Strategic Enterprise Security Architect – Banking & Payments

Citizens; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

Citizens seeks a Principal Architect, Enterprise Security to guide secure, scalable architecture across cloud, infrastructure, applications, data, and security platforms. You’ll partner with senior architects, engineering leaders, and business stakeholders to enable innovation while managing risk.

15+ years in enterprise architecture, deep cloud experience (AWS/Azure/GCP), and strong security mindset are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related discipline.
• 15+ years of enterprise architecture experience with leadership at enterprise/divisional level.
• Knowledge of TOGAF, SABSA, NIST and related methodologies.
• Experience with cloud platforms AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Experience with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and modern software engineering.
• Strong understanding of microservices, APIs, distributed systems, and containers.
• Broad cybersecurity architecture experience including IAM, encryption, secure networks, threat modeling, and security controls.
• Ability to bridge enterprise architecture, security architecture, application architecture, and business strategy.
• Experience embedding security into digital transformation and modernization initiatives.
• Shift-left security practices and embedding security requirements into design.
• Ability to align security priorities with evolving business objectives and technology strategies.
• Experience fostering a security minded culture that positions security as a business enabler while maintaining compliance and managing risk.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive outcomes in a highly matrixed environment without direct authority.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve enterprise architecture strategies aligned to business objectives and cybersecurity goals.
• Partner with line of business architects to ensure cohesive integration of business, application, data, technology, and security architecture domains.
• Develop architecture standards, reference architectures, design patterns, and reusable frameworks that promote consistency and scalability across the enterprise.
• Champion secure by design principles throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Serve as a senior advisor, translating regulatory requirements, security standards, and risk considerations into actionable architectural guidance.
• Collaborate with Infrastructure, Engineering, DevOps, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), and Security leaders to embed architectural controls into platforms, CI/CD pipelines, and operational processes.
• Lead architecture discussions supporting cloud transformation, infrastructure modernization, application development, and data initiatives.
• Evaluate and guide adoption of emerging technologies, including cloud native platforms, identity frameworks, API security, secure data exchange, containerization, and automation solutions.
• Drive alignment between enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, and business strategy.
• Influence technology decisions across a highly matrixed organization through technical expertise, collaboration, and leadership.
• Communicate architectural concepts, recommendations, and risk considerations to both technical and executive audiences.

Skills

Bachelor's degree in Software Eng./CS/

15+ years of enterprise architecture

TOGAF

SABSA

NIST

AWS

Azure

GCP

DevOps

CI/CD

Automation

Microservices

APIs

Distributed systems

Containers

Identity & Access Management

Encryption

Secure network design

Threat modeling

Security controls

Bridge enterprise & security arch

Security in transformation

Shift-left security

Security culture

Influence without authority

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related discipline

Master's degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or related discipline

TOGAF certification

SABSA certification

CISSP

CCSP

AWS Solutions Architect

Azure Solutions Architect

Job description

Citizens seeks a Principal Architect, Enterprise Security to guide secure, scalable architecture across cloud, infrastructure, applications, data, and security platforms. You’ll partner with senior architects, engineering leaders, and business stakeholders to enable innovation while managing risk.

15+ years in enterprise architecture, deep cloud experience (AWS/Azure/GCP), and strong security mindset are required.