Security Architect - Microsoft Corporation
Redmond, WA 98073
About the Job
_Do you enjoy solving problems, writing software, and working with customers? Do you wake up hoping to find time to learn a bit more about how to containerize_ _compute_ _workloads? Work with high scale data? Or build end to end engineering deployment systems? Do you want to join a team where learning about new technology is part of our work every day?_
The Industry Solutions group provides professional services that help Microsoft customers around the world get the best outcomes from their investments in the latest Microsoft cloud technologies. We focus on empowering customers on their digital journey, from envisioning new possibilities to delivering solutions that result in targeted business outcomes and a great customer experience.
We are hiring a Security Architect in the Engineering and Architecture Group of Microsoft Industry Solutions. As a Security Architect, you will collaborate with our enterprise customers to evaluate, conceptualize, strategize, design, and oversee the integration of security and compliance capabilities, utilizing Microsoft services and adhering to industry-standard cybersecurity practices. Your responsibilities will include engaging with enterprise customers strategically to innovate and revolutionize cybersecurity within their organizations.
Our team prides itself on embracing a growth mindset, inspiring excellence, and encouraging everyone to share their unique viewpoints and be their authentic selves. Join us and help create life-changing innovations that impact billions around the world!
Microsoft is on a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Our culture is centred on embracing a growth mindset, a theme of inspiring excellence, and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best each day. In doing so, we create life-changing innovations that impact billions of lives around the world. You can help us to achieve our mission.
**Responsibilities**
**Understanding Customer/Partner Technical Environment**
+ Gathers customer/partner insights from a broad range of stakeholders as well as the main business sponsor to shape and form both the definition and ongoing execution of projects. Identifies and evaluates industry trends (customer industry verticals, information technology [IT] industry). Adapts business models, plans, and solutions to insights.
+ Works with customer/partner stakeholders (e.g., Security Team, Enterprise Architects, Development Team, Operations Team) and business sponsor to socialize both the business solution and the project approach to determine if changes are needed to the business solution. Where the cost of change is accepted by the customer, shares this feedback with the project team and the broader account team to make the necessary adjustments using mechanisms such as updating the solution approach and projected costs in presales and change requests in delivery. Contributes to Microsoft-centric operations and cadences to align with customer feedback.
+ Uses evidence-based approach to represent the customer/partner as a customer advocate and shares insights with Product Engineering teams and the business with a view to improving Microsoft technologies, products, services, and offerings such that they can better meet customer/partner needs.
**Architecture Design and Deployment**
+ Leverages a structured approach to Architecture Projects using existing methodologies (e.g., Waterfall, Agile, Iterative) that make use of existing reference architecture and established architectural styles and design patterns. Proposes and develops new solutions to scale across multiple customers/partners. Builds and maintains an architecture description document, an architecture decisions log, and a requirements/constraints traceability matrix to ensure the rationale for the business solution's Architecture is known and understood.
+ Defines and documents the architecture through an architecture description document, an architecture decisions log, and a requirements/constraints traceability matrix to communicate the value proposition of the business solution along with the project approach. Leads complex cost-based and technology-based discussions to explain the Architecture in terms of its build, deployment, and ongoing operational use to determine customer appetite for the business solution. Uses a business-value approach that values return on investment (ROI) and customer costs-savings over technical ease of execution.
+ Collaborates with the Project Manager to jointly drive project/technical governance of the design, build, and deployment into use of proof of concepts (POCs) and pilots, using enterprise architecture processes and ensuring quality control through peer review. Works with customers to understand and demonstrate business value (e.g., release of revenue, cost savings) that the business solution realize.
+ Works with the business sponsor and customer/partner stakeholders (e.g., Business users, Enterprise Architects, Security Team, Operations Team) to gather and ratify requirements and constraints. Manages and resolves complex ambiguity in the requirements and constraints and documents assumptions and implications where it cannot be resolved. Maintains the requirements/constraints traceability matrix to prove that solution components have a rationale/justification for inclusion in the architecture of the business solution. Drives development and execution of test plans to prove that each requirement/constraint has been implemented as expected by the customer. Where there are defects, works in close collaboration with the Project Manager and Customer to redress or accept and document the status of the test results.
+ Collaborates with the Account Team and/or Bid Team to understand the business solution/problem. Drives agreement, based on the customer's priorities, requirements/constraints, approach, principles, concepts, and expectations. Builds and documents a realistically costed, advanced/complex Solution Approach with traceability of requirements, constraints, decisions, and tradeoffs that balances risk, technical credibility, and technical innovation to meet customer need, predominantly based on existing solution offerings and/or reference architecture. Jointly leads the implementation in close partnership with the Project Manager. Leads oversight and governance and establishment of quality practices and standards to realize the business solution. Uses a cohesive build methodology with an agreed release schedule and timeline so the solution can be transitioned to live operations, leveraging solution expertise. Ensures communication of and adherence to the pre-sales value proposition. Works with the Project Manager to highlight where assumptions have proven false. Uses change requests to modify the Solution/project approach when needed. As needed, collaborates with subject matter experts to receive specialized advice that can help define the Solution and project approach and increase the time to value for the customer.
