Security Architect - Southeast region

General Description

The Security Architect will assist Account Executives drive new business in the Southeast region by providing technical security guidance and product recommendations. The Security Architect will be instrumental in helping the prospects and customers evaluate product offerings. This position will be 100% focused on cybersecurity solutions and provide the ability to look at and recommend interesting and new technologies within the space. Expectations for this role is 90% pre-sales and 10% delivery

Roles and Responsibilities:

Vendor & Technology Strategy

• Develop a deep operational understanding of tools, architectures, and processes across the security ecosystem.
• Build, maintain, and expand strategic relationships with key vendors and emerging technology partners.
• Conduct evaluations of new technologies, products, and solutions to ensure alignment with client needs and industry best practices.
• Maintain awareness of vendor certifications, industry advancements, and emerging security capabilities.
• Lead and coordinate “vendor days” with key partners for internal team enablement and education.
• Compare and contrast competitive solutions to determine the most effective fit for client requirements.

Client Solution Design & Leadership

• Serve as the design/architecture lead and primary technical interface for clients throughout the engagement lifecycle.
• Identify vendors and partners that align to operational requirements, budgets, and client resource constraints.
• Lead solution demos with vendor support, ensuring the demos are tailored to client objectives and clearly differentiated.
• Produce, socialize, and document both operational and technical requirements.
• Provide options and solution pathways that best align with client maturity, business strategy, and budget.

Assessment & Advisory Support

• Evaluate client people, processes, and existing technologies to identify optimization opportunities.
• Assist clients with the development of RFIs, RFPs, and program requirements.
• Collaborate with GPS SMEs to provide specialized insight, assessments, or validation as needed.
• Identify overlaps and gaps within client environments and provide clear recommendations for remediation or enhancement.

Technical Validation & Enablement

• Perform technical validation and rationalization of proposed solutions to ensure feasibility, effectiveness, and long-term value.
• Support compliance-aligned documentation efforts, ensuring architectures and decisions reflect industry and regulatory expectations.
• Lead risk-mitigation activities throughout solution evaluation and implementation.
• Advocate for client engineers and technical leaders, ensuring their priorities are incorporated and supported.

Roadmap & Program Alignment

• Support ongoing alignment of technical roadmaps with client strategic objectives and security programs.
• Provide optimization strategies to improve solution adoption, operational efficiency, and measurable outcomes.
• Coach client teams, ensuring clarity of roles, solution capabilities, and expected results.
• Continuously update, refine, and communicate architectural plans to keep pace with evolving technologies and business needs.

Required Experience:

• Strong understanding of operational security processes and technical architectures.
• Ability to represent industry "best practices" and articulate new technologies effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to compare and evaluate complex solutions across vendors.
• Excellent communication skills, able to simplify technical concepts for diverse audiences.
• Vendor relationship management and negotiation experience.
• Proven ability to lead demos, workshops, and requirements-gathering sessions.
• Strong consultative skills with the ability to influence and guide client executives and technical teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Industry certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM, CCSP, vendor-specific certifications).
• Experience developing RFIs/RFPs or supporting enterprise procurement cycles.
• Background in architecture, engineering, or security operations.
• Demonstrated success in technical leadership roles with direct client engagement.

Travel Requirements:

• Up to 50% travel in our Southeast region

Physical Requirements:

• Sedentary work
• Substantial movement of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers for a minimum of 8 hours a day
• Required to have close visual acuity to view computer terminal and/or extensive reading for a minimum of 8 hours a day