DEFEND

Independent cyber security outsourcing and consulting

Senior Cybersecurity Architect

Security Engineering & ArchitectureConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeAuckland, New Zealand

About the Job

Requirements

At least 10 years of experience as a Cybersecurity Architect designing and delivering security solutions for enterprise customers, including a proven track record of leading complex security engagements and strategic initiatives.
Strong customer-facing consulting experience, including stakeholder engagement, relationship management, and advising technical and executive audiences.
Ability to write and review architecture designs, reports, procedures, standards, and executive-level recommendations, and translate complex technical concepts into business outcomes.
Ability to translate business requirements into practical, secure, and scalable solutions that meet or exceed customer expectations.
Experience identifying, assessing, and mitigating cyber threats and advising organisations on the secure adoption of new technologies, operating models, and business processes.
Experience securing hybrid and multi-cloud environments, including Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud Platform solutions, and managing risks associated with IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS services.
Experience securing enterprise SaaS and business-critical platforms such as Salesforce and SAP.
Expertise in enterprise security monitoring and detection capabilities, including SIEM, SOAR, SOC operating models, and observability platforms.
Understanding of security architecture principles, including logging, monitoring, alerting, security controls, secrets management, certificate lifecycle management, and enterprise security frameworks.
Experience with data protection and information governance technologies and practices, including data classification, data handling, data labelling, and enterprise data security strategies.
Hands-on experience with Microsoft Purview, Zscaler, Proofpoint, and related enterprise security platforms.
Understanding of compliance and regulatory frameworks, including PCI DSS and other security standards relevant to enterprise environments.
Experience assessing enterprise environments and documenting business, security, and operational workflows to support architecture, governance, and transformation outcomes.
Knowledge of AI security risks, governance considerations, and secure AI adoption practices.
Experience with Cloudflare, Vercel, and modern edge, cloud, and distributed security architectures.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and complex customer engagements simultaneously while maintaining high-quality deliverables and meeting tight deadlines.
Collaboration and leadership skills, including mentoring others, sharing knowledge, and contributing positively to a consulting team.

Responsibilities

Lead the architecture and design of enterprise security solutions across on-premises and multi-cloud environments, ensuring security, scalability, resilience, and business alignment.
Lead security engagements throughout their lifecycle, from business requirements and strategic planning through architecture, design, governance, and delivery.
Own delivery of high-level and detailed designs, concept analysis, reference architectures, security patterns, and operating models.
Advise customers and stakeholders on strategic cybersecurity, provide thought leadership, and help shape their cyber resilience journey.
Design and optimise security capabilities across cloud, SaaS, hybrid, and enterprise environments, including security monitoring, detection, governance, and data protection solutions.
Provide technical leadership and mentorship across the team, share knowledge, promote architectural excellence, and contribute to the evolution of practices and capabilities.

Senior Cybersecurity Architect

DEFEND Limited · Auckland, New Zealand (Hybrid) · Full-time · Posted 2026-10-07

Workplace: hybrid

Department: PTL - Lavanya

Description

At DEFEND, our dream is to improve everyday life by creating a cyber resilient world. As a Senior Cybersecurity Architect, you will help customers navigate complex cybersecurity challenges, develop strategic roadmaps, and architect secure solutions that enable business success while strengthening cyber resilience.

This role is not only a thought leader for our customers, but also a recognised security subject matter expert for both customers and DEFEND colleagues. You will be trusted to lead complex security engagements end-to-end, influence strategic outcomes, and deliver architecture that drives meaningful business value.

What You'll Do

Lead the architecture and design of enterprise security solutions across on-premises and multi-cloud environments, ensuring security, scalability, resilience, and business alignment.
Lead security engagements throughout the entire lifecycle, from business requirements and strategic planning through to architecture, design, governance, and successful delivery.
Own the delivery of high-level designs, detailed designs, concept analysis, reference architectures, security patterns, and operating models that enable successful customer outcomes.
Act as a trusted advisor to customers and stakeholders, providing strategic cybersecurity guidance, thought leadership, and helping shape their cyber resilience journey.
Design and optimise security capabilities across cloud, SaaS, hybrid, and enterprise environments, including security monitoring, detection, governance, and data protection solutions.
Provide technical leadership and mentorship across the DEFEND team, sharing knowledge, promoting architectural excellence, and contributing to the evolution of our practices and capabilities.

