Security Architect

Linklaters Linklaters is a global law firm, providing legal services in 20 countries and through 30 offices. Linklaters is a people business. Being best in class in the eyes of our clients means that our people must be exceptional. We look not only for brilliant minds, but for people who will thrive in our environment: people who love working collaboratively and demonstrate the innovative, efficient, agile, entrepreneurial, and responsible mind-set we aim to bring to every interaction. Ours is an environment of outperformance. We achieve this not with targets and incentives, but by fostering a positive, supportive, fair, and open atmosphere. We respect and value difference but insist on inclusivity. We celebrate all aspects of diversity and challenge any form of bias. This is vital to our ability to work as one team, with a common goal.

Your Role

The Security Architect is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining the security architecture of the organisation. The Security Architect ensures that the Firm's technology platforms, systems, and information assets are aligned with business objectives, security principles, risk management requirements, and regulatory obligations. The Security Architect works closely with information security, infrastructure, engineering, data, product, and business stakeholders to understand security and technology needs and design solutions that strengthen the Firm's security posture while enabling effective and secure business operations.

Key responsibilities and challenges

• Working with the Senior Security Architect, define and implement the security architecture vision, strategy, and roadmap for the organisation.
• Promote the benefits and progress the use of secure-by-design principles to support the Firm's business strategy and protect its information assets.
• Advise the business and technology teams on security architecture opportunities, risks, and control requirements across applications, infrastructure, cloud services, data platforms, and third party solutions.
• Analyse and interpret business, technical, and security requirements and define security architecture solutions.
• Design and develop security architecture patterns, standards, principles, and policies across a range of platforms, systems, and technology domains.
• Assess and optimise the security, resilience, scalability, reliability, and maintainability of technology architecture across the organisation.
• Ensure compliance with information security policies, risk management requirements, legal and regulatory obligations, and relevant security frameworks and standards.
• Lead and coordinate security architecture input across projects, platform changes, integrations, and system implementations.
• Communicate and collaborate with stakeholders across information security, infrastructure, engineering, data, business teams, Legal & Risk, Human Resources, and senior management, providing technical guidance and resolving architectural challenges.
• Research and evaluate new security technologies and trends, and collaborate with wider Technology & Data teams to ensure security best practices are integrated into system designs, configurations, and operational processes.

About You

• Extensive experience designing and delivering security architecture patterns, principles, and best practices within complex business environments.
• Proven ability to manage the complete security architecture lifecycle, from technical design and platform assessment through to implementation and optimisation.
• Strong track record collaborating effectively with diverse stakeholders to understand security and business requirements and deliver solutions that meet organisational needs.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and maintaining scalable security architecture standards, reference models, and control frameworks.
• Well honed skills in identifying architectural risks, control gaps, and security weaknesses, providing clear guidance on remediation and continuous improvement.
• Strong understanding of information security frameworks, risk management, and technical security best practices across enterprise environments.
• Familiarity with legal, regulatory, and compliance requirements relevant to information security in global organisations.
• Commitment to strengthening architecture performance with a focus on security, resilience, scalability, and operational effectiveness.
• Solid leadership, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to guide teams, influence stakeholders, and explain technical security requirements clearly to both technical and non technical audiences.
• Degree level qualifications in computer science, information security, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience, with relevant professional certifications such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional, CompTIA Security+, or equivalent, being desirable.

Our Benefits Health & Wellbeing:

• Private Medical Insurance
• Free in-house fitness centre and subsidised health club memberships
• Free onsite GP service and periodic health assessments

Finance:

• Pension and flexible savings options
• Income protection and life assurance
• Mortgage advice and will writing services

Family & Lifestyle:

• Electric car and cycle to work schemes
• Emergency family care
• Additional holiday/birthday leave
• Maternity/paternity/shared parental leave
• Travel insurance and season ticket loan
• Option to join sports and social clubs, as well as our employee networks groups (such as our Gender Equality Network, With Pride, or Social Mobility Networks)

Technical Skills

• Cloud Migrations
• Cyber Resilience
• DevSecOps
• Information Security Strategy
• IT Security Risk Management
• Secure Software Development Lifecycle
• Security Architecture Design
• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
• Threat Analysis
• Threat Modeling

This list of duties and responsibilities above is not exhaustive. It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for, the performance of this job. As such, the role may also include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.

This is the place where talent meets opportunity and where passion meets purpose. At Linklaters, the work we do means carving a path through unexplored territory, working on complex legal matters, across jurisdictions and borders and providing outstanding service and confidence to our clients. Having the vision to see things differently and the determination to deliver excellence, every time. That's what makes us who we are. You can see your true potential connecting with dynamic colleagues all over the world, united by purpose and shared values and working together as one inclusive, collaborative team. With second to none training and support, this is the place where you meet your future. This is Linklaters.

We know that diversity makes us a better law firm and helps us attract the best talent, drive innovation with diversity of thought, and deliver the best experience to everyone who comes into contact with us.

We recruit on the basis of merit, irrespective of age, disability, gender, gender identity, race or ethnicity, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Selection decisions, and the reasons for those decisions, are recorded at each stage of the selection process. Selection criteria and, where appropriate, technical skills tests are in place to measure an individual's ability for the safe and effective performance of a job. Those involved in recruitment and selection decisions and processes are also provided with guidance on diversity issues.

In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits, we will conduct pre engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability and references from previous employers. Your offer will be subject to the successful completion of these checks which will be initiated following your consent.