Director of Cyber Security Architecture

Magnolia Recruiting; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and wellness days

Job summary

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals is seeking a Director of Cybersecurity Architecture to lead the design of Zero Trust, least privilege, segmentation, and continuous verification. The role requires deep cloud and application design expertise and operates in a hybrid setup with on-site work 2 days per week in Cambridge, MA.

Reporting to the VP/CISO, you will define strategy, translate it into actionable roadmaps, and drive secure-by-design practices across the enterprise while mentoring a team of security

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information security, engineering, or related field (Master's degree or MBA preferred).
• 10+ years in cybersecurity leadership with architecture/engineering management experience.
• Certifications such as CISSP, CCSP, SABSA, TOGAF or equivalent preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define and own enterprise cybersecurity architecture and target state aligned to business growth and regulatory requirements.
• Lead the design and evolution of a Zero Trust architecture emphasizing identity, least privilege, segmentation, and continuous verification.
• Establish and maintain cyber reference architectures, design patterns, and standards across IAM, cloud, applications, data, infrastructure, and endpoints.
• Serve as the senior security architecture authority for major enterprise initiatives, embedding security early in delivery.
• Drive governance for architecture reviews, risk-based exceptions, and technical debt remediation.
• Translate cybersecurity strategy into multi-year roadmaps with milestones and measurable outcomes.

Skills

Zero Trust architecture

Cloud security design

Security architecture

Stakeholder communication

Leadership

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science, information security, engineering, or related field

Master's degree or MBA preferred

Tools

CISSP

TOGAF

CCSP

Job description

Magnolia Recruiting is partnered with our amazing pharmaceutical client, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, in their search for a Director of Cybersecurity Architecture. This is a highly important hands-on role that will be responsible for leading the design of a Zero Trust architecture, least privilege, segmentation, and continuous verification environment. Candidates must be deeply experienced with Cloud, application design, and AI. This is a hybrid role requiring on-site work 2 days per week in Cambridge, MA.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have already applied directly to Alnylam for this role, please do not apply here as well.

Overview

Alnylam is pioneering RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics and scaling for impact across research, clinical development, manufacturing, and global commercialization. Our Cybersecurity organization is evolving to match that ambition, and we’re seeking a Director of Cybersecurity Architecture to define and drive the security architecture strategy that enables innovation while protecting our science, our patients, and our people.

Reporting directly to the VP/CISO, this leader will own Alnylam’s cyber architecture and target security state, translate strategy into actionable standards and roadmaps, and ensure security is embedded into enterprise initiatives from inception through delivery. This role balances long-term architectural vision with pragmatic execution, partnering closely with across our functions to scale secure-by-design practices across the enterprise.

This is a hybrid role and is primarily based in Cambridge, MA with regular engagement across Alnylam technology and business teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and own Alnylam’s enterprise cybersecurity architecture and target state aligned to business growth, regulatory requirements, and risk appetite.
• Lead the design and evolution of a Zero Trust architecture, emphasizing identity, least privilege, segmentation, and continuous verification.
• Establish and maintain cyber reference architectures, design patterns, and standards across identity, cloud, applications, data, infrastructure, and endpoints.
• Serve as the senior security architecture authority for major enterprise initiatives, ensuring security is embedded early and consistently.
• Partner with Information Technology and Expertise Areas to align cybersecurity architecture with broader technology strategy and prevent fragmented or duplicative solutions.
• Responsible for engineering execution that turns strategy into resilient, enterprise-grade security capabilities.
• Drive architectural input into vendor selection, platform strategy, and solution design, balancing risk reduction with business enablement.
• Establish governance for architecture reviews, risk-based exceptions, and technical debt remediation.
• Translate cybersecurity strategy into multi-year roadmaps with clear milestones, dependencies, and measurable outcomes.
• Define and track architecture-related metrics demonstrating risk reduction, consistency, and maturity progression.
• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of security architects and engineers, fostering a culture of accountability and strong partnership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information security, engineering, or related field. Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in cybersecurity, security architecture, or enterprise technology design, with 8+ years of leadership experience, including building and leading architecture or engineering teams.
• Industry-recognized certifications strongly preferred (e.g., CISSP, CCSP, SABSA, TOGAF, or equivalent).
• Deep expertise in designing security architecture across IAM, cloud/hybrid environments, application and API security, network segmentation/Zero Trust, and data protection.
• Strong familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks and standards (e.g., NIST CSF, NIST 800-53, Zero Trust Architecture concepts).
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive architectural decisions across complex, regulated environments.
• Proven record of balancing strategic vision with practical execution in fast-moving organizations.
• Excellent communication skills, translating complex technical concepts into clear business impact.

U.S. Pay Range

$199,800.00 - $270,300.00

The pay range reflects the full-time base salary range we expect to pay for this role at the time of posting. Base pay will be determined based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, skills, and education. This role is eligible for an annual short-term incentive award (e.g., bonus or sales incentive) and an annual long-term incentive award (e.g., equity).

Alnylam’s robust Total Rewards package is designed to support your overall health and well-being. We offer comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, a lifestyle reimbursement program, flexible spending and health savings accounts and a 401(k)with a generous company match. Eligible employees enjoy paid time off, wellness days, holidays, and two company-wide recharge breaks. We also offer generous family resources and leave. Our commitment to your well-being reflects our belief that caring for our people fuels the impact we create together.

Learn more about these and additional benefits offered by Alnylam by visiting the Benefits section of the Careers website: https://www.alnylam.com/careers

About Alnylam

We are the leader in RNAi therapeutics – a revolutionary approach with the potential to transform the lives of people with rare and common diseases. Built on Nobel Prize-winning science, Alnylam has delivered the breakthroughs that made RNAi therapeutics possible and are just at the beginning of what’s possible. Our deep pipeline, late-stage programs, and bold vision reflect our core values: fierce innovation, passion for excellence, purposeful urgency, open culture and commitment to people. We're proud to be a globally recognized top employer, where an authentic, inclusive culture and breakthrough thinking fuel one another.

At Alnylam, we commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equal employment opportunity. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their sex, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, pregnancy status or related conditions, genetic information, veteran or military status, marital or familial status, political affiliation, age, or any other factor protected by federal, state, or local law. Alnylam is an E-Verify Employer.