Cyber Security Architect at Southern Company in Atlanta, GA

SCS Technology Security

Enterprise Security Architecture

Cyber Security Architect - Azure Cloud Specialist

Job Description

Schedule: M-F

Location: Primarily remote 20% in office – Atlanta or Birmingham

Position Summary:

Southern Company, a major U.S. energy firm, is seeking a highly skilled cloud security architect and technical leader, to design creative solutions and reduce risk. The candidate will directly support the company’s efforts to mitigate real and potential cyber threats to the company’s facilities, personnel, technology, operations, and brand – including critical electric and gas utility infrastructure and its privately owned telecommunications network. This critical role is essential for ensuring the security and integrity of our Azure tools and platforms, implementing guardrails via code to allow for the safe use of AI (Artificial Intelligence), primarily with Azure Databricks, but also extending to other platforms as required. The ideal candidate will be responsible for establishing robust security guardrails and continuously enhancing our security posture to safeguard our critical infrastructure.

This role will have responsibility for designing and implementing technology and processes that support the strategic direction for the Enterprise Security Architecture team. This role will focus on the development and implementation of security strategies for AI tools and platforms that align with the strategic roadmap. Interested applicants should be well rounded in their understanding and application of different security and technology platforms; in areas such as identity, networking, endpoint, data, monitoring, cloud, and/or application security. Qualified candidates need to be able to align strategy and execution to increase cybersecurity maturity, anticipate future requirements for complex traditional, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments, drive initiatives via influence and relationships into business processes, keep up with current security trends, be focused on results, and be a self-starter.

This position is responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the company’s information assets. This will be accomplished by:

Establishing and implementing an information security framework and technical architecture.
Designing, developing, and implementing information security solutions.
Establish and maintain security guardrails to support the safe implementation of AI and automation.
Providing information security expertise and consulting.

While Southern Company is headquartered in Atlanta, we bring energy to homes and businesses across the country. We’ve made our name as a leading producer of clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy, and we approach each day as a vital step in building the future of energy. We’re always looking ahead, and our innovations in the industry—from new nuclear to deployment of electric transportation and renewables —help brighten the lives and businesses of millions of customers nationwide. Our team is critical to building the future of energy with secure, resilient, and sustainable cyber solutions.

Job Responsibilities:

Develop and implement security strategies and guardrails for AI tools and platforms, example. Databricks
Conduct regular security assessments and audits to identify vulnerabilities and implement corrective actions.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate security best practices into AI development and deployment processes.
Monitor and respond to security incidents related to AI systems.
Align forward thinking strategy with business goals to integrate and raise the bar on security practices and solutions.
Assist in the ongoing development of Southern Company’s security architecture – identify areas of opportunity, research alternatives, and recommend solutions.
Develop creative solutions to meet business needs while ensuring appropriate security controls and best practices are implemented.
Partner with others to identify and resolve information security issues.
Plan, coordinate, and lead information security projects.
Help internal customers understand and apply information security concepts, processes, and technologies.
Maintain current knowledge of information security concepts, technologies, and practices.
Mentor others to strengthen cybersecurity principles and best practices (ex. outside operational areas).
Establish and maintain excellent working relationships and partnerships across the Technology Organization, business partners, and external vendors and suppliers.
Create an environment that fosters accountability, innovation, and engagement at all levels.

Requirements and qualifications:

Minimum

Hands-on experience with Azure Databricks and Azure AI Services
Strong understanding of AI and machine learning concepts, algorithms, and frameworks. Including LLM concepts, content safety, and data validation.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, an understanding of ethical and regulatory requirements related to AI security, and a continuous learning mindset.
Hands-on experience designing, architecting, and implementing various information security tools/products such as PKI, Static or Dynamic Code Analysis, Next-Generation Firewalls, HSM’s, SIEM, Multi-Factor Authentication, IPS, Database Encryption, Privileged Identity Management, Cloud Posture Management, etc.
Competency in APIs (Rest, Graph) and/or JavaScript/JSON/Kubernetes/SQL.
Experience promoting security as a business enablement function using influence, metrics, documentation, strong verbal communication, and presentation skills.
Working knowledge of cloud and traditional security network architectures.
Ability to lead a project from concept through implementation and anticipate potential problems.
Experience prioritizing and executing with minimal direction or oversight.
Ability to perform detailed information security risk assessments and recommend mitigating controls.
Must pass NERC CIP & Insider Threat Protection background checks.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with software development and programing.
Technical knowledge of application development practices, CI/CD pipelines, various cloud platforms including Azure, AWS, or GCP, modern operating systems, networking protocols and designs, and identity management.
Azure certifications preferred.
Industry certifications such as: CISSP, CCSP, CASA, CEH, OSCP, CRISC, CCNP, etc.
At least 5 years of experience playing a key role in building technical programs.
Experience with information security frameworks such as: NIST, OWASP, etc.
Familiarity with nation state, sophisticated criminal, and supply chain threats.
Up-to-date knowledge of current hacking techniques, vulnerability disclosures, and data breach incidents.
Experience with cybersecurity analysis and analytic tradecraft.