Cyber – Principal Security Architect

Employer: UK Ministry of Defence

Position: Cyber – Principal Security Architect

Salary:  £72,840.00 per year

Job Type:  Full-time, Part-time, Permanent

Work location: Corsham, England

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION

Cyber – Principal Security Architect

Ministry of Defence

Apply before 11:55 pm on Wednesday 7th January 2026

Reference number: 431444

This post is eligible for a Digital Skills Allowance of up to £18,000 per annum

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Job grade: Grade 6

B1

Business area: MOD – Strategic Command

Type of role

Architecture and Data
Digital
Information Technology

 Summary

The MOD’s digital teams ensure we remain among the most technologically advanced Armed Forces in the world. We develop and lead in cutting-edge data science, automation, and cybersecurity solutions to protect the UK and its interests, at home and abroad.

Our mission also goes beyond the battlefield by leading humanitarian efforts and driving innovation that impacts lives across the globe. 

Working at Defence Digital

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Join MOD as a Principal Security Architect and play a pivotal role in safeguarding the nation’s digital infrastructure. This position offers the opportunity to work on projects with high strategic impact, setting long-term security strategies that span across our entire organisation. You will communicate with senior stakeholders and define the vision, principles and strategy for security architects whilst recommending security design across multiple projects and technologies at an organisational level.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement long-term security strategies with organisational impact

Lead communication with senior stakeholders on security vision and principles

Provide expert security design recommendations across multiple projects

Influence critical business and architectural decisions

Research and adopt innovative security technologies and methodologies

For more information on the Security Architect profession please see the Government Digital and Data Framework; Security Architect

Person specification

As a recognised expert in security architecture, you will be able to influence important business decisions and drive innovation through the adoption of new technologies and methodologies. You will be someone who can solve unprecedented security challenges whilst establishing best practices that advance the profession both within MOD and the broader security community. You will be comfortable acting as a point of escalation for complex security matters, able to provide expert guidance on risk-based decisions at the most senior levels.

Please note that these positions are open to sole UK Nationals only.

Candidates who are not sole UK nationals or hold dual nationality, on a student visa or have right to reside, are not eligible for these posts. Please contact us prior to applying if you are unsure of your status.

Application

When submitting your CV, please highlight your career history and experience relevant to this role.  Additionally, refer to the “Things You Need to Know” section of the advert and provide a personal statement (max.1250 words) demonstrating the Essential Criteria listed below:

Essential Criteria

Deep cyber security experience in at least two security domains

Design and publication of enterprise or solution architecture patterns and templates

Driving and managing security implications of transformation

Communicating technical security matters to key stakeholders in a non-technical way

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £72,840, Ministry of Defence contributes £21,101 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

An environment with flexible working options

A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service

In addition to 8 public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The King’s birthday

Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period to for volunteer military or emergency service reserve commitments

Special Paid Leave for volunteering up to 6 days a year

Enhanced parental and adoption leave

Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing

Most sites have good travel links with free car parking; many also have other facilities such as a Sports & Social Club and Gyms

Pension contribution: 28.97%.

Discover my benefits for more information

This post is eligible for a Digital Skills Allowance of up to £18,000 per annum. Eligibility for this allowance will be assessed at interview and reviewed annually in line with departmental policy.

Learning & Development

In Defence Digital we have a strong learning and development ethos, supporting you to fulfil your potential by providing:

Learning and development tailored to your role

Professional and Personal Development of skills

Access to thousands of training courses through Civil Service Learning, some free or paid by MOD

Ability to obtain industry recognised qualifications supported by MOD

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

At sift, you will be assessed on the following:

Please complete the CV template provided on the CS Jobs dashboard, ensuring your CV highlights your relevance to the Essential Criteria listed in the Person Specification above.

All applicants will also need to provide a personal statement (max. 1250 words) and it is vital that this includes evidence of the  Essential Criteria. Your CV and personal statement will be assessed to determine your suitability to be invited to interview.  

Interview

We’ll assess you against these Behaviours and Technical Skills during the interview process:

Behaviours

Leadership

Changing and Improving

Technical skills

Communication (security architect)

Designing secure systems

Enabling and informing risk-based decisions

Understanding security implications of transformation

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Equality and Diversity

Our people are at the heart of everything we do at Defence Digital. It’s vital that our workforce reflects the diversity of both our audience and the wider society in the UK, so we’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and we actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds and communities. We also recognise the importance of a good work life balance, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including part-time and job shares for all our roles. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process if this is something you want to explore.

AI Usage in Job Applications
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use

Professional Framework Statement

Defence Digital operates an organisation model in which every individual belongs to a Government Profession. The successful applicant will be posted into one of the defined Government Professions on Standard Terms of Reference for the grade. Defence Digital reserves the right to move individuals between roles, within their allocated profession, to meet the needs of the business and in support of agile resourcing.  Within Defence Digital each profession is led by a Professional Head of Community who will lead professional development and support the Continuous Professional Development path for their group.  

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.

This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The MOD is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout the transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with all personnel and Trade Unions.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

Name :Defence Digital Talent Acquisition Team

Email :ukstratcomdd-hr-talentacqdel@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email :DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: , Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.

Benefits:

Company pension

Work Location: In person

APPLICATION PROCESS

If you’re interested in this role, CLICK HERE and apply now!