Role : Senior CyberSecurity Architect
Location : Northfield, IL 60093 - But need to be travel ready (~once in two months for 3-4 days)
Rate: $75/hr to $80/hr
Experience: 12–15 Years
Role Overview
We are seeking a Senior Cybersecurity Architect to lead end-to-end security architecture, solution design, and customer engagements across enterprise cybersecurity transformation programs.
This role combines customer-facing consulting, presales solutioning, and Transition & Transformation (T&T) leadership, along with security assessments and maturity evaluations across enterprise environments.
Key Responsibilities
1. Customer Engagement & Solutioning
- Act as the primary security architect for customer discussions, RFPs, and proposals
- Gather requirements and translate them into secure, scalable architecture solutions
- Present solutions to CISO, GRC, SOC, and Network Security stakeholders
- Support pre-sales, estimation, and proposal development
2. Security Architecture & Design
- Design end-to-end cybersecurity architectures across:
- Network Security (SASE, Zero Trust)
- Cloud Security (Azure, AWS)
- Endpoint Security & EDR
- IAM / Identity Security
- Data Security & DLP
- Develop HLD/LLD, architecture patterns, and blueprints
- Ensure alignment with industry frameworks (NIST, ISO 27001, CIS)
3. Transition & Transformation (T&T) Leadership
- Drive end-to-end transition and transformation initiatives (short-term and long-term)
- Define target-state architecture, roadmap, and execution strategy
- Conduct current-state assessments, gap analysis, and transformation planning
- Lead security modernisation, tool migration, and rationalisation programs
- Ensure implementation aligns with approved architecture and standards
4. Security Assessment & Maturity Evaluation
- Drive knowledge transfer and stakeholder alignment across:
- CISO
- GRC
- SOC
- Network Security teams
- Perform gap assessment of information security processes vs implementation, covering:
- Access Control
- Network Security
- HR Security
- Security Incident Management
- Change Management
- Conduct:
- Information Security control maturity reviews
- SOC maturity baseline assessments
- Security coverage and control effectiveness analysis
- Map current control inventory against:
- ISMS frameworks
- TISAX requirements
- Other relevant industry standards
- Lead TISAX Readiness Assessment (Phase 1 – critical programs/projects)
- Prepare Current State Assessment Reports, including:
- Identified gaps
- Risk prioritisation
- Actionable remediation roadmap
- Transformation recommendations
5. Program Governance & Execution
- Define and monitor architecture governance, KPIs, and success metrics
- Identify risks, dependencies, and mitigation plans
- Work with delivery teams to ensure architecture compliance and execution alignment
- Collaborate with PMs and stakeholders on program delivery governance
6. Technical Leadership & Innovation
- Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend strategic security improvements
- Guide engineering teams across SOC, IAM, and AppSec domains
- Drive adoption of automation, AI-driven detection, and advanced security capabilities
Required Skills & Expertise
Core Skills
- Strong experience across enterprise cybersecurity domains
- Exposure to MSSP / managed security environments
- Hands-on knowledge of tools such as:
- CrowdStrike, MS Centinel, Defender
- Palo Alto, Zscaler
- SIEM/SOAR (Splunk, Sentinel)
- IAM solutions (Okta, Entra ID)
Architecture & Consulting Skills
- Experience in enterprise architecture and security consulting
- Strong knowledge of:
- Zero Trust Architecture
- Security frameworks & compliance
- Risk assessment and control design
Customer-Facing Skills
- Proven experience engaging with:
- CXO / CISO stakeholders
- Business and technology teams
- Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills
Experience & Qualifications
- 12–15 years in Cybersecurity / Information Security
- 4–6+ years in architecture / consulting roles
- Experience in large-scale transformation and assessment programs
- Preferred Certifications:
- CISSP / CISM (mandatory)
- CCSP / SABSA / TOGAF (good to have)
Key Success Metrics
- Successful customer solutioning and proposal wins
- Quality of architecture and assessment deliverables
- Completion of T&T and maturity assessment initiatives
- Customer satisfaction and stakeholder feedback
Good to Have
- Experience in TISAX / ISMS audits and readiness programs
- Exposure to multi-customer shared services models
- Experience in M&A, carve-outs, or large transformation programs