Systems Architect

West Bend Insurance Company; West Bend (WI); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligible

Hybrid work model

401(k) Plan with Company Match

Job summary

West Bend Insurance Company in Wisconsin is seeking a Systems Architect to design and guide modern enterprise applications with emphasis on application security. You will partner with stakeholders to translate outcomes into scalable architectures, establish reusable patterns, and provide technical leadership.

You’ll review security-sensitive designs, guide risk-based security design, and help engineering teams adopt practical secure development practices while mentoring colleagues and solving

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in application architecture, software engineering, application security, or related technology roles.

Responsibilities

• Lead application architecture and security across major platforms.
• Partner with stakeholders to design scalable architectures and reusable patterns.
• Review security-sensitive designs and mentor engineering teams.
• Drive threat modeling and risk-based design reviews.
• Ensure secure SDLC practices and CI/CD security integration.
• Advise on standards, patterns, and engineering practices.

Skills

Application Architecture

Application Security

Cloud Architecture

API Security

DevSecOps

Threat Modeling

Mentorship

Security Standards

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

GitHub

Azure DevOps

OWASP ASVS

Kubernetes

Job description

Company Overview

Recognized as aMilwaukee Journal SentinelTop Workplace for 14 consecutive years, including three years of being honored as number one! Join us at West Bend, where we believe that our associates are our greatest asset. We hire talented individuals who are conscientious, dedicated, customer focused, and able to build lasting relationships. We create and maintain an environment where you feel a sense of belonging and appreciation. Your diversity of thought, experience, and knowledge are valued. We’re committed to fostering a welcoming culture, offering you opportunities for meaningful work and professional growth. More than a workplace, we celebrate our successes and take pride in serving our communities.

The Enterprise Applications team is seeking a Systems Architect to design and guide modern enterprise applications and platforms, with a particular emphasis on application security.

You’ll partner with technical and product stakeholders to translate desired outcomes into scalable application architectures, establish reusable patterns and standards, and provide technical leadership throughout solution delivery.

Additionally, you’ll bring strong Application Security expertise to integrate security into application design and the software development lifecycle. You’ll guide risk-based security design and threat analysis, review security-sensitive designs, and help engineering teams adopt practical secure development practices.

We’re looking for someone who combines strong application architecture experience with meaningful Application Security expertise and enjoys working hands‑on with engineering teams to design, implement, and improve secure software. You’ll bring the technical depth to review code, develop proofs of concept, and contribute directly when needed, alongside the architectural judgment to influence technical direction, mentor engineers, and solve complex technology problems.

Work Location

This position offers a hybrid work schedule. Candidates who are located within 50 miles of a West Bend office location will work a hybrid schedule for collaboration days, team meetings or other in-person events. The position can be based in West Bend, or Madison.

Responsibilities & Qualifications

Summary of Responsibilities

Candidates should have strong practical experience in Application Architecture and Application Security, plus direct experience in two or more of the following areas:

• Software Engineering: Practical development experience with modern application technologies, preferably C#/.NET, APIs, JavaScript, or TypeScript.
• Microsoft Azure: Azure application services, Azure API Management, Microsoft Entra ID, managed identities, Azure Key Vault, containers, and Kubernetes.
• Identity & API Security: OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect (OIDC), authentication and authorization, RBAC, least-privilege design, secrets management, and API security.
• DevSecOps: GitHub and/or Azure DevOps, SAST, SCA, secrets scanning, DAST, CI/CD security controls, and GitHub Advanced Security or comparable tooling.
• Software Supply Chain: Dependency and package governance, SBOMs, artifact integrity, software provenance, and third‑party component risk.
• Security Frameworks & Practices: OWASP Top 10, OWASP ASVS, STRIDE, NIST SSDF, OWASP SAMM, Zero Trust, and secure SDLC practices.

Requirements:

• 8+ years of experience in application architecture, software engineering, application security, or related technology roles.
• Strong application architecture experience across APIs, integrations, distributed applications, cloud solutions, and modern architecture patterns.
• Demonstrated Application Security experience across secure design, development, testing, and vulnerability management.
• Experience with threat modeling, security architecture, and risk‑based design reviews.
• Ability to translate business, technical, and security needs into practical architecture solutions and reusable patterns.
• Hands‑on experience with modern software engineering practices, including secure coding, code reviews, vulnerability remediation, and CI/CD security integration.
• Ability to establish standards and patterns and provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineering teams.
• Strong communication, collaboration, problem‑solving, and technical leadership skills.

Preferred Education and Training

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field

#LI-SB1

Salary Statement

The salary range for this position is $139,735 - $174,669The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate will be based on multiple factors, including but not limited to job‑related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, geographical location, and internal equity. Compensation decisions are made by West Bend and are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.

Benefits

West Bend offers a comprehensive benefit plan including but not limited to:

• Medical & Prescription Insurance

• Health Savings Account

• Dental Insurance

• Vision Insurance

• Short and Long Term Disability

• Flexible Spending Accounts

• Life and Accidental Death & Disability

• Accident and Critical Illness Insurance

• Employee Assistance Program

• 401(k) Plan with Company Match

• Pet Insurance

• Paid Time Off. Standard first year PTO is 17 days, pro‑rated based on month of hire. Enhanced PTO may be available for experienced candidates

• Bonus eligible based on performance

• West Bend will comply with any applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act for Colorado employees, in accordance with its plans and policies.

EEO

West Bend provides equal employment opportunities to all associates and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, and promotion.