Position: Cybersecurity Architecture Specialist
Location: Riyadh Saudi Arabia
Contract Duration: ASAP - 28th Feb 2027
We are seeking an experienced Cybersecurity Architecture Specialist to lead secure-by-design architecture across IT, cloud, and, where applicable, OT/ICS environments for a major football event project in Saudi Arabia. The role will be responsible for ensuring that new systems, applications, integrations, infrastructure, and vendor-delivered solutions meet cybersecurity requirements before go-live. This is a highly collaborative role involving cybersecurity, IT, cloud, procurement, vendors, and operational teams. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring that cybersecurity is embedded into the design and delivery of event-related technology environments.
Responsibilities
- Own and lead secure-by-design cybersecurity architecture across IT, cloud, and, where applicable, OT/ICS environments.
- Define, maintain, and enforce enterprise cybersecurity architecture standards covering:
- Network segmentation
- Identity and access architecture
- Cryptography and encryption standards
- Cloud security architecture and landing zones
- Secure infrastructure and application design
- Conduct security architecture reviews and design-stage risk assessments for new applications, integrations, infrastructure, and vendor-delivered solutions.
- Manage a high volume of architecture reviews associated with third-party and event technology systems, including ticketing, accreditation, broadcast, hospitality, venue, and operational platforms.
- Own cloud security architecture and ensure appropriate security controls are incorporated wherever cloud services are used.
- Define secure configuration baselines and hardening standards for infrastructure, applications, and security technologies.
- Where applicable, establish security requirements for event-specific OT/ICS environments, including access control, turnstiles, venue systems, and related operational technologies.
- Partner closely with the Cybersecurity Defense Manager to ensure architecture decisions support effective security monitoring, detection, and incident response.
- Own cybersecurity requirements and security controls within procurement, vendor selection, and vendor onboarding processes.
- Provide cybersecurity architecture input into business continuity and disaster recovery designs.
- Maintain a register of architectural exceptions, associated risks, compensating controls, and remediation requirements.
- Provide technical guidance to project teams, IT teams, vendors, and other cybersecurity stakeholders.
- Ensure cybersecurity architecture aligns with organizational security policies, standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Support security design decisions throughout the project lifecycle, from initial design through implementation and go-live.
Qualifications
- 3+ years of relevant cybersecurity architecture experience.
- Proven experience in cybersecurity architecture, security architecture, or information security architecture.
- Strong understanding of enterprise security architecture principles and secure-by-design practices.
- Experience with network security, segmentation, identity and access management, encryption/cryptography, and security controls.
- Experience conducting security architecture reviews and risk assessments.
- Experience with cloud security architecture and cloud environments.
- Knowledge of infrastructure and application security hardening and secure configuration standards.
- Experience working with third-party vendors and technology procurement/security requirements.
- Understanding of cybersecurity monitoring, detection, and incident response requirements.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to work with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Experience in large-scale projects, major events, or complex multi-vendor environments would be an advantage.
- Knowledge of OT/ICS security would be an advantage where relevant to the operating environment.
Required Skills
- Cybersecurity architecture
- Security architecture
- Information security architecture
- Enterprise security architecture principles
- Secure-by-design practices
- Network security and segmentation
- Identity and access management
- Encryption and cryptography
- Security controls
- Security architecture reviews and risk assessments
- Cloud security architecture and cloud environments
- Infrastructure and application security hardening
- Secure configuration standards
- Third-party vendor management and technology procurement/security requirements
- Cybersecurity monitoring, detection, and incident response requirements
- Strong communication skills
Preferred Certifications
- Relevant industry certifications would be an advantage, such as:
- CISSP
- SABSA
- CCSP
- TOGAF
- Cloud security certifications
- Other recognized cybersecurity architecture or information security certifications
