Senior / Principal Security Architect (AI/OT)

Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow?  A  position at Xcel Energy could be just what you’re looking for.

We have 1 open position for an AI-focused Security Architect (Sr or Principal) and 1 open position for an OT-focused Security Architect (Sr. or Principal). Both descriptions below –  

AI-focused Security Architect 

Position Summary 

This is a hybrid AI/IAM Security Architect role; ensure that Xcel’s artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities are designed, deployed, and operated securely—while also serving as a security architecture lead for Identity & Access Management (IAM) more broadly across the enterprise (not limited to agentic or AI-specific identity). This role provides security oversight for AI-enabled products and platforms (including generative AI/LLM solutions) and for IAM capabilities such as authentication, authorization, privileged access, and identity governance, partnering with engineering, data, infrastructure, and business teams to define secure-by-design patterns from the ground up. A successful candidate will combine strategic thinking with hands-on technical depth across AI/ML architectures, data protection, IAM architecture, and emerging threats. They will advise stakeholders on methods and practices that achieve business outcomes while reducing risk, and will champion standards, architectural patterns, and governance that strengthen the security and trustworthiness of Xcel’s AI footprint and IAM program. This role is part of the larger security architecture organization and will collaborate with peers as well as technology and business teams. 

Essential Responsibilities 

• AI & IAM Security Architecture: Design security reference architectures and guardrails for AI/ML and generative AI solutions and for enterprise IAM capabilities, including authentication, authorization, privileged access, identity governance, and secure integration patterns. 

• AI & IAM Security Governance: Define and maintain control baselines and guardrails for AI-enabled platforms and enterprise IAM (e.g., model inventory, risk tiering, approval gates; identity standards, access reviews, and privileged access requirements) and ensure compliance drift is detected and addressed. 

• Threat Modeling & Risk Analysis: Conduct threat modeling and risk assessments for AI use cases (e.g., prompt injection, data leakage, model inversion/extraction, supply-chain risks) and provide advisory services to programs and operations. 

• Secure AI Engineering Practices: Partner with product and engineering teams to embed security requirements into the AI lifecycle (data sourcing, training/fine-tuning, evaluation, deployment, monitoring, and retirement). 

• Regulation, Privacy, and Compliance: Ensure AI solutions and IAM controls align with applicable regulatory expectations and internal policies (e.g., privacy, critical infrastructure requirements), including controls for sensitive data used in AI workflows. 
   

Minimum Requirements (Senior Security Architect) – $112,200 - 159,400:   

• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in IT including 5 years’ direct experience in IT engineering and cyber security.  

• Demonstrated verbal/written communication and presentation skills. 

• Demonstrated experience collaborating with internal stakeholders, 3rd parties, and management. 

• Ability to influence without direct authority. 

• Experience with technology implementation projects for ente