Automation Architect

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an Automation Architect based in the United States.** We are seeking an experienced Automation Architect to design and lead intelligent automation solutions that strengthen cybersecurity operations and engineering efficiency. In this role, you will define the automation strategy, establish scalable engineering standards, and oversee the development of reliable systems across security architecture and engineering. You will combine hands-on Python development with leadership responsibilities, guiding a team of automation engineers while remaining actively involved in technical decisions. You will also design AI-powered and agentic workflows, ensuring they are secure, maintainable, and supported by appropriate human oversight. Working closely with security specialists, platform owners, and engineering partners, you will identify high-value automation opportunities and translate them into practical solutions. This opportunity offers competitive compensation, a comprehensive benefits package, and the chance to influence cloud security, application security, and next-generation AI-enabled engineering practices. ### Accountabilities - **Define the automation strategy:** Own the automation architecture and roadmap, identify the highest-value opportunities, prioritize initiatives, and sequence delivery to maximize operational impact. - **Design and develop robust automation systems:** Build production-quality solutions in Python, including data processing, API integrations, error handling, logging, testing, packaging, and documentation. - **Integrate enterprise platforms:** Develop reliable integrations with internal and external systems through REST APIs, accounting for authentication, pagination, rate limits, retries, and failure scenarios. - **Lead AI and agentic workflow development:** Design, implement, and operate AI-assisted workflows, defining how agents are structured, which context and tools they receive, and how their outputs are evaluated. - **Establish engineering standards:** Define and enforce best practices for code quality, version control, pull requests, code reviews, automated testing, deployment, documentation, and long-term maintainability. - **Strengthen cybersecurity capabilities:** Contribute technical expertise to cloud security and application security initiatives, ensuring automation solutions support the team's broader security objectives. - **Maintain and improve existing systems:** Review the current codebase, address technical debt, strengthen reliability, and ensure automation solutions remain scalable, extensible, and easy to troubleshoot. - **Identify and implement process improvements:** Collaborate with process owners to evaluate existing workflows, determine where automation is appropriate, and replace inefficient manual activities with effective technical solutions. - **Apply sound security judgment:** Assess the quality and reliability of security data and automated findings, identify potential inaccuracies, and maintain human oversight wherever automated decisions require additional validation. - **Manage and develop engineers:** Lead a small team of automation engineers by setting priorities, reviewing technical work, providing feedback, conducting performance and development discussions, and supporting professional growth. - **Support team expansion:** Participate in hiring and onboarding as the automation function grows, establish clear responsibilities, and remain accountable for team delivery and outcomes. - **Promote knowledge sharing:** Document system architectures, design decisions, operational procedures, and troubleshooting guidance so other engineers can maintain and extend solutions independently. ## Requirements - A high school diploma or equivalent, with at least 4 years of experience in cybersecurity, information technology, or a related field. - At least **5 years of professional experience** across security engineering, software engineering, or a combination of both, including hands-on software development. - Experience leading engineers, either as a direct people manager or as a technical lead ready to assume formal management responsibilities. - Strong practical Python programming skills, including data manipulation, API client development, error handling, logging, testing, and software packaging, with the ability to architect complete systems rather than build standalone scripts. - Demonstrated experience integrating systems through REST APIs, including authentication methods, pagination, rate limiting, retry logic, and error management. - Sufficient cybersecurity expertise to interpret security data, assess automated findings, and recognize when results may be inaccurate or require further investigation. Relevant experience may come from security engineering, security architecture, security reviews, cloud security, application security, or software engineering combined with security experience. - Working knowledge of cloud security and application security concepts, including familiarity with the types of tools used to identify and assess security findings. - Experience developing or operating AI-assisted and agentic workflows in practical settings, or a demonstrated aptitude and strong interest in building such solutions. - Proficiency with Git and collaborative version control practices, including working in shared codebases, submitting pull requests, and participating in code reviews. - Strong technical leadership and people development skills, including setting direction, reviewing engineering work, coaching colleagues, and encouraging independent ownership. - Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to document technical systems, explain architectural decisions, and communicate automation capabilities to nontechnical stakeholders. - Strong analytical thinking, prioritization, and decision-making skills, particularly when determining which processes should be automated and where human judgment should remain essential. - A bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline is preferred. ## Benefits - **Competitive annual salary:** Base salary ranging from **$129,000 to $253,000**, depending on education, experience, skills, and geographic location. - **Performance-based compensation:** Eligible full-time employees may receive a company bonus based partly on organizational and individual performance. - **Retirement benefits:** Access to a company-sponsored 401(k) plan and pension benefits, subject to eligibility. - **Comprehensive healthcare:** Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage for eligible employees. - **Paid time off and leave:** Vacation benefits and eligibility for various leave programs. - **Insurance coverage:** Life insurance and death benefits, subject to applicable plan provisions. - **Flexible benefits:** Access to eligible flexible benefit programs, which may include healthcare and dependent care options. - **Employee well-being:** Employee assistance programs, fitness benefits, employee clubs, and other workplace activities. - **Career development:** Opportunities to lead a specialized engineering team, influence technical strategy, and expand expertise in cybersecurity automation and AI-enabled systems. - **Inclusive workplace:** An environment that supports diversity, equal employment opportunities, employee resource groups, and professional collaboration. - **Meaningful technical impact:** The opportunity to develop reliable automation systems that improve security engineering capabilities and support broader organizational objectives.