Principal Systems Architect - Application Security

Join Wells Fargo to help shape secure software development across enterprise application platforms and emerging technologies. This hybrid role focuses on security architecture leadership, secure-by-design practices, and measurable improvements to security outcomes, engineering productivity, and operational efficiency.

What you’ll do

• Advise senior technology and cybersecurity leaders on application security strategy, architecture, and risk management.
• Define and drive enterprise security standards, including reference architectures, design patterns, and security requirements.
• Lead security architecture reviews, threat modeling, and risk assessments for strategic initiatives, enterprise platforms, and emerging technologies.
• Champion secure-by-design across application development, APIs, cloud-native platforms, DevSecOps pipelines, and software supply chain ecosystems.
• Lead enterprise initiatives spanning secure software development, software supply chain security, developer security platforms, application security modernization, and secure AI adoption.
• Influence enterprise technology strategy, architectural direction, and investment decisions that advance secure software development and technology modernization.
• Evaluate technologies using architecture analysis, design reviews, prototyping, automation, and technical experimentation.
• Drive adoption of automation and AI-enabled capabilities to improve security outcomes and operational efficiency.
• Mentor architects and senior engineers while promoting technical excellence and innovation.

Skills and experience

• 7+ years of architecture experience, or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of: work experience, training, military experience, education.
• 7+ years of architecture, application security, software security, or related cybersecurity experience.
• Deep expertise in application security architecture, secure software development, software supply chain security, threat modeling, and modern application architectures.
• Experience establishing enterprise security standards, architecture patterns, governance frameworks, or strategic initiatives adopted across multiple organizations.
• Experience leading enterprise-scale transformation initiatives involving application security, secure software development, software supply chain security, developer security platforms, or secure adoption of emerging technologies.
• Strong technical and engineering background to evaluate architectures, review technical designs, assess application code, and validate solutions via prototyping or proof-of-concept development.
• Experience securing modern application ecosystems including APIs, cloud-native platforms, software delivery pipelines, open-source software, and distributed architectures.
• Proven ability to influence senior technology leaders, architects, engineering organizations, and cybersecurity stakeholders.

Security and technology tooling you’ll work with

• GitHub Copilot
• SAST, DAST, SCA
• SBOM
• CI/CD and DevSecOps
• Infrastructure-as-code
• CI/CD security controls
• Container security

Work location and expectations

• Hybrid work schedule
• Not eligible for Visa sponsorship
• Demonstrate proficiency using AI-assisted development and analysis tools (for example, GitHub Copilot and approved code-centric agents)
• Use AI to accelerate system design, coding, testing, analysis, and troubleshooting
• Apply technical judgment when validating and integrating AI-assisted outputs
• Understand and account for model limitations, security risks, and operational considerations
• Apply AI responsibly in development and production environments, aligned with security, compliance, privacy, and ethical standards

Compensation and benefits

Salary range: USD 159,000 - 279,000 per year (base pay). Pay may vary based on factors such as prior performance, skills, experience, and work location. Employees may also be eligible for incentive opportunities.

Benefits include: health benefits, 401(k) plan, paid time off, disability benefits, life insurance, critical illness insurance, and accident insurance, parental leave, critical caregiving leave, discounts and savings, commuter benefits, tuition reimbursement, scholarships for dependent children, and adoption reimbursement.

Additional information

• Posting end date: 4 Oct 2026 (posting may come down early due to volume of applicants)
• Applicants with disabilities: request a medical accommodation during the application or interview process via Disability Inclusion at Wells Fargo
• Drug and alcohol policy: Wells Fargo maintains a drug-free workplace
• Recruiting and hiring requirements: third-party recordings are prohibited unless authorized; Wells Fargo requires you to directly represent your own experiences