Senior CyberSecurity Architect

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