A cryptography and PKI Expert is required for an initial 6 month contract. this is a hybrid role with some on site in London and is inside IR35 so will require working via an FCSA accredited umbrella company. Key skills and experience: • 5+ years in applied cryptography, PKI operations, or cryptographic engineering roles • Expert-level knowledge of symmetric and asymmetric algorithms (AES, RSA, ECC, EdDSA, SHA-2/3, HKDF, HMAC) • Experience designing and maintaining scalable PKI architectures (MS ADCS, EJBCA, Venafi, HashiCorp Vault, or similar) • Deep understanding of TLS/SSL, certificate pinning, mutual TLS (mTLS), and secure session negotiation • Proficiency with HSMs and key lifecycle tools (e.g., Thales, AWS CloudHSM, Azure HSM, Utimaco) • Hands-on with certificate automation protocols (ACME, EST), and tools like Certbot, Smallstep, or Vault PKI • Familiarity with quantum-safe cryptographic standards (e.g., NIST PQC candidates like Kyber, Dilithium) and crypto agility approaches • Solid grounding in identity federation protocols (OAuth 2.0, OIDC, SAML) and token integrity assurance (JWT, JWE, JWS) • Experience with cryptographic validation processes (FIPS 140-3, eIDAS, Common Criteria, or PCI DSS) • Strong scripting and automation skills (Python, Bash, PowerShell) for managing PKI operations and telemetry • Experience with secure enclave technologies (Intel SGX, AWS Nitro Enclaves) and TPM-backed attestation • Exposure to secure boot, firmware signing, and supply chain crypto integrity • Background in financial services, government, or critical infrastructure environments with high assurance cryptography • Familiarity with cryptographic libraries and APIs (OpenSSL, BouncyCastle, Libsodium, PKCS#11, JCE) • Experience implementing crypto monitoring and certificate observability (e.g., CertSpotter, CRL telemetry, misissuance detection) Preferred Qualifications: • Professional certifications such as CISSP-ISSAP, CCSP, CISM, GCLD, GCPN, or Certified Encryption Specialist (EC-Council) LA International is a HMG approved ICT Recruitment and Project Solutions Consultancy, operating globally from the largest single site in the UK as an IT Consultancy or as an Employment Business & Agency depending upon the precise nature of the work, for security cleared jobs or non-clearance vacancies, LA International welcome applications from all sections of the community and from people with diverse experience and backgrounds. Award Winning LA International, winner of the Recruiter Awards for Excellence, Best IT Recruitment Company, Best Public Sector Recruitment Company and overall Gold Award winner, has now secured the most prestigious business award that any business can receive, The Queens Award for Enterprise: International Trade, for the second consecutive period.
