Offer summary

Qualifications:

Minimum 10 years of software development experience., At least 5 years of experience in cloud security architecture., Proficiency in cloud platforms like AWS and Azure, including native security services., Strong knowledge of infrastructure-as-code tools and security frameworks..

Key responsibilities:

Design and maintain secure cloud architectures for AWS and Azure.

Review application and infrastructure designs to identify security risks.

Develop and implement advanced security controls and automation pipelines.

Ensure compliance with regulatory standards and provide technical leadership.

Job description

At First Advantage (Nasdaq: FA), people are at the heart of everything we do. From our customers and partners to our greatest advantage — our team members. Operating with empathy and compassion, First Advantage fosters a global inclusive workforce devoted to the diverse voices that make up our talent and products. Our team members empower each other to be their authentic selves and treat all with respect, integrity, and fairness.

Say hello to a rewarding career, and come join a leading provider of mission-critical background screening solutions to some of the most recognized Fortune 100 and Global 500 brands.

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced and visionary Principal Security Architect to lead the design, implementation, and governance of secure infrastructure across on-premises, AWS, and Azure environments. This role requires deep expertise in cloud-native security, secure software development strategies, information security and security engineering, with an eye towards automation and infrastructure-as-code. You will be responsible for reviewing software and infrastructure architectures, engineering robust security controls, and owning the automation of go-live security reviews to ensure scalable and secure cloud deployments.

Key Responsibilities

Cloud Security Architecture: Design and maintain secure cloud architectures for AWS and Azure platforms, ensuring alignment with industry best practices and compliance requirements.
Software Architecture Review: Collaborate with engineering teams to review application and infrastructure designs, identifying and mitigating security risks early in the development lifecycle.
Security Engineering: Develop and implement advanced security controls, including IAM policies, network segmentation, encryption, and monitoring solutions.
Automation Ownership: Lead the development of automated pipelines and tooling for go-live security reviews, integrating with CI/CD workflows to enforce security gates.
Governance & Compliance: Ensure cloud environments meet regulatory and organizational compliance standards (e.g., SOC 2, ISO 27001, SOX, CJIS).
Mentorship & Leadership: Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior security engineers and cross-functional teams.
Incident Response Support: Collaborate with incident response teams to advise on cloud-related security incidents.

Required Qualifications

10+ years of experience in software development, with at least 5 years focused on cloud security architecture.
Strong background in software development (e.g., Python, Go, Java, or similar).
Deep expertise in AWS and Azure cloud platforms, including native security services.
Proven experience conducting software and infrastructure architecture reviews.
Demonstrated ability to design and implement automated security review pipelines.
Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation, Bicep).
Experience with container security (e.g., Kubernetes, EKS, AKS) and serverless architecture.
Strong understanding of DevSecOps principles and CI/CD integration.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Relevant certifications such as AWS Certified Security – Specialty, Azure Security Engineer Associate, CISSP, or CCSP.
Experience with multi-cloud security strategies and hybrid environments.
Knowledge of security frameworks such as NIST, CSA CCM, and MITRE ATT&CK.

Why First Advantage is Your Next Big Career Move
First Advantage is going through a technology transformation! We are looking for experts who are excited to work with advanced technologies and provide best-in-class user experiences, drive the development and deployment of scalable solutions, and smoothly guide our agile teams and clients through meaningful changes as we continue to expand our impact.

What Are You Waiting For? Apply Today!
You have learned a little about us today – we want to learn about you! If you think this position and our company are a great fit for your areas of interest and expertise, tell us about you by applying now!

The salary range for this position is approximately $190,000-225,000 base annually. This range reflects our good faith estimate to pay fairly as to what our ideal candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on the selected candidate’s experience, industry knowledge, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the interview process.

United States Equal Opportunity Employment:

First Advantage is proud to be a global leader in removing barriers and supporting our community members to ensure the changing demographics of the workforce are reflected in our hiring and employment practices. We value all of our candidates, employees, and clients, and place great emphasis on hiring and supporting qualified individuals in each role. We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, disability, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, genetic information, or any other area protected by applicable law.

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