[Hiring] Senior Security Architect @Alkami Technology

Role Description

We're looking for a Sr. Security Architect who believes that great security enables the business — it doesn't block it. In our Enterprise Information Security team, we don't operate as the house of no. We're the house of yes, and here's how:

• Yes to moving fast
• Yes to bold initiatives
• Yes to innovation

This is one of the most impactful roles in our security organization. You'll sit at the intersection of business strategy and technical security, helping teams across the company move quickly while making smart, calculated risk decisions. You won't just enforce policy — you'll be a trusted partner who understands what the business is trying to accomplish, negotiates practical paths forward, and finds creative solutions that let the organization take calculated risks confidently.

You'll move fluidly between deep technical work and high-level strategy — designing cloud security architecture one day, presenting a roadmap to leadership the next. You'll partner closely with SRE and development teams, lead our network penetration testing program, and help the broader organization navigate increasingly complex security challenges, including the emerging frontier of AI and agentic systems.

This is a remote position with travel required twice a year for team gatherings.

Key Responsibilities & Duties

• Business Partnership & Risk Enablement:
  • Act as a genuine business partner, not a gatekeeper.
  • Engage with teams early in the process to understand what they're trying to build and why — then help them get there securely.
  • Translate complex security risks into clear business language.
  • Negotiate practical solutions that balance business velocity with security best practices.
• Security Initiative Lifecycle & Cross-Team Handoff:
  • Own security initiatives end to end — from gap identification and solution selection through implementation and handoff.
  • Collaborate with both teams throughout, not just at the finish line.
• Security Strategy & Innovation:
  • Own the development and execution of a forward-looking, cloud-first security architecture vision.
  • Identify gaps in our current security posture and research emerging technologies.
• Framework Governance & Standards:
  • Lead the company's formal adoption of NIST CSF 2.0 and the NIST AI Risk Management Framework.
  • Conduct gap analyses and build cross-functional alignment on a clear adoption plan.
• Cloud Identity & Infrastructure Security:
  • Define and maintain Terraform-based configuration standards.
  • Drive the migration to AWS IAM Identity Center.
• Threat Management & Vulnerability Governance:
  • Formalize and run a threat modeling program.
  • Support the CI/CD security gating process.
• Penetration Testing Program Management:
  • Manage our network penetration testing program, coordinating approximately five third-party engagements per year.
• Technical Leadership & Mentorship:
  • Design cybersecurity solutions that align with enterprise policy.
  • Coach and mentor technical staff across the company.
• Security Awareness & Policy:
  • Raise the security awareness bar across the enterprise through ongoing education and communication.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of proven experience as a security architect
• Deep expertise in cloud platforms, specifically AWS and/or GCP
• Proficiency with security tools and technologies including Wiz and Cloudflare
• Strong command of security architecture frameworks such as NIST CSF 2.0 and NIST AI RMF
• Experience building and maintaining security systems with a focus on data and application security
• Hands-on background with firewalls, intrusion detection systems, authentication systems, log management, anti-virus, and content filtering
• Solid knowledge of network configurations, devices, and security monitoring tools
• Up-to-date understanding of the latest security principles, techniques, and protocols
• Familiarity with web technologies, web services, and service-oriented architectures and their associated protocols
• Proven ability to negotiate and influence
• Strong business acumen
• Strong leadership presence
• Exceptional communicator
• BS in Computer Science or a related field, or an additional 3 years of equivalent experience

Desired Skills

• Experience in financial services, with an understanding of the sector's unique regulatory and security landscape
• CISSP, CCSP, or CISM certification
• Hands-on experience integrating security into CI/CD pipelines
• Advanced knowledge of data protection, encryption methods, and privacy regulations such as GDPR and CCPA
• Proficiency in risk identification, assessment, and mitigation strategy development
• Familiarity with Zero Trust architecture and the application of AI/ML in cybersecurity contexts
• Track record of effective collaboration across development, operations, legal, and executive leadership

Salary & Benefits

• The salary range for this position is: $128,000 - $160,000 + Bonus
• Remote-first environment
• Unlimited paid time off
• 401(k) with employer match

Company Description

Alkami is the digital sales and service platform provider for U.S. banks and credit unions. Our unified Platform integrates onboarding, digital banking, and data and marketing—each solution can stand alone, but together they deliver more—to help institutions onboard, engage, and grow relationships.

Founded in 2009, we continue to be recognized for our intentional culture and tremendous growth.