Information Assurance Technical Security Specialist

Londrinatur; City of London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A technology and security solutions provider is seeking an experienced Information Assurance Technical Security Specialist to oversee the secure management of information. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in technical security, risk management, and compliance within the public or private sector. This role offers a competitive salary, hybrid working options, and requires SC Clearance. Candidates must have resided in the UK for a minimum of 3 years.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits package

Performance-related bonus

Half-day every Friday

Pension scheme

28 days annual leave

Life cover

Employee Assistance Program

Gym membership discounts

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience of applying security principles within an agile delivery framework.
• Evidential experience as subject matter expert in the evaluation and implementation of technical security.
• Experience in performing formal risk assessments and production of security reporting artefacts.

Responsibilities

• Support Thales UK in ensuring all IS/IT technical security measures are implemented.
• Provide a central PoC for all IS/IT technical security matters.
• Conduct security reviews of changes to ensure security risks are managed.

Skills

Applying security principles

Managing assurance and compliance

Technical risk management

Communicating technical concepts

Interpreting security standards

Education

MSc in Information Security or similar

CISSP/CISM

Tools

Azure

Office 365

Job description

Information Assurance Technical Security Specialist

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow’s possible. Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part‑time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

We are looking to hire an Information Assurance/Technical Security Specialist to provide technical security advice and guidance on the efficient and effective secure through‑life management of systems related to the use, processing, storage, and transmission of Thales information or data. This includes but is not limited to the technical oversight of the physical, technical, and administrative security controls to conduct these tasks. Reporting to the Thales UK Deputy CISO, the role involves the identification of applicable technical security requirements and their associated cost‑effective security controls as well as through‑life continual security assurance of Thales IS environments throughout their design, implementation, transition into service, and operational lifespans.

Location: Crawley / Doncaster (but will consider other Thales locations)

What can we offer you?

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Performance‑related bonus
• Half‑day every Friday, finishing around 13:00
• Hybrid working
• Pension scheme
• 28 days annual leave (plus Bank Holidays)
• Life cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts

What will you deliver?

• Technical Security: Support Thales UK in ensuring all IS/IT technical security measures are implemented, enhanced and developed where necessary, to ensure successful and timely security assurance via on‑going through‑life continual assurance and compliance programmes.
• Technical Security Point of Contact (PoC): Provide a central PoC for all IS/IT technical security matters and concerns, supporting delivery teams and businesses throughout project lifecycles.
• Change management: Conduct security reviews of internal/ externally connected platform related changes ensuring Security risks, impacts and mitigations are managed appropriately.
• Cloud Security: Provide security guidance around the secure deployment and usage of Thales adopted public cloud infrastructure and/or SaaS services (e.g., Azure) in compliance with government security guidelines, Thales policy and industry‑accepted good practices for security.
• Compliance & Governance: Ensure Thales on‑premises and cloud environments comply with government policies, such as Cyber Essentials, DefStan 05‑138, UK GDPR, NCSC guidelines and other applicable contractual and regulatory frameworks.
• Evidence Continual Security Assurance: Creation, maintenance and review of all IS/IT technical security documentation, policy and procedures associated with Thales IS/IT networks, systems and applications, as per Customer (primarily HMG UK MOD) and Thales Group policy and mandatory requirements.
• Incident Response: Be responsible for the reporting, investigation and analysis of security incidents and potential breaches within classified environments, working with the Thales UK Incident management team to ensure identified issues are resolved quickly.
• IS/IT Squad Engagement: Develop security requirements, epics and stories, along with guidance & governance to squads to ensure data protection and data security are included in the scope of new and existing IS/IT Squad activities, initiatives and projects.
• Risk Focused Delivery: Work collaboratively with other team members to ensure proposed solutions provide the required level of security assurance in line with data processing requirements, as well as Thales and customer risk appetites.
• Risk Management: Responsibility for developing and coordinating the implementation of formal and regular technical risk and compliance assessments of Thales IS environments, recommending remedial action where required.
• Third Party CoCo Assurance: Provide assurance and ensure successful and secure delivery of all Code of Connections (CoCos), associated cryptographic products, key material and required documentation.
• Training & Development: Engage in continuous learning and development both for yourself as well as supporting less experienced Thales UK staff in their development.

Who are we looking for?

• Demonstrable experience of applying security principles within an agile delivery framework.
• Evidential experience as subject matter expert in the evaluation and implementation of technical security products and solutions for Public or Private sector organisations.
• Evidential experience in the identification, assessment and management of technical security risks, developing risk mitigation strategies, and tracking residual risk throughout the risk lifecycle.
• Demonstrable experience of managing assurance and/or compliance activities associated with a defined security standard (ISO 27001, Def‑Stan 05‑138, NIST SP 800‑*, NIST CSF).
• Experience developing security assurance frameworks and governance models.
• Experience in performing formal risk assessments and production of security reporting artefacts within both on‑premises and cloud‑based environments.
• Evidential experience as subject matter expert in the evaluation and implementation of technical security products for MS Office 365, Azure cloud based Public or Private sector organisations.
• Able to effectively communicate highly technical security concepts, implementations, and issues, both verbally and in writing to management, clients and staff at all levels.
• Able to interpret detailed system design documentation, identifying potential security risks and recommend mitigations containing levels of security appropriate to the associated risk levels.
• Able to interpret security standards and derive solution‑specific security requirements from these and assess solutions against these standards for compliance for both new and changes to existing systems/applications.
• Able to provide analytical advice on the security implications of new and existing systems and for all proposed changes to said systems.
• Ability to provide technical security advice to business areas when required and to provide technical security input to the security risk registers.
• Demonstrable understanding of security across the full stack of information systems, (network, infrastructure and applications) both on‑premises and cloud‑hosted (MS Azure, Oracle, AWS; PaaS, IaaS and SaaS).
• Ensure compliance with MOD/UK Government security governance frameworks.
• Ensure that the activities embody a compliancy approach such that Security Architecture and Services manage risk, maximising business value with appropriate security.
• In‑depth experience of technical security issues and remediation activities across a range of system and application platforms, including cloud‑based and on‑premises.
• Working knowledge of UK Government and MOD security standards for defence suppliers (such as Def Stan 05‑138 v4, DEFCON, NCSC cloud security principles) is required.
• Info. Security Qualification: MSc (InfoSec)/CISSP/CISM or similar certifications.

Desirable

• Demonstrable understanding of Azure Stack including Security products.
• Current Cloud Security Qualification, e.g. CCSK, CCSP.
• Demonstrable understanding of Office 365 Stack including associated Security Risks, Threats and countermeasures.
• Understanding of current and emerging Security technologies.
• Qualifications: AZ‑500, CCSP, CISSP, SABSA.

This role will require SC Clearance. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant will undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

In line with Thales’ Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier‑free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro‑diverse applicants or those with a disability or long‑term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

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