Lead Cyber Security Architect

Location: Canberra with hybrid working arrangements

Payrate: Negotiable for the right candidate

Level: EL2 Contractor

We are seeking an experienced Lead Cyber Security Architect who can provide both strategic direction and hands-on technical leadership across a range of AI-focused and cloud-based initiatives. This role is ideal for someone with deep cloud security expertise—particularly in Microsoft Azure—who can design secure architectures, uplift existing solutions, and guide the delivery of complex security requirements in a modern cloud environment.

You'll work closely with technical teams, stakeholders, and external vendors to ensure cloud platforms, AI services, and supporting systems meet stringent security expectations.

About the Role

As the Lead Cyber Security Architect, you will take ownership of end-to-end security architecture design, review, and assurance activities across multiple cloud environments. You will analyse existing and proposed architectures, identify security gaps, uplift security controls, and support the delivery of secure AI capabilities.

This role includes both high-level architectural leadership and occasional hands-on engineering work—ideal for a candidate who is comfortable moving between strategic and technical tasks.

You will also coordinate external assurance activities including penetration testing, IRAP assessments, and vendor-led security reviews.

Key Responsibilities Security Architecture & Design

• Design and implement secure ICT solutions aligned with Australian Government security standards (ISM, PSPF).
• Provide architectural guidance to ensure security-by-design practices are embedded in delivery.
• Review cloud and AI solution architectures, identifying risks and recommending remediation.
• Collaborate with technical and non-technical stakeholders to ensure security requirements are understood and delivered.
• Assess in-flight project work to uplift security posture prior to formal assurance activities.
• Advise on integration of cloud services, identity, networks, and access management.

Security Engineering & Delivery

• Implement and configure secure cloud solutions, primarily in Microsoft Azure (including identity, networking, monitoring, and detection tools).
• Manage and monitor security technologies and controls to maintain compliance.
• Draft Threat & Risk Assessments and security documentation.
• Test and evaluate platforms and products to determine security readiness.
• Demonstrated experience administering Azure environments in a Government context is highly desirable.

Vendor Engagement & Assurance

• Manage and coordinate vendors performing IRAP assessments, penetration testing, and other security activities.
• Support evidence collection, resolve blockers, and drive remediation outcomes.
• Triage incoming requests from external assessors and liaise with internal teams as required.
• Demonstrated experience supporting IRAP processes is highly regarded.

Skills & Experience

• Strong technical knowledge of Azure cloud services and modern cloud architecture.
• Proven experience implementing cloud security controls, ideally within secure government environments.
• Understanding of Government-aligned security requirements (ISM, PSPF).
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across diverse teams.
• Backgrounds suited to this role include Cloud Security Architect, Cloud Security Engineer, Infrastructure Engineer, or Solution Architect.

Why This Role?

• Influence the secure adoption of AI and cloud technologies at scale.
• Work across modern cloud environments using Azure, AWS, and leading security tools.
• Lead architectural decisions with real impact.
• Engage with high-performing technical teams and specialised vendors.
• Contribute to meaningful, nation-wide digital and AI capability uplift.