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Job Description: Head of IT

Location: Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom

(Note: This role requires the ability to obtain SC or DV level British Security clearance)

Overview

Our client is a defence technology company delivering integrated air defence and autonomous systems for allied and NATO-aligned nations. The successful candidate will be responsible for establishing and scaling our IT infrastructure in UK, and Europe, managing strategic partnerships, navigating regulatory frameworks, and driving execution on the ground to support the business.

Role Overview

The Head of IT will lead the strategic and operational delivery of secure, resilient, and scalable information systems across our UK and European operations. This role is responsible for safeguarding sensitive information environments, supporting mission-critical digital infrastructure, and aligning IT strategy with evolving engineering and production needs, whilst adhering to multiple compliance frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Define and execute the IT and digital infrastructure strategy to support classified and non- classified environments across the UK and EU.
• Act as a senior advisor on enterprise architecture, risk, and resilience in collaboration with senior leadership and programme teams.

Cybersecurity & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with MOD, NATO, EU, and host-nation defence standards (e.g. JSP 604, DEFCON 658, NIST 800-171, ISO/IEC 27001).
• Implement zero-trust architecture principles and oversee secure-by-design implementation in all IT systems.
• Lead cyber risk governance, red team testing programmes, and incident response planning. Infrastructure & Systems Management.
• Oversee the delivery, maintenance, and security of core infrastructure: secure networks, cloud services (Azure/AWS MOD tenancy), endpoints, SCIF integration, and data centres.
• Deliver business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities across multi-jurisdictional operations.
• Support engineering and R&D teams by integrating IT systems into software development, prototyping, and classified test environments.
• Maintain DevSecOps and CI/CD support infrastructure.
• Lead the IT function across multiple sites and jurisdictions (UK and EU), managing internal staff and external suppliers.
• Oversee IT procurement, ensuring supply chain compliance with UK and EU export controls and defence procurement frameworks.
• Report to leadership and board-level governance forums on cyber posture, digital readiness, and resilience.

Required Qualifications & Competencies

• Proven leadership in an IT Director / Head of IT role within a high-security or defence environment (UK, NATO, or EU).
• Demonstrated competence with secure environments (e.g. IL3/IL4/IL5, SCIF, air-gapped systems).

Deep knowledge of:

• MOD and NATO security policies (JSPs, DEFCONs, STANAGs),
• NIST, CIS, ISO/IEC 27001 frameworks,
• UK NCSC principles and secure-by-design methodologies.
• Competent with cross-border IT operations, including data sovereignty, dual-use controls, and export classification.
• Strong track record of leading infrastructure, IT operations, and security architecture at enterprise scale.
• SC or DV clearance active or recently held (or NATO/EU equivalent).
• Competent working with government primes, DASA, BAAINBw, OCCAR, or NATO entities.
• Familiarity with the requirements of Cyber Essentials Plus, NIS2, and EU Dual-Use Regulation.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Information Technology

• Industries

  Defense and Space Manufacturing, Software Development, and IT Services and IT Consulting

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