Lead Cloud Architect - GCP - SC Cleared

We are seeking an experienced Lead Cloud Architect to lead the assessment and future-state design of a large-scale Google Cloud Platform estate within a UK public sector environment.

The role will focus on defining the target GCP architecture, governance framework and cloud operating model, supporting the transition of platform ownership and administration into the organisation.

Key responsibilities

• Lead current-state assessment of the GCP estate and identify architectural, governance and operational improvements.
• Define the target GCP landing zone, organisation hierarchy, folder structure and governance model.
• Design enterprise-scale GCP organisation policies, IAM and role-based access control.
• Define the cloud operating model, including ownership, responsibilities, controls and service management.
• Develop identity strategy covering Cloud Identity, Workforce Identity Federation and Microsoft Entra ID integration.
• Define security architecture aligned to Secure by Design, NCSC guidance and the Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF).
• Design FinOps governance, billing hierarchies, cost allocation and chargeback approaches.
• Produce an operational transition model supporting transfer of platform ownership and administration.
• Provide architectural leadership and assurance throughout discovery and target-state definition.

Essential experience

• Significant enterprise/cloud architecture experience within complex organisations.
• Strong hands-on understanding of Google Cloud Platform governance and organisation management.
• Experience designing enterprise GCP landing zones and cloud operating models.
• Strong knowledge of GCP IAM, organisation policies, folder structures and identity management.
• Experience of cloud security architecture within UK government or regulated environments.
• Strong understanding of Secure by Design, NCSC and CAF principles.
• Experience designing FinOps and cloud cost-management models.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and architecture governance capability.