Principal Senior Technical Architect – National Security

Overview

Senior technical leader at QinetiQ, shaping and delivering mission-critical capabilities for Cyber and National Security customers. You’ll drive end-to-end architecture, collaborate across engineering, data, cyber, AI/ML, and systems integration teams, and steer major bids and capability programmes. The role focuses on customer intimacy, delivery orchestration, and cross-functional leadership in sensitive environments. This is a high-impact opportunity to influence national security capabilities at scale.

Pay / Benefits

• Matched contribution pension with life assurance
• Generous holiday with option to purchase additional days
• Health and private medical insurance options
• Employee discount portal: insurance, travel, entertainment
• Armed Forces Covenant and Defence Employer Recognition Scheme
• Volunteering opportunities

Responsibilities

• Identify and qualify new National Security/Defence opportunities and lead early customer engagements
• Provide technical direction for bids, ensuring feasible, compliant, and mission-aligned solutions
• Collaborate with engineering, data, cyber, AI/ML, and systems integration teams to shape end-to-end capabilities
• Translate missions’ needs into robust architectures and delivery approaches
• Technically lead major bids from capture to contract negotiation
• Oversee design and evolution of high-value end-to-end capability programmes
• Provide cross-functional leadership across delivery of complex capability programmes

Key requirements

• Significant experience in National Security, Intelligence, Defence, or advanced Cyber missions
• Proven capability development experience integrating people, process, and technology
• Expertise in systems integration and operational workflow design
• Proven track record leading multi-disciplinary teams in sensitive environments
• Experience with major capability transformation programmes in Defence, Intelligence, or Government
• Familiarity with national security governance and high-assurance operations

• leadership
• stakeholder management
• problem solving
• systems integration
• architecting end-to-end capabilities
• delivery of complex capability programmes

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