Architect III - Security Architect

Western Alliance Bancorporation; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

401(k) matching

Tuition assistance

Volunteer program

Wellness program

Job summary

Western Alliance Bancorporation's security architecture team is seeking an Architect III - Security Architect to lead and advance the organization’s cybersecurity strategy. You will own security solution architectures for core products, contribute to governance forums, and translate complex requirements into secure, compliant designs.

The role requires deep domain expertise, Azure focus, and strong collaboration with business stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in security architecture or related field.
• Strong understanding of IAM, Network, App, Cloud, Data, AI domains.
• Hands-on experience creating architecture artifacts and governance artifacts.

Responsibilities

• Own security solution architecture for assigned products and platforms within the Security domain.
• Develop and maintain security standards, reference architectures, and design patterns.
• Translate requirements into secure architecture blueprints and document work.
• Track threats, vulnerabilities, and trends to keep security current.
• Provide guidance during design reviews ensuring alignment with security posture.
• Lead as a security SME influencing decisions early in the lifecycle.

Skills

Security architecture

Cloud security (Azure)

Threat modeling

Governance & patterns

DevSecOps experience

Regulatory knowledge (FFIEC PCI DSS SO

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Tools

Microsoft Azure

AWS

CASB

Job description

Job Title: Architect III - Security Architect

Location: Block 23

What you’ll do:

An Enterprise Architecture team member responsible for advancing the organization’s business and technology strategy within the cybersecurity domain. You will participate in governance forums such as the Architecture Standards Board (ASB) and Technology Review Board (TRB), manage the business capability inventory for your domain, and develop applicable standards and patterns for ASB review and approval. Additionally, you will design and document solution architectures for applications and capabilities within your domain, ensuring they are secure, compliant, and reliable while meeting business needs. You will review solution architecture designs in TRB to ensure alignment with approved standards and patterns.

• Own security solution architecture for assigned products and platforms within the Security domain.
• Develop and maintain security standards, reference architectures, and design patterns for use in governance and solution delivery.
• Translate business and technical requirements into security architecture blueprints and document all design and analysis work.
• Track emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and technology trends to ensure security strategies remain current and effective.
• Provide architecture guidance during solution design reviews, ensuring alignment with enterprise security posture and regulatory requirements.
• Act as a security SME within EA domains, influencing architecture decisions and ensuring secure design principles and best practices are integrated early in the solution lifecycle.
• Evaluate emerging security tools and services, advising on adoption strategies and integration feasibility.

What you’ll need:

• 10+ years of related experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required.
• Strong understanding of security domains (IAM, Network, Application, Cloud, Data, AI) with depth in at least two.
• Hands‑on experience creating architecture artifacts (standards, patterns, diagrams) and supporting governance processes.
• Ability to evaluate technology landscapes and emerging threats and distill them into repeatable, secure design patterns.
• Hands‑on experience designing secure cloud architecture, with a strong emphasis on Microsoft Azure; AWS experience is also acceptable.
• Experience with threat‑modeling methodologies and ability to operationalize them within governance processes.
• Knowledge of CASB solutions, data governance and security practices, and Zero Trust principles for securing cloud, applications, and data.
• Excellent communication skills, able to engage both technical teams and business stakeholders.
• Knowledge of financial services regulatory requirements (e.g., FFIEC, PCI DSS, SOX).
• Familiarity with DevSecOps practices and CI/CD security integration.
• Security Architect Level Certifications (e.g., CISSP, CCSP, Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect Expert).
• Previous leadership experience preferred.
• Intermediate knowledge of general Financial Services or Banking is preferred.
• Intermediate knowledge of applicable regulatory and legal compliance obligations, rules and regulations, industry standards and practices.
• Advanced experience working in an architecture function with knowledge & experience developing reference architectures & patterns and supporting governance functions related to: Application Development, Cloud Compute, Storage and Networking technologies. IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, Serverless, Automation, Security.
• Advanced understanding of product management, agile principles and development methodologies and capability of supporting agile and DevOps teams by providing advice and guidance on opportunities, impact and risks, taking account of technical and architectural debt.
• Advanced speaking and writing communication skills.
• May require up to 25% travel.

Benefits you’ll love:

We offer competitive salaries, an ownership stake in the company, medical and dental insurance, time off, a great 401(k) matching program, tuition assistance program, an employee volunteer program, and a wellness program. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to bolster your business knowledge, learning the ins and outs of how successful companies operate and manage their finances, giving you invaluable hands‑on experience to help grow your career.

About the company:

Western Alliance Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Western Alliance Bancorporation. Alliance Bank of Arizona, Alliance Association Bank, Bank of Nevada, Bridge Bank, First Independent Bank, and Torrey Pines Bank are divisions of Western Alliance Bank; Member FDIC. AmeriHome Mortgage is a Western Alliance Bank company.

Western Alliance Bancorporation is committed to equal employment and will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information. Western Alliance Bancorporation is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process and/or need an alternative method of applying, please email [e-mail] or call 602-386-2488. When contacting us, please provide your contact information and state the nature of your accessibility issue. We will only respond to inquiries concerning requests that involve a reasonable accommodation in the application process.