Principal Architect - Identity & Access Management (Remote)

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Job overview and responsibilities

The Principal Architect – Workforce Identity & Access Management (WIAM) will design a modern workforce IAM experience that delivers secure, reliable, scalable, and performant identity platforms and systems. The Principal Architect is a senior level position that works closely with development teams, digital product teams, and other architects across security and business functions to integrate identity security into product and workforce identity lifecycles (for both human and non-human identities) and optimize experiences around risk-based authentication and authorization for our workforce customers.

This technical leader will define, craft, implement, review, advise, and guide implementation of workforce identity architecture and will take a strong hands-on role, working with diverse teams across United as well as with external partners to define and support identity innovation. On any given day, the Principal Architect can be pulled in to evaluate a new tool, contribute to short and long-term strategic Identity roadmaps, or provide guidance across United on IAM relevant standards and frameworks, authentication and authorization protocols, and how to successfully implement these across a range of capabilities.

Leads design, technical innovation, and documentation of Workforce Identity & Access Management platform architecture and roadmap

Translates business requirements into technical architecture

Leads the design, definition and implementation of risk-based authentication and authorization identity security best practices and updating Cybersecurity and Digital Risk standards and policies to ensure clarity with technology teams

Recommends and implements products/services that support workforce identity operational needs and security requirements, considering performance, compliance, and business continuity needs that ensure performant, scalable, highly available, and resilient IAM capabilities

Promotes and contributes to the continuous improvement of security culture and strategy based on business objectives and security priorities

Participates in capacity planning, formulating and contributing to Objectives and Key Results,

Serves as a department Subject Matter Expert, and mentors, trains, and coaches junior members of the IAM team

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

Bachelor's degree

STEM

7+ years of experience in related field such as identity and access management, secure coding, security architecture, threat modeling, governance risk and compliance, ethical hacking

7+ years of experience working with cloud/hybrid-based identity and zero-trust enablement platforms such as ForgeRock, Okta, Ping Identity, Oracle Access Manager, AWS IAM, Microsoft Entra, Azure Active Directory, Zscaler, Duo

Deep expertise in identity management, authentication, authorization, and security architecture, including technologies like SSO, SAML, OAuth2, OIDC, FIDO, and Zero Trust principles

Hands-on experience developing enterprise security architecture; Demonstrated ability to build custom IAM tooling for automation, integration, and enhanced capabilities and working with security development lifecycle processes and tools

Demonstrated ability to set technical direction and lead organizations through complex architectural transformations

Strong collaborator, able to influence and build productive relationships across technical and business teams

Ability to effectively articulate security and identity concepts to technical and non-technical audiences

Familiarity with NIST Cybersecurity Framework, PCI and SOX requirements

Proven experience effectively leveraging AI technologies for identity management, such as ML-based access anomaly detection and generative AI for governance

Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship

Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualification

Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position

What will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications):

Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or Cybersecurity

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Certified in Risk and Information Systems Controls (CRISC)

Certified Ethical Hacker

Minimum of 10 years of experience in related field, including any combination of the following\: threat modeling, secure coding, identity management and authentication, security architecture, data science, machine learning, cryptography, system administration and network security, cloud computing, governance risk and compliance

10+ years of experience working with an IAM platforms

Airline Industry experience

Familiarity with transportation sector specific regulatory and compliance requirements

Experience in leading/architecting large-scale identity transformation projects

Security threat modeling and risk assessments

Experience implementing Zero Trust architecture

Experience with large language models for security automation

Experience leading technical teams and mentoring IAM professionals

Experience with multi-cloud environments

Post expiration date\: 06/30/2025