Associate Director, IT Security

Job Description Summary
The Associate Director of IT Security is a critical hands-on leadership role reporting to the Director of Network Security at Raymond James Financial. This position requires a seasoned engineering leader who combines deep technical expertise with operational resilience, capable of architecting enterprise-scale security solutions while managing critical incidents. The ideal candidate thrives in high-pressure environments, maintains technical credibility with senior engineers, and can effectively lead diverse teams through both strategic initiatives and operational challenges. This is an excellent opportunity for a technical leader who enjoys staying close to the technology while building and mentoring high-performing engineering teams.

Job Description

This position follows our hybrid workstyle policy: Expected to be in a Raymond James office location a minimum of 10-12 days a month.

Please note: This role is not eligible for Work Visa sponsorship, either currently or in the future.

Required Qualifications:

Experience:

• 10+ years of hands-on engineering experience with at least 5 years in technical leadership roles
• Proven track record of leading engineering teams through both strategic initiatives and operational challenges
• Experience in financial services or other highly regulated, 24/7 environments strongly preferred
• History of successfully managing both planned projects and unplanned operational work

Technical Expertise:

• Expert-level knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform) and cloud security architectures
• Deep understanding of modern security frameworks (NIST, ISO 27001, SOC2)
• Extensive hands-on experience with:
  
  • Enterprise firewall platforms (Palo Alto, Fortinet, Checkpoint)
  • Container orchestration (Kubernetes, Docker)
  • Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation, ARM templates)
  • CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps practices
  • Microservices architectures and service mesh technologies
  • API security and management platforms
  • SIEM, SOAR, and XDR platforms
  • Network security protocols and technologies
• Strong coding abilities in at least two languages (Python, Go, Java, C#)
• Experience with security automation and orchestration
• Ability to quickly diagnose complex technical issues under pressure

Regulatory & Compliance:

• Deep understanding of financial services regulations (SOX, GLBA, FINRA, SEC)
• Experience with PCI-DSS, GDPR, and other data protection regulations
• Knowledge of audit processes and control frameworks

Certifications (Preferred):

• Advanced security certifications: CISSP, CCSP, or equivalent
• Cloud certifications: AWS Solutions Architect Professional, Azure Solutions Expert, or Google Cloud Platform Professional
• ITIL Expert or Master level certification
• Technical certifications demonstrating hands-on expertise

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership & Architecture:

• Architect and oversee implementation of enterprise-scale security solutions across hybrid cloud environments (Azure, AWS, Google Cloud Platform)
• Lead the design and evolution of zero-trust security architectures
• Drive adoption of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and DevSecOps practices
• Establish technical standards for microservices security, API security, and container security
• Oversee implementation of advanced threat detection and response systems
• Guide technical decisions on emerging technologies including AI/ML for security operations
• Review and approve architectural designs, ensuring solutions are both secure and maintainable

Operational Leadership:

• Lead 24/7 engineering operations for critical security infrastructure supporting global financial services

Engineering Excellence:

• Build and scale engineering teams across multiple locations, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement

Team Leadership & Development:

• Lead a team of 15-25 engineers including managers, senior engineers, and individual contributors

Incident & Crisis Management:

• Lead major incident response efforts, coordinating across multiple technical teams

Realistic Expectations:

This role offers the opportunity to work with cutting-edge security technologies while making a significant impact on critical financial infrastructure. The position comes with substantial challenges including:

• Regular involvement in after-hours incidents and weekend work
• High-pressure decision-making with significant business impact
• Balancing long-term architectural improvements with immediate operational needs
• Managing team burnout while maintaining service levels
• Staying current with rapidly evolving security threats and technologies

The ideal candidate views these challenges as opportunities for growth and takes pride in maintaining and evolving critical systems that enable global financial services.

Education
Bachelor's: Computer and Information Science, Bachelor's: Information Technology, High School (HS) (Required)

Work Experience
General Experience - 10 to 15 years

Certifications
Other Certification Not Listed - Other

Travel
Less than 25%

Workstyle
Hybrid

At Raymond James our associates use five guiding behaviors (Develop, Collaborate, Decide, Deliver, Improve) to deliver on the firm's core values of client-first, integrity, independence and a conservative, long-term view.

We expect our associates at all levels to:
Grow professionally and inspire others to do the same
Work with and through others to achieve desired outcomes
Make prompt, pragmatic choices and act with the client in mind
Take ownership and hold themselves and others accountable for delivering results that matter
Contribute to the continuous evolution of the firm

At Raymond James - as part of our people-first culture, we honor, value, and respect the uniqueness, experiences, and backgrounds of all of our Associates. When associates bring their best authentic selves, our organization, clients, and communities thrive. The Company is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions on the basis of merit and business needs.
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