Requirements

10+ years' experience as a Cybersecurity Architect designing and delivering security solutions for enterprise customers, with a proven track record of leading complex security engagements and strategic initiatives.
Strong customer-facing consulting experience, including stakeholder engagement, relationship management, and the ability to act as a trusted advisor to both technical and executive audiences.
Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to confidently write and review architecture designs, reports, procedures, standards, and executive-level recommendations, while translating complex technical concepts into meaningful business outcomes.
An outcomes-focused mindset with the ability to translate business requirements into practical, secure, and scalable solutions that meet or exceed customer expectations.
Proven experience identifying, assessing, and mitigating cyber threats while advising organisations on the secure adoption of new technologies, operating models, and business processes.
Extensive experience securing hybrid and multi-cloud environments, including the design and security of Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) solutions, and managing risks associated with IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS services.
Experience securing enterprise SaaS and business-critical platforms such as Salesforce, SAP, and other strategic business applications.
Strong expertise in enterprise security monitoring and detection capabilities, including modern SIEM, SOAR, SOC operating models, and observability platforms.
Deep understanding of security architecture principles, including logging, monitoring, alerting, security controls, secrets management, certificate lifecycle management, and enterprise security frameworks.
Experience with data protection and information governance technologies and practices, including data classification, data handling, data labelling, and enterprise data security strategies.
Hands-on experience with modern cybersecurity technologies such as Microsoft Purview, Zscaler, Proofpoint, and related enterprise security platforms.
Strong understanding of compliance and regulatory frameworks, including PCI DSS and other security standards relevant to enterprise environments.
Experience assessing enterprise environments and documenting business, security, and operational workflows to support architecture, governance, and transformation outcomes.
Knowledge of emerging security domains, including AI security risks, governance considerations, and secure AI adoption practices.
Experience with Cloudflare, Vercel, and modern edge, cloud, and distributed security architectures.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and complex customer engagements simultaneously while maintaining high-quality deliverables and meeting tight deadlines.
Strong collaboration and leadership skills, with a commitment to mentoring others, sharing knowledge, and contributing positively to a high-performing consulting team.

Benefits

About DEFEND:

Our dream at DEFEND is to improve everyday life by creating a cyber resilient world. Over the last few years, we've experienced phenomenal growth and winning several industry awards, including Microsoft's Global Partner of the Year for 2025!

Why DEFEND?

We believe in investing in our employees’ growth and providing them with opportunities to advance their skills and careers. We offer a collaborative workplace culture, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where innovative thinking is encouraged.    

By joining our innovative and creative team you will have the opportunity to contribute a variety of cybersecurity outcomes, from culture & awareness of cyber resilience, through to offensive & defensive security. No matter what your role, everyone at DEFEND contributes towards our dream of creating a cyber resilient world.   

The benefits of working at DEFEND 

In addition to working for a growing, dynamic NZ company, DEFEND offers the following benefits to all our DEFENDers 

3.5% Kiwisaver on top of your base salary 
Southern Cross Health Insurance coverage 
Mobile and Broadband discounts for yourself and family  
Flexible, hybrid work environment 
An allowance to contribute to your home office setup 
Access to EAP services to support you across a range of wellbeing needs

Diversity & Inclusion:

At DEFEND, we celebrate a variety of perspectives and experiences. We know from experience that people from underrepresented groups often don’t apply for roles they don’t feel they meet all the criteria for. We’re committed to creating an environment that enables all our team to thrive. If you think you have what it takes, but don’t check every single box, please consider applying. We’d love to hear how you might contribute to the team and being our next DEFENDer.

Ready to help build a more cyber resilient future with DEFEND? Apply now or learn more at: https://defend.co.nz/careers/

Apply

Apply at DEFEND Limited

About the Company

DEFEND

Independent cyber security outsourcing and consulting

DEFEND provides outsourced cyber security consulting and managed services across ANZ, covering auditing and compliance (NIST), virtual CISO, cloud/data centre connectivity, network security, secure coding, endpoint protection, threat education, and disaster recovery/business continuity planning. It deploys security professionals who follow standard frameworks to deliver tailored advisory and managed programs, including a procurement service to get the right tools at the best price and ongoing security education. It differentiates itself as an independent, agnostic partner focused on end-user threat management and practical risk reduction, combining cross-domain security expertise with procurement facilitation and C-level guidance in ANZ. Its goal is to help customers access the right people, processes, and technology to prevent and mitigate cyber-attacks and maintain business continuity.

Company size: Not listed
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: Upper Harbour, New Zealand
Founded: 2017

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