Lead / Senior Security Architect

About this role

We are seeking an experienced Lead / Senior Security Architect on 6months contrcat basis to provide security architecture leadership across complex enterprise programs and technology initiatives.

The successful candidate will combine strong technical expertise with strategic thinking, risk management, governance, and stakeholder engagement. This role will act as a trusted security advisor to technology and business stakeholders, ensuring that solution architectures are secure, compliant, resilient, and aligned with organizational standards.

Key Responsibilities

Security Architecture & Risk Management

• Provide security architecture guidance across complex projects and programs.
• Ensure solution architectures comply with established security policies, standards, principles, and architecture patterns.
• Identify, assess, and manage security risks and deviations through established risk management processes.
• Ensure security requirements are identified and addressed early in the solution lifecycle.
• Provide architectural oversight across high-complexity programs, balancing security, business, delivery, and risk considerations.

Security Assurance & Operational Readiness

• Conduct security architecture and quality assurance reviews prior to implementation.
• Validate that solutions meet defined security requirements and architecture standards.
• Support operational readiness and transition-to-production activities.
• Ensure solutions meet security, resilience, and operational requirements.

Architecture Standards & Thought Leadership

• Develop and maintain security architecture patterns, reference architectures, standards, and guidelines.
• Promote consistent and reusable security architecture practices across the organization.
• Provide subject matter expertise in one or more domains, including:
• Cloud Security
• Identity & Access Management
• Network Security
• Application Security
• Data Protection
• Cryptography

Cloud, DevSecOps & Emerging Technology

• Design and review secure cloud-based solutions across enterprise environments.
• Embed security practices within Agile and DevOps delivery models.
• Support secure adoption of emerging technologies, including Generative AI and Agentic AI solutions.
• Assess and address security risks associated with AI-enabled and autonomous systems.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Mentor and coach security architects and technical professionals.
• Promote security architecture best practices, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Build strong relationships with business, technology, risk, and program stakeholders.
• Communicate complex security risks and technical concepts clearly to senior and executive audiences.
• Influence architectural and business decisions without relying on direct authority.

Required Skills & Experience

• Minimum 8 years of extensive experience in cybersecurity, information security, security architecture, or a related discipline.
• Proven experience working as a Security Architect, with significant experience in a senior or lead capacity.
• Strong experience designing and reviewing enterprise security architectures.
• Demonstrated experience designing secure cloud-based solutions.
• Experience working within Agile and DevOps environments.
• Experience securing Agentic AI, Generative AI, or AI-enabled solutions.
• Strong understanding of security frameworks and risk management methodologies, including NIST, ISO 27001, SABSA, TOGAF, and/or COBIT.
• Experience developing security architecture patterns, standards, reference designs, and guidelines.
• Proven experience managing security risks across large and complex programs.
• Strong understanding of security assurance, governance, operational readiness, and resilience.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to engage and influence executive-level stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring or leading security architects or technical teams.

Desirable Qualifications

• CISSP
• CISM
• SABSA
• TOGAF
• CCSP
• AWS or Azure Security certifications
• Degree or equivalent qualification in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline

Key Attributes

The ideal candidate will demonstrate

• Strong strategic and analytical thinking.
• High attention to detail and sound risk judgement.
• Strong professional integrity and commitment to organizational values.
• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence across organizational boundaries.
• The ability to operate effectively in complex and ambiguous environments.
• Strong ownership, accountability, and commitment to delivery.
• A continuous improvement mindset and passion for security architecture.

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