+ Anticipates and identifies scenarios that could slow or impede pre-sales/delivery. Orchestrates the broader Microsoft team to address technical blockers and works with account/project team to resolve non-technical issues. Reports significant problems to Microsoft management and resolves escalations when needed. Plans a way forward in complex and ambiguous situations with an innovative approach and durable design. Delegates and leverages specialist skills of others to drive technical alignment across internal/external teams. Coordinates disparate approaches into a single plan of action for complex scenarios.
+ Works in close collaboration with the Project Manager and Account Team to identify, categorize, and communicate business and technical risks. Defines risk mitigation activities that are foundational to the project plan. Defines risk contingency plans for invocation should the risk occur. When appropriate, oversees a broad portfolio of accounts. Manages and ensures the all-up delivery of consulting engagements, as necessary.
**Practice Development**
+ Generates new and/or improvements to existing intellectual property. Connects gaps and patterns across business and technology areas to drive changes. Identifies which ideas should be culled, with consideration for scale across customers. Drives the re-use of intellectual property and recommends practices in both pre-sales and delivery. Participates and contributes to internal/external communities.
**Trusted Advisor**
+ Develops a network of internal/external relationships with senior-level decision makers to build influence in addressing problems/blockers and facilitatingadditional views on the matter of interest. Acts as an advisor to external stakeholders. Provides direction to facilitate relationships between others. Stays up to date on Microsoft's technologies, products, and services in order to communicate Microsoft's mission, strategy, and capabilities.
+ Uses evidence-based arguments that articulate complex concepts in a simple manner to respectfully challenge Microsoft and customers/partners when a decision or course of action will not produce optimal results. Leverages strategic expertise to encourage alternative approaches where applicable. Serves as the "technical conscience" to challenge the status quo and unrealistic expectations. Proactively resolves conflicts and seeks resolution to balance the overall outcome. Drives consensus where possible and leads decisions to resolve conflict when needed.
**Thought Leadership**
+ Leads virtual teams around technologies and customer/partner challenges by sharing ideas, insight, and strategic, technical input with technical teams, internal communities across the field, and the larger virtual team across Microsoft using knowledge of Microsoft architectures and their context in the competitive landscape.
+ Participates in external architect community events (e.g., conferences, seminars, technical meetups, Webcasts, blogs, hackathons) and shares learnings with internal team. Acts a mentor to junior colleagues by educating them on technical and non-technical concepts and sharing best practices. Demonstrates deep industry knowledge and drives recognition for Microsoft solutions through presentations and engagements with external audiences.
**Other**
+ Embody our culture and values
**Qualifications**
**Required/Minimum Qualifications**
+ Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years experience in technology solutions, practice development, architecture, consulting, and/or technology domain (e.g., Security)
+ OR Master's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years experience in technology solutions, practice development, architecture, consulting, and/or technology domain (e.g., Security)
+ OR equivalent experience.
+ 2+ years managing multiple projects or portfolios.
+ 1+ year(s) experience leading blended, multidisciplinary teams.
+ 1+ year(s) of exp in Microsoft security and identity technologies, such as Active Directory, Azure Active Directory, Entra ID, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Azure Defender for Identity, Azure Security Center/Azure Defender, Azure Sentinel, and M365 Security & Compliance technologies.
**Additional or Preferred Qualifications**
+ Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field AND 12+ years experience in technology solutions, practice development, architecture, consulting, and/or technology domain (e.g., Security)
+ OR Master's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years experience in technology solutions, practice development, architecture, consulting, and/or technology domain (e.g., Security)
+ OR equivalent experience.
+ 6+ years technical sales experience.
+ 6+ years project management experience.
+ 4+ years managing multiple projects or portfolios.
+ 3+ years people management experience, including managing consultant practice managers, technical sales managers, and/or technical architect managers.
+ Knowledge of Cybersecurity concepts and mitigation practices, such as Advanced Persistent Threat (APT), Credential Theft, Zero Trust, Privileged Access Management, Just-in-time Administration, etc.
+ Proven success and expertise in architecting innovative security solutions primarily in a client-facing role
+ Experience giving presentations to executive audiences and explaining the benefits of the Microsoft security platform
+ Knowledge of Security Assessments and Reviews
+ Knowledge of security, threat modelling, incident response and recovery techniques
+ Knowledge of Hybrid Cloud and Workload Security configurations and practices.
+ Cloud application development solutions (e.g. PaaS, Serverless, API Management)
+ Knowledge of Security Standards, Policies and Governance frameworks
+ Technical or Professional Certification in Domain (e.g., Security).
Solution Architecture IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $115,500 - $205,000 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $148,000 - $222,000 per year.
Microsoft will accept applications for the role until April 18th, 2024.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html) .
Source : Microsoft Corporation