Information Security Architect

BrainWorks; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 155,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Equity eligibility

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

BrainWorks is seeking an experienced cybersecurity leader to shape enterprise strategy and architecture for a consumer brand. This role sits at the intersection of cybersecurity strategy, enterprise architecture, and business transformation, reporting to the Head of Cybersecurity.

You will partner across Technology and the business to establish security standards, governance, and a long-term roadmap that enables secure scaling of cloud, AI, and digital capabilities while accelerating innovation.

Qualifications

• Has spent ~12–15+ years leading enterprise cybersecurity or large-scale technology transformation initiatives.
• Experience securing cloud-native platforms, enterprise apps, data ecosystems, and AI security considerations.
• Able to influence executives and engineering leaders without formal authority.
• Skilled at building organizations, processes, and capabilities from the ground up.

Responsibilities

• Define enterprise security vision and architecture to enable business growth and digital transformation.
• Shape AI security patterns and evaluate emerging technologies with governance and resilience.
• Establish design principles, reference models, and reusable patterns across cloud, data, apps, and infra.
• Partner with leadership to embed cybersecurity in strategic initiatives as a business enabler.

Skills

Security leadership

Enterprise cybersecurity

Security architecture

Technology transformation

Job description

WORK LOCATION: Hybrid | 4 Days Onsite

JOB TYPE: Full-Time, Direct Hire

SALARY: DOE!

OVERVIEW

BrainWorks is currently seeking an experienced cybersecurity leader to help shape the next generation of enterprise cybersecurity strategy and architecture for one of the nation's most recognized consumer brands. This is not a traditional Security Architect position focused on designing individual technical solutions or supporting day-to-day engineering activities.

Instead, this role sits at the intersection of cybersecurity strategy, enterprise architecture, business transformation, and emerging technologies. Reporting directly to the Head of Cybersecurity, this leader will partner across Technology and the business to establish the architectural vision, security standards, governance, and long-term roadmap that enables the organization to securely scale cloud, AI, and digital capabilities while accelerating innovation.

The cybersecurity organization is intentionally being redesigned. Rather than inheriting a mature architecture function, you'll have the rare opportunity to help build one—establishing the foundational architecture, governance models, and technical standards that will shape how cybersecurity scales across the enterprise for years to come. As the organization continues to grow, this role will become one of the foundational leadership positions helping define its future direction.

What You'll Own

• Enterprise Security Vision & Architecture. Partner directly with the Head of Cybersecurity and Risk to transform long-term cybersecurity strategy into an enterprise architecture that enables business growth, accelerates digital transformation, and supports the secure adoption of AI and emerging technologies.
• AI & Technology Innovation. Help shape how artificial intelligence is safely adopted across the enterprise by defining secure architectural patterns, evaluating emerging technologies, and ensuring AI capabilities are introduced with appropriate security, governance, and operational resilience from day one. This isn't about owning AI products—it's about ensuring the enterprise is architected to innovate confidently.
• Enterprise Security Design. Establish the architectural principles, reference models, and reusable design patterns that create consistency across cloud, identity, applications, infrastructure, data, and future technology initiatives.
• Business Enablement. Partner with Engineering, Infrastructure, Product, Digital, Data, and executive leadership to ensure cybersecurity is embedded early in strategic initiatives—making security a business enabler rather than a late-stage checkpoint.
• Architecture Governance. Create decision frameworks, technical standards, and governance models that simplify security decisions, reduce complexity, and enable teams to move faster while operating within appropriate risk tolerances.
• Strategic Influence. Serve as a trusted advisor to senior technology and business leaders by translating complex cybersecurity concepts into practical business decisions, helping leadership balance innovation, customer experience, operational efficiency, and enterprise risk.
• Building for Scale. Help establish the architectural foundation for a growing cybersecurity organization by creating repeatable patterns, improving technology consistency, and enabling future engineering teams to scale efficiently as the organization maturing.

We're Looking For Someone Who...

• Has spent approximately 12–15+ years leading enterprise cybersecurity, security architecture, or large-scale technology transformation initiatives.
• Understands that architecture is more than technology—it is the foundation that enables business growth, digital transformation, and organizational trust.
• Has experience securing cloud-native platforms, enterprise applications, data ecosystems, and modern digital technologies, including familiarity with AI-enabled platforms and emerging AI security considerations.
• Has helped organizations evaluate, architect, or securely adopt artificial intelligence, automation, or other emerging technologies within an enterprise environment.
• Has established enterprise architecture standards, governance models, or technical guardrails that improved consistency across multiple teams.
• Can influence executive stakeholders and engineering leaders without relying on organizational authority.
• Is comfortable working in ambiguity and enjoys building organizations, processes, and capabilities from the ground up.
• Thinks strategically but isn't afraid to roll up their sleeves to help solve difficult problems.
• Brings a collaborative, servant-minded leadership style and enjoys partnering across technology and business organizations.
• Has a builder's mindset and is energized by creating scalable foundations that organizations can leverage for years to come.

What Makes This Opportunity Different

This is not an environment with decades of established architecture.

The organization is investing in building cybersecurity the right way.

You’ll work directly alongside an accomplished Head of Cybersecurity who already has a clear multi-year roadmap for how the organization will evolve, giving you the opportunity to help design—not simply inherit—the enterprise security architecture function. As the cybersecurity organization grows, this role will become one of its foundational leadership positions.

Success in this role isn't measured by the number of architectural diagrams produced. It's measured by the organization's ability to innovate faster, make better technology decisions, and build secure, scalable capabilities that support the business for years to come.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Location: Office-based with a hybrid schedule (5 days onsite per week).
• Relocation: Relocation assistance is available for candidates who are willing to move to California.

In alignment with California’s pay transparency and fair hiring practices, the target annual base salary range for this position is $155,000 – $220,000 + bonus and potential equity. The final compensation will be determined based on several factors, including (but not limited to) relevant experience, skills, qualifications, and work location.

This position is also eligible for a comprehensive benefits package provided by the hiring employer, which may include medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off, and other employee programs.

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.