Principal Data Protection & Security Architect

Role : Principal Data Protection & Security Architect

Location : Iselin, NJ (Hybrid)

Rate: $70/hr to $75/hr

Job Description

• Lead the design and implementation of enterprise data protection and security architectures across Azure and Databricks platforms, ensuring alignment with organizational security, privacy, and regulatory requirements.
• Define and implement data security controls including encryption, tokenization, obfuscation, data masking, row-level security, attribute/column-level security, access governance, and data loss prevention (DLP) capabilities.
• Architect secure data platform solutions leveraging Azure security services, Databricks Unity Catalog, identity and access management controls, key management, auditing, monitoring, and compliance frameworks.
• Partner with business, security, compliance, architecture, and engineering teams to establish security patterns, standards, reference architectures, and implementation roadmaps for modern data platforms.
• Conduct security architecture reviews, threat assessments, data protection impact assessments, and control effectiveness reviews to identify risks and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Define enterprise-wide governance models for sensitive data classification, access management, data sharing, lineage, retention, and regulatory compliance.
• Provide technical leadership and subject matter expertise for strategic initiatives involving cloud modernization, analytics platforms, AI/ML environments, and data product ecosystems.
• Lead client and stakeholder discussions related to platform security strategy, security architecture decisions, compliance requirements, and remediation planning.
• Establish security best practices and secure-by-design principles across the data platform lifecycle, including development, testing, deployment, and operations.
• Mentor engineering, architecture, and security teams while driving adoption of enterprise security standards and operational excellence.

Required Skills & Experience

• 12+ years of experience in Data Security, Information Security, Cloud Security, Data Architecture, or related technical leadership roles.
• Deep hands-on expertise in Databricks security architecture, including Unity Catalog, RBAC/ABAC, data masking, row-level security, secure data sharing, lineage, and governance capabilities.
• Strong experience with Microsoft Azure security services, including Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD), Azure Key Vault, Managed Identities, Private Link, Networking, Storage Security, and Monitoring solutions.
• Proven experience implementing enterprise data protection controls such as:
  • Encryption at rest and in transit
  • Customer-managed keys (CMK)
  • Tokenization
  • Data masking and obfuscation
  • Row-level and column-level access controls
  • Data classification and governance
  • Data loss prevention (DLP)
• Strong understanding of data privacy, regulatory, and compliance frameworks including GDPR, CCPA, PCI-DSS, SOX, GLBA, HIPAA, or similar regulatory standards.
• Experience securing modern cloud-based data platforms involving Databricks, Azure Data Lake, Synapse, Snowflake, or other enterprise analytics platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to develop security reference architectures, governance frameworks, security standards, and implementation roadmaps.
• Experience conducting security assessments, architecture reviews, threat modeling, and risk management activities for enterprise data platforms.
• Strong understanding of DevSecOps, Infrastructure as Code (Terraform preferred), CI/CD, secrets management, and cloud-native security practices.
• Excellent stakeholder management, consulting, communication, and presentation skills with the ability to engage in senior technology and business leadership.
• Experience working in highly regulated industries such as Banking, Financial Services, Insurance, Healthcare, or similar regulated environments preferred.

Preferred Certifications

• Databricks Certified Professional (Data Engineer and/or Security/Governance-related credentials)
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate
• CISSP, CCSP, CCSK, SABSA, or equivalent security certifications