IT Architect - Security Emphasis

Location: Remote

About Switch

At Switch, we don’t just design, build and operate data centers—we are enabling the technology of the future. Led by Founder & CEO, Rob Roy, we believe in revolutionary innovation, operational excellence and the principle of karma. Switch is where talented people come together to EVOLVE the digital world.

We believe that innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about the people, culture, and purpose that make it happen. Every Switch team member contributes to a mission greater than themselves: to create the world’s most advanced digital infrastructure that powers the progress of humanity.

The Role: IT Architect - Security Emphasis

As a Principal IT Architect focused on security, you define how secure enterprise infrastructure is designed and governed across Switch’s internal environment. You set standards for virtualization, container platforms, identity systems, and hybrid cloud infrastructure.

This is a hands-on architecture role. You are expected to design, review, and challenge technical decisions that impact enterprise risk. You work across infrastructure domains and advise senior leadership on long-term platform strategy and systemic risk.

What You’ll Do

• Define and maintain secure reference architectures across virtualization, Kubernetes, networking, identity, and operating systems

• Architect and govern secure VMware environments including vSphere, ESXi, vCenter, VCF, and NSX where applicable

• Establish hypervisor hardening standards and secure cluster design patterns

• Design Kubernetes security architecture including RBAC, network policies, admission controls, and pod security standards

• Define secure multi-cluster governance models within Rancher or equivalent platforms

• Set standards for container image security and software supply chain protection

• Implement and govern CIS benchmarks for virtualization and container platforms

• Define identity and access control models across Windows, Linux, macOS, and cloud environments

• Ensure infrastructure security aligns with network segmentation, firewalls, routing, DNS, and load balancing

• Integrate logging, monitoring, and telemetry into centralized security operations

• Conduct threat modeling and architectural risk assessments for major initiatives

• Participate in Architecture Review Board and change governance processes

• Serve as a technical escalation point for complex cross-domain security issues

• Present architectural risk, tradeoffs, and long-term strategy to EVP and C-level leadership

• Challenge designs that introduce systemic risk or operational fragility

What We’re Looking For

• You think in systems and identify risk across interconnected platforms

• You are clear and direct when communicating technical risk to non-technical leaders

• You hold high standards and challenge decisions that compromise resilience or security

• You work collaboratively across infrastructure, security, and operations teams

• You follow through and can be relied on for critical design decisions

• You focus on solutions, not just problems

• You align decisions to long-term stability, not short-term convenience

What You’ll Bring

Required:

• 10+ years of experience in enterprise infrastructure, platform engineering, or security architecture

• Deep expertise in VMware architecture and enterprise virtualization security controls

• Experience securing production Kubernetes environments

• Strong understanding of enterprise networking including segmentation, routing, firewalls, DNS, and load balancing

• Strong knowledge of identity systems, access control models, encryption, and secrets management

• Experience implementing CIS benchmarks for virtualization and container platforms

• Experience participating in architecture governance and influencing senior leadership decisions

Preferred:

• Experience with Rancher or other multi-cluster orchestration platforms

• Experience in hybrid cloud environments

• Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CCSP, CISM, Kubernetes, VMware, or TOGAF

If you meet most of the requirements but not all, we encourage you to apply.

Why Switch?

A Culture of Karma – We are self-motivated by karma, ensuring our actions contribute to a positive, supportive and forward-thinking environment.

Industry Leading Designs – Work with the most advanced data center technology on the planet and be a part of emerging technology development.

Flexibility & Remote Opportunities – Whether in-office, hybrid, or fully