Principal Security Architecture Consultant

Job Description:

Salary Range: £53,269 - £85,000

Your impact

Are you an experienced security architect ready to lead at the forefront of complex, high-impact programmes?

Do you thrive on shaping secure systems at scale, influencing senior stakeholders, and developing the next generation of security architects?

Leonardo UK is seeking a Principal Security Architecture Consultant to join our Cyber & Security Solutions Division. This is a senior role for proven security professionals who can combine deep technical expertise with consultancy leadership driving secure-by-design outcomes across critical national and defence environments.

You will play a pivotal role in defining security strategy, leading architectural direction, mentoring teams, and delivering customer-facing engagements across complex programmes.

What you’ll be doing

As a Principal Security Architecture Consultant, you will operate at the highest levels of design authority, assurance, and consultancy leadership. You will own security architecture outcomes across multiple engagements while developing internal capability and maintaining strong customer trust.

You’ll work in a collaborative consultancy environment, balancing hands-on architectural leadership with team development and customer engagement.

Your role in practice

Lead customer engagements

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders (CIOs, CISOs, Programme Directors)
• Shape customer security strategy, roadmaps, and architectural direction
• Use understanding of customer requirements to shape business winning and bid writing activity
• Lead workshops, risk discussions, and design reviews with authority and confidence

Drive secure architecture at scale

• Define and assure enterprise, solution, and system-level security architectures
• Apply and tailor security frameworks such as NIST, ISO 27001, SABSA and Zero Trust principles
• Ensure systems are secure by design, proportionate, and aligned to mission objectives

Own risk and assurance outcomes

• Lead threat modelling, risk identification, and mitigation strategies across programmes
• Provide authoritative guidance on risk trade-offs and security posture
• Oversee security assurance, accreditation, and compliance activities (e.g., MOD, NCSC)
• Ensure architectural traceability from requirements through to controls and implementation

Develop and lead the security architecture practice

• Mentor, coach, and upskill security architects and consultants
• Define and evolve architectural standards, patterns, and reusable artefacts
• Lead internal capability development, including training and knowledge sharing
• Support recruitment and talent development within the team

What you’ll bring

This role is suited to experienced and self-driven security leaders who combine deep technical knowledge with strong consultancy and leadership capability.

Core strengths

• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills at senior levels
• Strong leadership and mentoring capability with a passion for developing others
• Ability to translate complex technical and security concepts into business outcomes
• Experience leading secure designs within bids and writing technical responses

Desirable experience

• Experience in UK MOD, defence, or national security environments
• Familiarity with secure systems accreditation and regulatory frameworks
• Experience with high assurance or classified systems
• Exposure to digital transformation, cloud migration, or enterprise modernisation

Certifications

We value practical experience, but for this senior role, the following certifications (or equivalent experience) are highly desirable:

Core security architecture

• CISSP, CCSP, SABSA
• UK Cyber Security Council (Secure System Architecture & Design Specialism)

Architecture frameworks

• TOGAF (Certified) or equivalent enterprise architecture framework

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.

• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.

• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity). 

• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.

• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.

• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.

• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.

• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety. 

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Be part of something bigger - apply now!

Primary Location:

GB - Bristol - Coldharbour Lane

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Hybrid