Head of Security Engineering & Architecture

Glocomms is partnered with a fast-growing financial technology firm operating as an independent subsidiary of a major financial institution. The company combines the agility of a startup with the stability and benefits of a large enterprise, serving hundreds of thousands of high-net-worth investors and institutional clients and handling significant financial transactions and sensitive data.

This priority Head of Security Engineering and Architecture position (officially titled as their CISO) will lead the security strategy and technical roadmap for the organization. This role combines hands-on engineering with strategic leadership, ensuring the company builds secure, reliable systems in a cloud-native environment. Reporting to the Head of Technology, this position will work closely with engineering teams and external stakeholders to strengthen security posture and client trust.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the security engineering and architecture strategy across the organization.
• Partner with development teams to embed security best practices into application and infrastructure design.
• Act as a technical leader, spending approximately 50% of time hands-on (coding, scripting, building tools) and 50% on strategy and leadership.
• Oversee cloud security posture (AWS-focused) and influence DevSecOps and cloud operations roadmaps.
• Lead client-facing security discussions with institutional advisors, broker-dealers, and RIAs, addressing cyber diligence requirements.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive security roadmap, balancing priorities and feasibility.
• Collaborate with internal security staff and external consultants to implement security initiatives.
• Prepare for and obtain FINRA Series 99 license within 180 days of hire.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience in cybersecurity, with strong technical depth in application security and cloud-native environments.
• Proven ability to write production-quality code (Python, JavaScript preferred); recent hands-on development experience required.
• Expertise in AWS security architecture; familiarity with Kubernetes and container security is a plus.
• Strong understanding of secure software development practices and DevSecOps principles.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to create actionable security roadmaps.
• Polished and client-facing communication skills; able to engage with sophisticated financial institutions.
• Experience in financial services or investment management environments preferred.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, senior engineering culture with long-tenured team members.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary: $200,000 - $300,000
• Total compensation: Up to $425,000 (including bonus and incentives)
• Comprehensive benefits package through a major financial institution, including health, retirement, and wellness programs.

Additional Information
Candidates must be fully authorized to work in the United States and able to commute to NYC at least 3x/week. The company is unable to offer sponsorship or relocation assistance for this position.