Principal Identity & Access Lead

Are you ready to define the security architecture that underpins a major digital transformation journey?

Security is no longer just about defence. It's about enabling innovation, supporting growth, and ensuring organisations can adopt new technologies with confidence.

We're partnering with a highly respected organisation seeking a Principal Security Architect & Engineering Lead to drive enterprise-wide security architecture and influence how security is embedded across a complex and evolving technology landscape.

This is a strategic leadership opportunity for an experienced security professional who thrives on shaping secure-by-design solutions, influencing senior stakeholders, and delivering security at enterprise scale.

Working closely with senior technology and security leaders, you'll play a pivotal role in defining security strategy, leading architectural governance, and ensuring cyber resilience remains at the heart of technology decision-making.

The Opportunity

As the lead authority for security architecture and engineering, you'll be responsible for shaping and governing security standards across cloud, on-premise and third-party environments.

You'll work closely with architecture, engineering, infrastructure and delivery teams to ensure security is integrated into every stage of the technology lifecycle, from initial design through to deployment and operation.

This role offers a unique opportunity to influence large-scale transformation programmes and establish the security foundations that support future innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and evolve enterprise security architecture strategies and roadmaps
• Establish security principles, standards, patterns and control frameworks
• Provide leadership across architectural governance and design authority forums
• Ensure security requirements are embedded into technology and business initiatives from the outset
• Champion secure-by-design methodologies across all technology delivery teams
• Drive the adoption of DevSecOps and security automation practices
• Lead technical security assessments, risk reviews and design assurance activities
• Collaborate with engineering and infrastructure teams to implement enterprise-grade security controls
• Oversee the secure adoption of cloud technologies and third-party services
• Support cyber incident response capabilities through resilient architecture and security-by-design approaches
• Influence strategic technology decisions and ensure alignment with business and regulatory requirements

What We're Looking For

• Enterprise Security Architecture
• Security Engineering Leadership
• Cloud Security Strategy
• DevSecOps & Secure Software Delivery
• Security Governance & Assurance

Technical Expertise

We'd be particularly interested in professionals with experience across:

• Microsoft Security Technologies
• AWS Security
• SaaS & IaaS Platforms
• Identity & Access Management (IAM)
• SIEM & Security Operations
• Vulnerability Management
• Network Security
• Infrastructure as Code
• CI/CD Security
• Security Automation & Continuous Assurance

What You'll Bring

• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills
• The ability to balance security requirements with business objectives
• A collaborative and consultative leadership style
• Excellent communication skills with both technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing high-performing teams
• A passion for driving continuous improvement and engineering excellence

What's On Offer?

• Ongoing professional development and certification support

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to join an organisation investing heavily in cyber security, cloud technologies and digital transformation.

You'll have genuine influence over enterprise security strategy, work alongside senior technology leaders, and help shape the future security posture of a complex technology estate.

If you're looking for a role where you can combine strategic leadership with deep technical expertise while making a visible impact, we'd love to hear from you.