The Lead Application Security Architect designs, implements, and oversees enterprise-wide application security architecture and standards. Working independently, this role directs staff and leads strategic security initiatives with broad organizational impact. It focuses on establishing security frameworks, conducting architecture reviews, developing security baselines, and embedding security throughout the software development lifecycle — including for emerging Generative AI (GenAI) applications.
The role requires a blend of deep technical expertise, architectural thinking, and people leadership. We are looking for a versatile leader who can juggle multiple priorities and bring a great attitude.
Essential Job Functions:
Security Architecture & Engineering
Design and establish enterprise application security architecture frameworks, reference models, and roadmaps aligned with business objectives and risk tolerance.
Develop and maintain security baselines, secure coding standards, and reusable patterns across technology stacks (web, mobile, API, microservices, GenAI) and deployment models, scaled to data classification and risk profile.
Architect core security capabilities: authentication and authorization, encryption at rest and in transit, secure communication, and secure data handling.
Design API security strategies, including OAuth/OIDC flows, API gateways, and rate limiting.
Ensure that security risks are comprehensively and effectively managed by leading the application of established and ad hoc processes and techniques to identify, validate, and prioritize.
Lead the identification of security requirement deficiencies, elicitation of security requirements, and the architecture and design of security controls.
Generative AI (GenAI) Security Architecture
Design security architecture patterns and reference models for Generative AI and Large Language Model (LLM) applications, including retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), agentic workflows, and model integration.
Define controls for GenAI-specific risks such as prompt injection, insecure output handling, training data poisoning, sensitive information disclosure, model denial of service, and supply chain vulnerabilities — aligned with the OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications.
Architect GenAI guardrails, including input/output validation, content filtering, rate limiting, data loss prevention, and human-in-the-loop controls.
Establish standards for secure handling of prompts, embeddings, vector databases, and model artifacts (classification, access control, and encryption).
Leverage GenAI to enhance security architecture reviews and automate security analysis.
Security Controls & Compliance
Develop and implement strategies to promote consistent use of security controls across the enterprise.
Lead the operation and monitoring of security controls; establish, implement, and promote security control operation and monitoring strategies.
Ensure that controls are operating effectively; resolve operating discrepancies and review, triage, and prioritize control output.
Take appropriate action to resolve security discrepancies.
Lead and champion efforts to enforce and monitor compliance with internal and external regulations, policies, and standards.
Establish and promote strategies to ensure that compliance is effectively monitored and enforced.
Innovation & Technology Evaluation
Lead the identification, evaluation, and recommendation of new security technologies, techniques, and tools.
Lead the team in defining, reviewing, and promoting information security policies, standards, guidelines, and procedures.
Leadership & Collaboration
Direct internal process improvement initiatives; provide feedback on processes by offering suggestions.
Mentor junior staff and contribute to team development.
Participate in external process improvement committees as a security representative.
Provide backup coverage for next-level management, as appropriate.
Collaborate, both in-person and virtually, in…