Senior Security Architect

Canada or Chicago (Home Based with some travel)

Competitive salary, plus bonus, plus other benefits

Are you a Security Architect who thrives on solving complex security challenges, shaping secure digital transformation programmes, and acting as a trusted advisor to customers?

We're looking for an experienced Senior Security Architect to join Xalient, helping enterprise customers design, implement and optimise modern security solutions across cloud, network and security service edge (SSE) environments. Internally this role will provide security advice and guidance across the business to help in building opportunities with pre-sales team, support of their peers within the security practice and mentoring for junior security team members and managed services.

This is a consulting / advisory role with some hands-on delivery work. You must have high technical capability with Zscaler and ideally Palo Alto , broad security architecture capability and customer consultancy experience . You must also be able to travel as and when required to the customer site in Toronto (at least once a month).

Key Responsibilities

• Advise customers on how to create secure cloud, network, and application architectures that incorporate secure by design principles
• Assist customers with quantifying risk, modelling of the current threat landscape against existing and proposed security solutions.
• Mapping industry security standards and regulatory frameworks (such as NIST, ISO 27001) into security solutions and technical controls.
• Maintain close, sensitive and long-term working relationships with key customers’ acting as a trusted advisor.
• Technical design, build, testing and transitioning into live service of networking, security and managed service solutions. This includes controlling the utilization and configuration of solution hardware, licenses, professional services budgets and services.
• Provide 'technical authority' for Xalient pre-sales proposals by providing content in high level designs to presales colleagues.
• Supporting technical business consultancy services and engagements, acting as a vendor agnostic subject matter expert, assessing and analysing client business needs and helping defining solutions and producing high-quality documentation with a high level of accuracy.

Skills and Experience

At least ten years working in IT security and building foundational skills across at least two security technology areas, including network security (firewalls, VPNs, NAC), cloud security solutions (SSE, CNAPP,) identity (AAA, IDAM, PAM), endpoint security or data security (DSPM, DLP)

Ten years experience across multiple deployments working with Security Service Edge (SSE) solutions including Secure Web Gateway, FWaaS and ZTNA components – Experience in design, deployment and supporting SSE solutions with Zscaler.

Experience with delivering solutions using automation and API calls, to expedite delivery and ensure consistency of deployment. Tools such as Postman or Python language experience would be advantageous.

Certifications:

Preferred:

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional(CISSP)
• Zscaler Certified Delivery Specialist (ZCDS)
• Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE) – Prisma Access, Stratus Firewalls
• Zscaler Digital Experience Administrator (ZDXA)
• Zscaler Data Security Delivery Specialisation
• Zscaler Digital Experience Delivery Specialisation
• Zscaler Zero Trust Branch Specialisation

If you're a customer-focused Security Architect with strong SSE expertise and a passion for helping organisations strengthen their security posture, we'd love to hear from you.

Company Description

Xalient is a global boutique specialising in the convergence of identity-driven security and secure networking. We help the world’s leading enterprises stay secure, connected, and ready for the future - bringing together deep technical expertise, business insight, and AI-powered innovation to solve the complex challenges of modern digital businesses.

Independent by design and driven by a passion for exceptional service, Xalient combines global reach with the agility and customer intimacy of a boutique provider. Our advisory, professional, and managed services teams operate across the UK, US, EMEA and Asia - delivering fast, tangible outcomes and long-term impact.

Xalient is trusted by forward-thinking enterprises to reduce risk, optimise performance, and navigate today’s digital complexity with confidence.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy or maternity or age.