge, particularly across Azure and AWS.Experience conducting security risk assessments.Knowledge of IAM, information security, data security and network security.Ability to produce security architecture documents, risk assessments and technical designs.Excellent stakeholder management and client-facing communication skills.Ability to explain complex security risks in clear business language.Comfortable working across multiple concurrent requirements and changing priorities.Desirable ExperienceExperience within government, financial services, insurance or another regulated environment.Knowledge of NCSC CAF, NIST CSF and NIST SP 800-53.Experience with security testing, vulnerability assessments or CREST-aligned activities.Previous consulting or advisory experience.Existing SC clearance.We are particularly interested in confident, credible security professionals who can build trusted relationships, adapt to unpredictable requirements and recognise when specialist support is required.This is an excellent opportunity to join a high-profile programme delivering meaningful security improvements across a complex technology estate.Reach out to [email removed]