We are seeking a highly experienced and visionary Principal Technical Architect to lead our architecture team and drive the technical direction of our cloud solutions within the defence and national security sector. Reporting directly to the CTO, you will be a strategic leader, subject matter expert (SME) in cloud technologies, and a key contributor to business development through bid and proposal activities. You will be responsible for defining and evangelising our technical vision, leading a team of architects, ensuring alignment with business objectives, and driving innovation in secure cloud environments. Your deep expertise in highly secure cloud architectures and infrastructure will be critical to our continued success in this demanding and vital market.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership and Vision:

• Develop and champion the company’s overall technical architecture strategy and roadmap for cloud solutions in highly secure environments, aligning with business goals and market opportunities within the defence and national security sector.
• Lead and mentor a team of architects, fostering a collaborative and high‑performing environment, promoting knowledge sharing, and ensuring consistent architectural standards and practices.
• Stay abreast of emerging cloud technologies, security trends, and industry best practices, particularly those relevant to highly regulated and secure environments (e.g., government, defence, national security).
• Identify opportunities for technical innovation and differentiation within our cloud offerings, driving competitive advantage.
• Represent the company’s technical vision and capabilities to clients, partners, and industry events.

Cloud Architecture and Design:

• Serve as the principal architect and subject matter expert in designing, developing, and implementing robust, scalable, and highly secure cloud architectures and infrastructure solutions.
• Define and enforce architectural patterns, standards, and guidelines for cloud deployments, ensuring security, compliance, performance, and maintainability.
• Lead the design and architecture of complex cloud solutions, considering factors such as security controls, compliance requirements (e.g., FedRAMP, NIST, ITAR), data sovereignty, and resilience in highly sensitive environments.
• Oversee the creation of detailed architectural diagrams, documentation, and specifications for cloud infrastructure and applications.
• Provide architectural guidance and oversight throughout the software development lifecycle, ensuring alignment with the overall technical vision.

Subject Matter Expertise (SME) in Secure Cloud Environments:

• Be the recognized SME within the company on cloud technologies and infrastructure, specifically in the context of highly secure and regulated environments for defence and national security.
• Possess deep and demonstrable expertise in:
• Security frameworks and compliance standards relevant to defence and national security (e.g., NCSC best practices, NIST 800‑53, DISA STIGs, SOC 2, ISO 27001).
• Secure cloud architecture patterns (e.g., zero trust, micro‑segmentation, data loss prevention, encryption at rest and in transit).
• Infrastructure‑as‑Code (IaC) and automation for secure cloud deployments.
• Containerisation and orchestration in secure environments (e.g., Kubernetes, OpenShift).
• DevSecOps principles and practices in regulated industries.
• Continuously expand knowledge and stay updated on the evolving landscape of cloud security and compliance within the defence and national security domain.

Bid and Proposal Support:

• Play a crucial role in pre‑sales activities, working closely with the sales and business development teams to develop compelling technical solutions and proposals for prospective clients.
• Provide technical leadership and author key technical sections of bids and proposals, articulating our cloud capabilities, architectural approach, security features, and value proposition.
• Participate in client meetings and presentations, acting as a technical spokesperson and building credibility with prospective clients by demonstrating deep subject matter expertise.
• Collaborate with solution architects and proposal managers to develop accurate and competitive technical and cost estimates for proposed solutions.
• Understand client requirements deeply and translate them into effective and innovative cloud solutions that address their specific needs within the defence and national security context.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Management:

• Work closely with engineering, security, operations, and business development teams to ensure architectural alignment and successful execution of projects.
• Effectively communicate architectural decisions, strategies, and roadmaps to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders across the organization.
• Build strong relationships with key clients and partners, understanding their technical challenges and providing architectural guidance.
• Contribute to industry forums, conferences, and publications to enhance the company’s technical reputation and thought leadership in secure cloud environments.

Qualifications

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive experience in IT architecture roles, with a significant focus on cloud or infrastructure technologies.
• 5+ years of experience specifically architecting and implementing cloud or infrastructure solutions in highly secure and regulated environments (e.g., government, defence, financial services, healthcare).
• Proven experience leading and mentoring architecture teams, fostering collaboration and technical excellence.
• Strong track record of successful bid and proposal contributions, demonstrating the ability to articulate complex technical solutions to clients and secure new business.
• Deep understanding of security frameworks and compliance standards relevant to defence and national security (e.g., NCSC patterns, NIST 800‑53, DISA STIGs).

Technical Skills

• Expert‑level knowledge of major cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and their services, particularly in their government or secure offerings (e.g., AWS GovCloud, TSE, ADC, Azure Government, Azure Local), and other on‑premises systems (VMware, Nutanix, Hyper‑V).
• Extensive experience with secure cloud architecture patterns, infrastructure‑as‑code (IaC), containerisation, and DevSecOps practices.
• Strong understanding of networking principles, security protocols, encryption technologies, and identity and access management in cloud environments.
• Excellent understanding of software development lifecycles and agile methodologies.

Soft Skills

• Exceptional leadership, communication (written and verbal), and presentation skills.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem‑solving, and analytical abilities.
• Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Client‑facing skills with the ability to build rapport and trust with technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Strong business acumen and understanding of the defence and national security market.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field

Certifications

• Cloud certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect, VMware VCP‑VCF Architect).
• Security certifications (e.g., CISSP)

Advanced Degree

Master’s or PhD degree in a relevant technical field.

Industry Experience

Specific experience working with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), UK Intelligence Community (UKIC), or other national security agencies.

Agile/DevOps Expertise

Experience leading and implementing DevSecOps practices in regulated environments.

Publications/Presentations

Contributions to industry publications or presentations on cloud security or architecture topics.

What can we offer in return?

SiXworks offers a unique work culture around our core principles Agility, Security, Innovation, Quality, Collaboration and Inclusivity. Together, these six principles form SiXworks’ NORTH STAR, guiding the organisation towards success. This is reflected in the raft of benefits available to all our employees.

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer:

• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays.
• Private Medical Insurance.
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Professional Development opportunities
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Contributory company pension.
• Discretionary Bonus scheme
• Secure, on‑site parking, cafe, restaurant, and gym facilities.
• Free hot and cold drinks in our own, modern kitchen/break‑out.

A word on UK Security Clearance

Due to the secure nature of the position and working environment, you must be a UK sole national and either have, or be eligible to obtain Security Clearance.

More details relating to UK Security Clearance can be found here: United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

SiXworks is an IBM subsidiary which has been acquired by IBM and will be integrated into the IBM organisation. SiXworks will be the hiring entity. By proceeding with this application, you understand that SiXworks will share your personal information with other IBM subsidiaries involved in your recruitment process, wherever these are located. More information on how IBM protects your personal information, including the safeguards in case of cross‑border data transfer, are available here: https://www.ibm.com/privacy

Notice

SiXworks recognises the benefits of Reserve service to Country, Company and individual.

We support Reservists and actively encourage them to apply.

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Information Technology

Industries

Defense and Space Manufacturing