Location: Chicago, IL
Salary: $80.00 USD Hourly - $100.00 USD Hourly
Description: Our client is currently seeking a External Perimeter Security Architect
Role Overview We are seeking an experienced Security Architecture Lead to drive a strategic security transformation initiative focused on redesigning and modernizing our external perimeter across cloud, hybrid, and on-premises environments. This role will be responsible for reducing real-world risk exposure, strengthening security architecture, and delivering structured, milestone-driven remediation strategies that enable informed business and technology decisions.
Key Responsibilities Perimeter & Network Security Architecture - Lead the assessment, redesign, and modernization of the organization's external perimeter security architecture.
- Conduct feasibility analyses and develop phased remediation roadmaps, with comprehensive documentation maintained in Confluence.
- Perform detailed connection-by-connection reviews of high-risk network paths, identifying secure alternatives and prioritizing remediation activities.
- Design and implement security controls across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments while maintaining operational efficiency and minimizing business disruption.
- Establish scalable network segmentation and Zero Trust architectures to reduce attack surface and contain potential threats.
AWS Security Architecture & Hardening - Design and implement AWS Service Control Policies (SCPs), Resource Policies, and VPC Endpoint strategies to enforce security boundaries and workload isolation.
- Strengthen IAM architecture through secure access models, governance controls, and preventive guardrails.
- Implement encryption and secure data flow controls for data in transit and at rest.
- Assess and remediate security risks across multiple AWS accounts, prioritizing efforts based on business impact and risk exposure.
- Leverage AI-assisted security and automation tools to improve architecture review, analysis, and remediation workflows.
CI/CD & Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Security - Evaluate, design, and enhance the security of CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure-as-Code implementations.
- Identify pipeline risks and implement security controls that support secure software delivery practices.
Security Architecture Governance & Risk Management - Conduct ongoing security architecture reviews to ensure design integrity throughout the technology change lifecycle.
- Map security findings to adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to improve detection coverage during remediation efforts.
- Identify, assess, and prioritize operational and architectural risks discovered throughout the engagement.
- Provide actionable recommendations and executive-ready reporting that supports strategic decision-making.
Required Skills & Experience Core Security Architecture Expertise - Deep expertise in network security architecture, including traditional perimeter security technologies and SD-WAN environments.
- Strong practical experience implementing Zero Trust security principles and architectures.
- Advanced knowledge of AWS security services and best practices, including:
- AWS Control Tower
- AWS Security Hub
- AWS Config
- Amazon GuardDuty
- Strong understanding of cloud networking, hybrid-cloud integration patterns, and multi-account AWS security management.
- Expertise in encryption technologies and secure data protection strategies for data at rest and in transit.
- Proven experience leading large-scale security architecture assessments and remediation programs.
Additional Technical Experience - Working knowledge of Privileged Access Management (PAM) concepts and controls.
- Experience securing CI/CD platforms and automation frameworks such as Jenkins, Ansible, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, or similar technologies.
- Familiarity with threat modeling, attack path analysis, and security control validation methodologies.
AI & Modern Engineering Tools - Hands-on experience using AI-powered development or security tooling, such as Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, Gemini CLI, or similar AI coding agents, in professional or personal projects.
- Ability to integrate AI-assisted solutions into security architecture, assessment, and remediation workflows.
Preferred Qualifications - AWS Security Specialty, Solutions Architect, CISSP, CCSP, SABSA, or equivalent security certifications.
- Experience designing and implementing enterprise-scale Zero Trust transformation programs.
- Strong stakeholder management, documentation, and communication skills with the ability to present complex security concepts to both technical and executive audiences.
Ideal Candidate: A hands-on security architect who can bridge traditional network security and modern cloud-native architectures, driving measurable risk reduction through pragmatic, scalable, and business-aligned security solutions.
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