Principal Cloud Security Architect

Alignerr; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 165,000 - 248,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work

Async-friendly schedule

Contract-oriented engagement

Job summary

Alignerr is seeking a Principal Cloud Security Architect to evaluate large-scale cloud environments and uncover architectural risks. The role delivers structured, actionable guidance that helps protect infrastructure relied on by millions of people and organizations.

This remote, hourly contract focuses on AWS, Azure, and GCP security architecture, IAM, and risk assessment. You will produce prioritized mitigations and validate security against industry best practices.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in cloud security architecture across major cloud platforms.
• Strong command of IAM, network design, and cloud service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS).
• Ability to document security findings clearly and in an actionable format.
• Identify misconfigurations, privilege escalation paths, and systemic architectural risks.

Responsibilities

• Assess cloud architectures across AWS, Azure, and GCP for security vulnerabilities and design gaps.
• Review IAM configurations, identity models, network segmentation, and resource policies for privilege risks and misconfigurations.
• Identify insecure patterns, architectural flaws, and long-term security design weaknesses.
• Produce clear, structured reports summarizing findings and providing prioritized mitigation guidance.
• Validate cloud environments against established security frameworks and industry best practices.
• Support recurring security assessments of cloud environments and evolving deployment patterns.

Skills

Cloud security architecture

IAM principles

Network design

Documentation of findings

Risk assessment

Job description

About The Role

What if your deep expertise in cloud security could directly protect the infrastructure that millions of people and organizations depend on every day? We're looking for a Principal Cloud Security Architect to evaluate large-scale cloud environments, uncover architectural risks, and deliver structured, actionable guidance that makes a real difference.

About The Role

What if your deep expertise in cloud security could directly protect the infrastructure that millions of people and organizations depend on every day? We're looking for a Principal Cloud Security Architect to evaluate large-scale cloud environments, uncover architectural risks, and deliver structured, actionable guidance that makes a real difference.

• Type: Hourly Contract
• Location: Remote
• Focus: AWS, Azure, GCP — security architecture, IAM, and risk assessment

What You'll Do

• Assess cloud architectures across AWS, Azure, and GCP for security vulnerabilities and design gaps
• Review IAM configurations, identity models, network segmentation, and resource policies for privilege risks and misconfigurations
• Identify insecure patterns, architectural flaws, and long-term security design weaknesses
• Produce clear, structured reports summarizing findings and providing prioritized mitigation guidance
• Validate cloud environments against established security frameworks and industry best practices
• Support recurring security assessments of cloud environments and evolving deployment patterns

Must-Have

What You Bring

• Deep, hands-on experience in cloud security architecture across one or more major cloud platforms
• Strong command of IAM principles, network design, and cloud service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS)
• Proven ability to document complex security findings in clear, structured, and actionable formats
• Sharp eye for misconfigurations, privilege escalation paths, and systemic architectural risk

Nice To Have

• Experience designing or evaluating multi-cloud or hybrid cloud environments
• Familiarity with zero-trust architecture principles and implementation patterns
• Background in high-compliance environments — FedRAMP, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOC 2, or similar
• Relevant certifications such as CCSP, AWS Security Specialty, CISSP, or equivalent

Why Join Us

• Work on technically challenging, high-impact security assessments that matter
• Fully remote and async-friendly — work on your own schedule from anywhere
• Freelance autonomy with the structure of meaningful, well-defined engagements
• Potential for ongoing work and contract extension across new environments and projects
• Collaborate with teams who take security architecture seriously