Lead Application Security Architect

The Lead Application Security Architect will design, implement, and govern enterprise application security architecture across FINRA, including security practices that extend through the software development lifecycle for GenAI applications. The role also provides leadership on strategic initiatives with broad organizational impact.

McLean, VA (hybrid)

USD 114, per year

• Design and establish enterprise application security architecture frameworks, reference models, and roadmaps aligned with business objectives and risk tolerance.
• Develop and maintain security baselines, secure coding standards, and reusable patterns across web, mobile, API, microservices, GenAI, and multiple deployment models, scaled to data classification and risk profile.
• Architect core security capabilities including authentication and authorization, encryption at rest and in transit, secure communication, and secure data handling.
• Design API security strategies, including OAuth/OIDC flows, API gateways, and rate limiting.
• Lead comprehensive application of established and ad hoc processes and techniques to identify, validate, and prioritize security risks.
• Lead the identification of security requirement deficiencies, elicitation of security requirements, and the architecture and design of security controls.
• Design security architecture patterns and reference models for Generative AI and Large Language Model (LLM) applications, including retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), agentic workflows, and model integration.
• Define controls for GenAI-specific risks such as prompt injection, insecure output handling, training data poisoning, sensitive information disclosure, model denial of service, and supply chain vulnerabilities, aligned with the OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications.
• Architect GenAI guardrails including input and output validation, content filtering, rate limiting, data loss prevention, and human-in-the-loop controls.
• Establish standards for secure handling of prompts, embeddings, vector databases, and model artifacts (classification, access control, and encryption).
• Use GenAI to enhance application security architecture reviews and automate security analysis.
• Develop and implement strategies to promote consistent enterprise adoption of security controls.
• Lead the operation and monitoring of security controls, including establishment, implementation, and promotion of control monitoring strategies.
• Ensure controls operate effectively by resolving operating discrepancies and reviewing, triaging, and prioritizing control output.
• Take appropriate action to resolve security discrepancies.
• Lead and champion enforcement and monitoring efforts for compliance with internal and external regulations, policies, and standards.
• Establish and promote strategies to ensure compliance is monitored and enforced.
• Lead the identification, evaluation, and recommendation of new security technologies, techniques, and tools.
• Lead the team in defining, reviewing, and promoting information security policies, standards, guidelines, and procedures.
• Direct internal process improvement initiatives by providing feedback through suggestions.
• Mentor junior staff and contribute to team development.
• Participate in external process improvement committees as a security representative.
• Provide backup coverage for next-level management, as appropriate.
• Collaborate in-person and virtually in support of FINRA's mission of investor protection and market integrity.
• Assist with adherence to technology policies and comply with all security controls, ensuring all work products meet or exceed FINRA standards.
• Demonstrate FINRA's values.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related discipline with at least seven (7) years of related experience, or equivalent training and/or work experience;
  Master’s degree and past Financial Services industry experience preferred.
• Direct experience leading key areas including securing networks and systems architecture, design and implementation, secure software assurance, intrusion detection, defense and incident response, security configuration management, access controls design and implementation, and security policy and standards development.
• In-depth knowledge of more than one communications protocol.
• Experience managing several cybersecurity tools, including Configuration Assessment, Log Aggregation, Integrity Verification, Web Application Security Testing, Network Access…