Retail Security Architect — Enable Secure Cloud & On‑Prem

Harvard Partners, LLP, Trusted Advisors to IT; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Harvard Partners, LLP seeks a Security Architect to provide hands‑on security architecture support to our Retail business and technology teams. This role partners with Retail Technology, Product Architecture, Engineering, and Global Cybersecurity Services to embed security requirements into design decisions, delivery plans, and operational patterns without slowing product execution.

The Architect will act as a trusted security architecture advisor, helping teams navigate risk, regulatory

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in security architecture or senior security engineering.
• Experience supporting large‑scale application or platform modernization programs.
• Strong understanding of application security, identity and access management, API security, and network/infrastructure security (on‑prem and cloud).
• Experience operating in hybrid retail or distributed environments (stores/sites, endpoints, hybrid connectivity).
• Ability to interpret and influence solution architecture diagrams and design artifacts; comfortable with reference architectures and roadmaps.
• Familiarity with secure SDLC, threat modeling techniques, and vulnerability/risk assessment methodologies.
• Able to advise on security controls and patterns without prescribing vendor tools.
• Capable of producing clear, concise security architecture documentation (reviews, recommendations, ADRs).
• Comfortable engaging with product managers, solution architects, engineers, and security and risk stakeholders.
• Pragmatic, delivery‑oriented mindset.

Responsibilities

• Review and assess solution and platform architectures for retail systems, including application/API design, IAM, network segmentation, and data protection controls.
• Identify security risks, gaps, and control dependencies early; recommend pragmatic mitigations.
• Define and promote security architecture patterns for retail and hybrid environments (on‑prem, cloud, distributed sites).
• Embed with project delivery teams to provide timely, actionable security input throughout discovery, design, build, and rollout.
• Participate in architecture reviews and design forums; provide feedback and decision‑ready recommendations.
• Support threat modeling and security risk assessments for new or changed capabilities.
• Partner with engineering to resolve findings balancing risk, cost, and delivery timelines.
• Ensure designs align with regulatory obligations and internal security baselines; contribute ADRs and security reviews.
• Produce audit‑ready documentation for design decisions and risk acceptance where required.
• Bridge between security, retail technology, and product teams to drive shared outcomes.
• Communicate risks, options, and trade‑offs to technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Guide teams to move forward confidently without blocking progress.

Skills

Security architecture

Threat modeling

Identity & access management

API security

Network security

Hybrid cloud/on‑prem

Stakeholder engagement

Architecture documentation

Job description

Harvard Partners, LLP seeks a Security Architect to provide hands‑on security architecture support to our Retail business and technology teams. This role partners with Retail Technology, Product Architecture, Engineering, and Global Cybersecurity Services to embed security requirements into design decisions, delivery plans, and operational patterns without slowing product execution.

The Architect will act as a trusted security architecture advisor, helping teams navigate risk, regulatory