Cyber Security Engineer [AQ-23865]

Aquent; Southlake (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent is seeking a senior IAM Architect to design, implement, and govern Identity & Access Management across hybrid cloud environments. You will drive Entra ID adoption, enforce least-privilege access, and align with regulatory requirements.

You will mentor engineers, partner with DevSecOps, and shape scalable identity controls across cloud platforms and on-premises AD.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in Identity & Access Management (architecture or engineering).
• Hands-on with Entra ID, CA, Identity Protection, and Entra Governance.
• Expertise in Active Directory design, DNS, GPO, PKI, delegation.

Responsibilities

• Architect, implement, and maintain IAM solutions using Entra ID and AD.
• Design hybrid identity models with Entra Connect and cloud sync.
• Lead Zero Trust adoption and least-privilege enforcement.

Skills

Identity & Access Management

Microsoft Entra ID

Active Directory design

SSO protocols

Zero Trust

Terraform IaC

PowerShell automation

Regulatory compliance

CI/CD integration

Leadership & mentoring

Tools

Entra Connect

PAW (Privileged Access Workstations)

SailPoint/CyberArk/Okta

CI/CD pipelines

Job description

Aquent is thrilled to partner with a pioneering financial services organization, a leader in innovation dedicated to securing the digital future for millions. We are seeking a visionary to step into a pivotal role, shaping the very foundation of identity and access management. This is your unparalleled opportunity to make a profound impact, driving the adoption of cutting‑edge security principles and safeguarding critical systems against an ever‑evolving threat landscape. Your expertise will directly influence the security posture of a vast enterprise, ensuring seamless, secure access for all while championing a Zero Trust future.

About The Role

In this dynamic engineering position, you will be at the forefront of designing, implementing, and maintaining robust Identity & Access Management (IAM) architectures. You will be instrumental in establishing a long‑term identity strategy that aligns with critical business objectives, stringent security mandates, and complex regulatory requirements. This role offers an exciting opportunity to lead transformative initiatives, innovate with cutting‑edge hybrid identity models, and integrate advanced security controls seamlessly across diverse cloud platforms and agile development pipelines. Beyond building the future of identity security, you will also inspire and mentor peers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement in a fast‑paced, impactful environment.

What You’ll Do

• Architect, implement, and maintain comprehensive Identity & Access Management solutions leveraging Microsoft Entra ID and Active Directory.
• Develop and execute a forward‑thinking identity strategy, ensuring alignment with business goals, security mandates, and regulatory compliance.
• Design and secure hybrid identity models, integrating Entra Connect, advanced cloud sync strategies, and automated identity lifecycle processes.
• Champion and drive the adoption of Zero Trust identity principles, focusing on continuous evaluation and enforcement of least‑privilege access.
• Lead the design and optimization of Conditional Access policies, authentication flows, Multi‑Factor Authentication (MFA), passwordless strategies (FIDO2, Windows Hello Business), and robust identity protection measures.
• Architect, standardize, and provide governance oversight for Entra ID Governance capabilities, including Privileged Identity Management (PIM), access reviews, entitlement management, custom roles, and segregation of duties.
• Oversee the configuration of Entra applications, service principals, federations, SCIM provisioning, and Single Sign‑On (SSO) integrations (SAML/OIDC/OAuth2).
• Design secure, resilient, and scalable Active Directory forests, domains, Group Policy Object (GPO) structures, and privileged access boundaries.
• Lead initiatives to modernize Active Directory security posture, including tiered administration models, privileged access isolation, delegated administration, and secure baselines.
• Implement Active Directory hardening, lifecycle management, group governance, and remediation of legacy dependencies.
• Develop and enforce identity standards, patterns, security baselines, and comprehensive governance frameworks.
• Ensure strict adherence to regulatory requirements such as SOX, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001, and internal audit controls.
• Provide expert guidance for Role‑Based Access Control (RBAC)/Attribute‑Based Access Control (ABAC) models, identity lifecycle management, privileged access governance, and application onboarding.
• Design identity controls that are inherently auditable, measurable, and automatable, directly supporting internal risk assessments and regulatory compliance efforts.
• Collaborate extensively with cloud platform and DevSecOps teams to seamlessly integrate identity controls into cloud landing zones, CI/CD pipelines, and broader enterprise architectures.
• Partner strategically with security operations to integrate identity telemetry, significantly enhancing threat detection capabilities and streamlining incident response workflows.
• Provide critical architectural direction for acquisition integrations, cloud migrations, and modernization projects.
• Produce high‑quality architecture diagrams, strategic roadmaps, comprehensive threat models, and detailed solution documentation.
• Drive Identity and Access Management (IAM) as a shared enterprise platform, meticulously balancing security, user experience, and operational resiliency.
• Stay at the forefront of the latest identity trends, Entra roadmap updates, and emerging threats to inform and guide strategic decisions.
• Recommend and implement continuous improvement opportunities across authentication, authorization, and identity governance domains.
• Mentor fellow engineers, fostering growth and guiding best practices in identity design and operations.

What You’ll Bring

• 8+ years of dedicated experience in Identity & Access Management, spanning architecture or engineering roles.
• Deep, hands‑on expertise in:
  • Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD), Conditional Access, Identity Protection, and Entra Governance.
  • Active Directory design, replication, DNS, GPO, PKI, and robust delegation models.
  • SSO protocols including OAuth2, OIDC, SAML, and WS‑Fed.
  • Identity lifecycle automation and provisioning.
  • Zero Trust architecture principles.
• Strong knowledge of Multi‑Factor Authentication (MFA), passwordless authentication, risk‑based policies, and complex authentication flows.
• Proven experience securing sophisticated hybrid identity environments using Entra Connect, federation services, and cloud‑only patterns.
• Expertise in building Terraform Infrastructure as Code (IaC) resources and guardrails for identity services through reusable modules and automated CI/CD pipelines.
• Proficiency with PowerShell or other robust automation frameworks.
• Strong understanding of IAM risk management, audit requirements, and global regulatory standards.
• Exceptional communication and leadership capabilities, with the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across organizational boundaries with diverse technical and executive stakeholders.
• Strong problem‑solving, strategic decision‑making, and analytical thinking skills.
• Ability to simplify complex identity concepts into clear, actionable guidance for various audiences.

Stand Out With These Qualifications

• Microsoft certifications such as SC‑300, SC‑100, AZ‑305, or equivalent industry‑recognized certifications.
• Experience with:
  • Privileged Access Workstations (PAW).
  • Microsoft Identity Manager (MIM) or other advanced Identity Lifecycle Management (ILM) solutions.
  • Advanced Conditional Access configurations and automation strategies.
  • Enterprise‑scale identity consolidation and complex domain migration projects.
  • Modern IAM stacks including SailPoint, CyberArk, or Okta.
• A background in security architecture, threat modeling, or penetration testing specifically focused on identity systems.