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.

Location and Work Style

McLean, VA (hybrid)

Compensation

USD 114,200 - 248,700 per year

Key Responsibilities

• 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.

Required Qualifications

• 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 Control System, Network Intrusion prevention systems, and Endpoint Security Solutions.
• Strong written and verbal technical communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop effective working relationships that improved the quality of work products.
• Well organized, thorough, and able to handle competing priorities.
• Ability to maintain focus and rapidly develop proficiency in new skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent planning skills, willingness to accept new challenges, and ability to grasp new or changing concepts, technologies, and procedures.
• In-depth knowledge across all areas of Information Security.

Relevant Technologies

• OAuth/OIDC
• API gateways
• OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications
• retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)
• vector databases
• GenAI (Generative AI)
• Large Language Model (LLM)

Benefits

• Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.
• Non-exempt employees are also eligible for overtime pay in accordance with federal, state, or local law.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Basic life, accidental death and dismemberment, supplemental life, and coverage for spouse/domestic partner and dependents (including accidental death and dismemberment).
• Short- and long-term disability, long-term care, business travel accident, disability and legal.
• 401(k) plan with company match and eligibility for participation in an additional FINRA-funded retirement contribution.
• Tuition reimbursement, commuter benefits, and wellness-related support including adoption assistance, backup family care, surrogacy benefits, employee assistance, and wellness programs.
• Time-off program starting at 15 days of paid time off (increasing with years of service up to 25 days), 5 personal days, and 9 sick days.
• Two volunteer service days (based on full-time schedule).
• Full-time employees receive nine paid holidays.
• Care of a family member leave (available after 90 days of employment).
• Childbirth and parental leave (available after 90 days of employment).

Work Conditions

• Hybrid work environment with defined in-person presence requirements.
• Occasional travel and extended hours may be required.

Important Compliance and Employment Information

• FINRA's Code of Conduct imposes restrictions on employees’ investments and requires financial disclosures related to the role as a securities regulator.
• Employees are required to disclose to FINRA all brokerage accounts they maintain, control trading for, or have a financial interest in, and authorize broker-dealers to provide FINRA with duplicate statements for those accounts.
• Accounts are subject to the Code’s investment and securities account restrictions, and new employees must comply by the date they begin employment, including disposing of securities issued by a company on FINRA’s Prohibited Company List or obtaining a written waiver from their Executive Vice President.
• Employees may only maintain securities accounts that must be disclosed to FINRA at securities firms that provide an electronic feed (e-feed) of data to FINRA, and must move securities accounts from other firms to an e-feed firm within three months of beginning employment.
• Employees must execute FINRA’s Employee Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreement without qualification or modification and comply with the company’s policy on nepotism.

Search Firm Policy

• FINRA is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for this employment opportunity.
• Before any resumes are submitted to FINRA, a valid written agreement and task order must be in place.
• Resumes submitted without a valid written agreement and task order will be deemed the sole property of FINRA, and no fee will be paid if the person is hired.