Senior Security Architect

Graphicsunlimited; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department in the UK is seeking a Senior Security Architect to provide specialist security leadership across identity verification projects. This high-impact role directly influences how citizens authenticate their identities and access services. Candidates should have strong skills in security architecture, application and cloud security, and network protocols. The job offers a hybrid working model, competitive pay, and various employee benefits including professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Time off for volunteering

Interest-free loans for public transport

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in enterprise-scale IT in a recent Security Architect role.
• Strong understanding of network protocols and securing devices.
• Experience with Security tooling such as SIEM, IDS/IPS.

Responsibilities

• Provide security leadership and architectural direction.
• Shape the security foundations to enable citizen authentication.
• Drive secure-by-default thinking across teams.

Skills

Security architecture design

Application Security

Cloud Security

Network Security

Threat analysis and mitigation

Encryption & Cryptography

AuthN/AuthZ technologies

Cloud-native technologies

CI/CD tooling

Education

CISSP certification or Master’s in Information Security

Job description

Pay & Benefits

Pay of up to £83,917. Benefits include 28.97% employer pension contributions, hybrid working, flexible hours, and great work life balance.

About DWP Digital

At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) we build secure, reliable and user‑centred digital services that millions of people depend on every day. Our Identity & Trust team is developing a strategic platform that will enable safe, secure and seamless communication between citizens and the services they rely on.

Role Overview

We are looking for a Senior Security Architect to provide specialist security leadership, architectural direction and hands‑on guidance across a range of identity verification projects. This high‑impact role directly shapes how DWP protects citizens, services and data at a national scale.

Key Qualifications

• Security architecture design and modelling techniques, tools and standards.
• Application and Cloud Security across complex environments.
• Experience in enterprise‑scale IT, in at least one recent Security Architect role within a large, complex national or multi‑national organisation.
• Network Security; strong understanding of network protocols (e.g. TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF) and experience securing routers, switches, firewalls and load balancers.
• Threat analysis and mitigation using tooling such as SIEM, IDS/IPS, and endpoint detection systems.
• Encryption & Cryptography expertise (e.g. SSL/TLS, IPsec, Kerberos, VPNs, PKI) including securing data in transit and at rest.
• Strong knowledge of AuthN/AuthZ technologies such as OIDC, OAuth, JWT and SAML.
• Knowledge of cloud‑native technologies (e.g. Docker, Kubernetes, Istio) and CI/CD tooling (e.g. Jenkins, GitLab).
• A CISSP certification or Master’s in Information Security would be nice but not essential.

Role Impact

In this role you will help shape the security foundations that enable millions of people to safely authenticate their identities and access DWP’s services. Your architectural leadership will influence long‑term identity solutions, strengthening trust and secure access across public services in the UK.

You will also play a key role in improving how security is understood and applied across teams – driving secure‑by‑default thinking, refining patterns and helping colleagues make confident, informed decisions that lead to more robust and reliable services.

Location & Working Arrangement

You can work in any of our digital hubs in Blackpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle or Sheffield. DWP operates a hybrid model – spend some time working at home and collaborating face‑to‑face in a hub.

Benefits

• Flexible working including flexible hours and flex‑friendly policies
• Time off for volunteering and charitable giving
• Bring your authentic self to work with ‘I Can Be Me in DWP’
• Discounts and savings on shopping, fun days out and more
• Interest‑free loans to buy a bike or a season ticket
• Sports and social activities
• Professional development, coaching, mentoring and career progression opportunities

Awards & Culture

• DWP recognised as 2024 Diversity Employer of the Year by the Computing Women in Tech Excellence awards
• Diverse and Inclusive Leadership at Digital Leaders Awards 2024
• Best Place to Work in Digital category, Computing Digital Technology Leaders awards 2025
• Best Public Sector Employer at 2025 Women in Tech Employer Awards

Application Process

• Application: complete your application on Civil Service Jobs.
• Interview: a single‑stage online interview.

Apply

Click to apply for more information and to start your application.