Lead Security Architect

Summary

Join Natera's forward-looking cybersecurity team as a Lead Security Architect. You will design and implement secure architectures across various environments, shaping the security strategy for modern platforms. Key responsibilities include developing security reference architectures, ensuring secure integration of SaaS platforms, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Hands-on experience with security automation and proficiency in Python are required. You will also evaluate security tools, perform risk assessments, and mentor security engineers. This role involves working with various teams and influencing security policies and standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Security, Engineering, or a related field required
• Minimum of 12 years of progressive experience in cybersecurity, including at least 5 years in a security architecture or senior-level engineering role
• Deep experience in threat model, design, PoC, and implement large scale enterprise solutions (ideally in Healthcare or financial sectors)
• Proven ability to design and implement security controls aligned with compliance frameworks such as HIPAA, NIST, and CIS
• Extensive hands-on experience in AWS cloud security, network security, with extended knowledge on Zero Trust, Data Protection, and Appsec
• Strong understanding of enterprise identity and access management (IAM) systems, Data Protection, including platforms like Okta, SailPoint, VDI, and Active Directory (AD)
• Expert experience with SIEM platforms, XDR, and cloud-native threat detection tools
• Expert experience in web application security, OWASP, API security, and secure design and testing
• Hands-on experience with security automation is required, along with proficiency in AI assisted development, familiar with Python, Cursor, Lambda, Terraform, or a comparable scripting and infrastructure-as-code (IaC) tool, to drive operational efficiency and consistency

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of enterprise-wide security architecture strategies and frameworks
• Develop and maintain threat model and security reference architectures for AWS and on-premises environments, with a strong emphasis on Zero Trust principles, identity and access management (IAM), encryption, secure access controls, SIEM and XDR platforms
• Partner with Engineering, DevOps, IT, and Compliance teams to ensure secure system design and security-by-default principles are embedded into infrastructure and applications
• Collaborate with DevOps and engineering teams to embed security into CI/CD workflows and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) processes
• Establish and enforce security best practices in containerized environments (e.g., EKS, ECS) and AI-enabled applications, including workload protection, runtime monitoring, and secrets management
• Support the secure design, development, and deployment of AI/ML solutions and data pipelines, ensuring robust controls around model access, training data, and infrastructure
• Champion the use of security automation and playbooks using tools such as Python, Lambda, Terraform, and others to streamline security testing, threat detection, and remediation workflows
• Evaluate and recommend security tools, platforms, and automation approaches that align with business goals and security requirements
• Perform architectural risk assessments for new and existing systems, and provide actionable guidance and mitigation strategies for identified risks
• Work closely with the Incident Response team to ensure security architecture is aligned with current and emerging threat landscapes
• Participate in design reviews, conduct threat modeling exercises, and contribute to architecture governance and decision-making processes
• Influence the development of security policies and standards to align with industry best practices and regulatory frameworks (e.g., HIPAA, NIST, CISA, FDA)
• Stay current on industry trends, emerging threats (including AI-driven threats), and technologies to continuously enhance the organization’s security posture
• Serve as a trusted technical and strategic advisor to executive leadership on security architecture, technology risks, and mitigation strategies
• Mentor and provide guidance to security engineers and developers on secure design principles and architectural best practices

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, specifically in Information Security or a related discipline is strongly preferred
• Industry certifications preferred: CISSP, CCSP, AWS Certified Security – Specialty, AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional, or AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty (or equivalent)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to translate complex security concepts for technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive alignment across multiple teams
• Strategic thinker with a passion for security innovation, continuous improvement, and building scalable defenses

Benefits

• Employee benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents
• Natera employees and their immediate families receive free testing in addition to fertility care benefits
• Other benefits include pregnancy and baby bonding leave, 401k benefits, commuter benefits and much more
• We also offer a generous employee referral program!