Mission freelance Security Architect

Security Architect
6 Month contract initially
Based: Remote/Leeds - Max 4 days p/w onsite
Rate: £475 - £500 p/d - (via Umbrella company)

We have a great opportunity with a world leading organisation where you will be provided with all of the support and development to succeed. A progressive organisation where you can really make a difference. We have a great opportunity for a Security Architect to join the team.

We are looking for an exceptionally seasoned Security Architect with deep progressive experience, including extensive leadership in designing and implementing robust security architectures, particularly within large-scale cloud environments and the highly regulated financial domain. This role demands a deep understanding of complex security challenges, a proven track record of strategic influence, and the ability to translate business requirements into secure, scalable, and compliant technical solutions.

Key Responsibilities:
* Strategic Security Leadership:
Define, evangelize, and evolve the overall cloud security architecture strategy and roadmap, aligning with business objectives, relevant European regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, DORA, PSD2, NIS2 Directive), and industry best practices.

Act as a trusted security advisor to senior leadership, engineering teams, and business units on all aspects of cloud security.

Lead the development and implementation of security architectural standards, patterns, and guidelines for cloud-native and hybrid-cloud deployments.

* Solution Design & Assurance:
Provide expert security architecture guidance for critical enterprise applications, infrastructure, and data platforms, with a strong focus on secure-by-design principles.

Conduct comprehensive security architecture reviews of high-level and low-level designs, identifying risks, proposing effective controls, and ensuring adherence to security policies.

Drive the selection and integration of security technologies and services within cloud ecosystems (AWS, Azure, GCP preferred).
* Risk & Compliance Management:
Lead threat modelling, risk assessments, and security posture management across cloud environments.

Ensure architectural designs meet stringent regulatory compliance requirements relevant to the financial industry in Europe (e.g., data residency, privacy, operational resilience).

Develop and implement security controls that align with frameworks like NIST CSF, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and CSA CCM.
* DevSecOps & Automation:

Champion the integration of security into the entire SDLC (DevSecOps), promoting automated security testing, continuous compliance, and secure configuration management.

Design secure CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure as code (IaC) templates.
Your Profile

Key Skills & Experience:
* Deep progressive experience in Information Security, with a significant focus on Security Architecture.

* Ideally 5+ years of hands-on experience specifically in Cloud Security Architecture for enterprise-scale deployments across at least one major public cloud provider (AWS, Azure, or GCP). Multi-cloud experience is highly preferred.

* Deep expertise in financial services domain security, including understanding of common threats, European regulatory requirements (e.g., PSD2, DORA, EBA guidelines), and data privacy mandates (GDPR).

* Extensive knowledge of security architecture principles for:

* Identity & Access Management (IAM) in cloud (e.g., AWS IAM, Azure AD, GCP IAM).

* Network Security (VPCs, firewalls, WAFs, micro-segmentation, private connectivity).

* Data Security (encryption at rest/in transit, KMS, data classification, DLP).

* Application Security (secure coding, API security, SAST/DAST, WAF integration).

* Container Security (Kubernetes, Docker, service mesh).

* Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and logging strategies.

* Zero Trust Architecture principles.

* Proven experience with DevSecOps methodologies and securing CI/CD pipelines.

* Strong understanding of security frameworks such as NIST CSF, ISO 27001, CSA CCM, and experience in translating these into practical architectural designs.

* Hands-on experience with security tools and technologies for vulnerability management, secrets management, cloud security posture management (CSPM), and cloud workload protection platforms (CWPP).

* Relevant industry certifications are highly desirable (e.g., TOGAF, CISSP, CCSP, AWS Certified Security - Specialty, Azure Security Engineer Associate, GCP Professional Cloud Security Engineer).


This is an excellent opportunity on a great project of work, If you are looking for your next exciting opportunity, apply now for your CV to reach me directly, we will respond as soon as possible.


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.