Quantum Cryptography Lead Architect

As Quantum Cryptography Lead Architect at Vodafone, you'll act as a Subject Matter Expert in Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and drive the organization's transition to quantum-safe security architectures. You'll provide strategic and technical leadership for the assessment, design, governance, and migration of cryptographic systems vulnerable to future quantum computing attacks, working across networks, cloud platforms, digital services, enterprise systems, and customer-facing products. This Group-level role lets you impact Vodafone's global central platforms and Local Markets, setting global security standards and interacting with all levels of the business from Leadership to Engineering.

What you'll do

• Develop and maintain the enterprise Quantum Safe Architecture Strategy, define target-state architectures for PQC adoption across all technology domains, and establish cryptographic modernization and crypto-agility frameworks with multi-year migration roadmaps aligned to business risk, regulatory requirements, and technology lifecycles.
• Lead architectural decisions concerning hybrid classical/PQC deployments, transition models, and patterns and controls for legacy systems requiring compensating quantum-safe measures.
• Lead enterprise cryptographic inventory and discovery initiatives to identify vulnerable cryptographic assets, protocols, certificates, PKI implementations, and dependencies, then define risk-based prioritization methodologies for migration activities.
• Establish quantum readiness assessment frameworks across technology platforms and suppliers, and assess exposure to Harvest Now, Decrypt Later threats.
• Lead security solution design projects within a team of Security Architects, highlight and clearly articulate risk mitigation requirements to the business, and lead and influence security strategy at senior technical level while remaining business-focused on security as a business enabler.
• Drive a perception change from seeing security as an inhibiter to viewing it as a business differentiator.
• Assess new suppliers, platforms, and vendor roadmaps from a security perspective, supporting network strategy and architecture decisions.

What you bring

• A Bachelor's or Master's Degree.
• 10+ years of security architecture or cryptography experience.
• Deep understanding of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), TLS/SSL, VPN technologies, Identity and Access Management, Key management systems, Network security architectures, and Cloud security architectures.
• Experience designing enterprise-scale security transformations.
• Proven ability to influence senior technology and business stakeholders.
• Experience working with global vendors and complex technology ecosystems.
• Confidence working with architecture, engineering, delivery and operational teams to embed security into network design and assurance.
• Fluency in English.

Nice to have

• Direct involvement in PQC or crypto-agility initiatives.
• Experience in telecommunications, critical infrastructure, financial services, government, or defence sectors.
• Experience leading cryptographic inventories and cryptographic risk assessments.
• Participation in industry standards or working groups.
• Demonstrable expertise in RSA, ECC, Diffie-Hellman, ECDH, ECDSA, quantum threats to asymmetric cryptography, NIST PQC algorithms (ML-KEM, ML-DSA, SLH-DSA), hybrid cryptographic architectures, crypto-agility principles, certificate management, key lifecycle management, secure software development, cloud native security, Zero Trust architecture, secure communications protocols, and PKI modernization programmes.

What we offer

• Hybrid work model with 8-10 in-office days per month, managed by team leaders.
• A mobile phone, free communication plan, data card, and various discounts on Vodafone services and products.
• Recognition programs for innovative, creative, and high-potential employees.
• A well-being program offering nutrition and psychological consultations, webinars, workshops, and discounts on services and products.
• Access to Communities of Practice and a customizable digital training platform with high-quality content including Harvard Business Publishing, Skillsoft, and Speexx.
• Local and international mobility opportunities with internal recruitment and rotation across departments and roles.

About Vodafone

Vodafone is a leading international telecommunications company serving millions of customers globally. The organization believes connectivity is a force for good, using technology to empower people and connect everyone regardless of background, while protecting the planet. Vodafone is committed to building a diverse, inclusive workplace where everyone feels safe, valued, and represented.