Senior Security Architect

Paylocity is an award-winning provider of cloud-based HR and payroll software solutions, offering the most complete platform for the modern workforce. The company has become one of the fastest-growing HCM software providers worldwide by offering an intuitive, easy-to-use product suite that helps businesses automate and streamline HR and payroll processes, attract and retain talent, and build a strong workplace culture.

While traditional HR and payroll providers automate basic HR processes such as payroll and benefits administration, Paylocity goes further by developing tools that HR and businesses need to compete for talent and deliver against the expectations of the modern workforce.

We give our employees what they need to succeed, including great benefits and perks! We offer medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and a 401(k) match, as well as perks that support you, your family, and your finances. And if it’s career development you desire, we provide that, too! At Paylocity, people matter most and have always been at the heart of our business.

Help Paylocity enhance communication and enable employees to connect, collaborate, and create from anywhere with a position in Product & Technology!

Want to develop the strategies and principles needed to deliver compelling software? Join our team and help us enhance our all-in-one software platform, elevate our one-of-a-kind technology, and improve the employee experience. Take your career to the next level at one of G2's Top 100 Software Companies. Explore our Product & Technology positions to see where you fit!

Position Overview 

The Senior Security Architect plays a critical role in shaping and securing the technology landscape at Paylocity. This individual is responsible for the strategic planning, evaluation, and design of security controls across the enterprise. As a senior member of the Information Security team, you will serve as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert, collaborating with cross-functional teams to embed security into the fabric of our products, services, and infrastructure. 

This is a hands-on, forward-looking role that offers the opportunity to influence the future of security architecture in a fast-paced, SaaS based, and innovation-driven environment. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with deep technical expertise, strong communication skills, and a passion for building secure, scalable systems. 

Primary Responsibilities 

The Senior Security Architect is accountable for maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Paylocity’s systems and data. This includes leading the development of secure architectural patterns, evaluating technical risks, and partnering with engineering and product teams to implement effective security controls.

Key Responsibility Areas: 

• Serve as a strategic contributor in identifying and driving security architecture initiatives aligned with business and technology goals. 
• Collaborate across engineering, product, infrastructure, and compliance teams to ensure security is embedded throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC). 
• Design and mature enterprise security tools, frameworks, and architectural patterns to support scalable and resilient security operations. 
• Participate in the Enterprise Architecture Review Board to evaluate proposed changes, assess security implications, and promote secure design principles. 
• Develop and operationalize a framework for assessing cloud and on-premises infrastructure for security risks, providing actionable recommendations to enhance the organization’s security posture. 
• Provide architectural guidance on the secure integration and use of AI technologies, including third-party tools and embedded AI capabilities, with a focus on risk mitigation and compliance. 
• Lead and influence large-scale, cross-functional security initiatives, ensuring alignment with architectural standards and successful delivery of outcomes. 
• Actively manage stakeholder expectations and communicate security architecture strategies, roadmaps, and project statuses to technical and non-technical audiences. 
• Foster strong partnerships across the Information Security department and other business units to jointly deliver secure solutions. 
• Apply a risk-based approach to prioritize architectural decisions and resource allocation, balancing innovation with security. 
• Stay informed of changes in Paylocity’s technical environment and proactively identify areas of emerging risk or architectural improvement. 
• Operate independently, driving initiatives from concept to execution while keeping stakeholders informed and engaged throughout the process. 
• Lead vendor evaluations and architecture design for next-generation security solutions, including Zero Trust, Passwordless Authentication, and modern SIEM platforms. 

Technical Expertise 

Demonstrated experience in architecting and securing one or more of the following platforms and technologies: 

• Identity & Access Management: Active Directory (Azure AD, On-prem), Privileged Access Management (PAM), Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) 
• Cloud Security: Microsoft 365 E5 (Secure Email, DLP, Collaboration), AWS/GCP/Azure security services 
• Data Protection: Data Loss Prevention (ProofPoint, ForcePoint), Email Security (ProofPoint, Mimecast) 
• Network & Endpoint Security: DNS Filtering and Web Proxies (Cisco Umbrella, Zscaler), Endpoint Detection & Response (Microsoft Defender ATP, CrowdStrike, Carbon Black), Network Firewalls (Cisco, Palo Alto, Checkpoint) 
• Monitoring & Detection: Centralized logging and SIEM (Splunk, Exabeam), Web Application Firewalls (F5 ASM, Imperva) 
• Emerging Technologies: Familiarity with GenAI, LLMs, and Agentic AI, including associated security risks and architectural considerations 

Qualifications 

Education & Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree in information security, Computer Science, or a related field 
• 10+ years of experience in Security Architecture, Information Security, or related technical roles 
• Deep understanding of security frameworks and methodologies including: 
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 
• NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF) 
• MITRE ATT&CK 
• Threat modeling techniques such as STRIDE, DREAD, and PASTA 
• Architecture frameworks such as TOGAF, SABSA, and Zachman 

Certifications (Preferred): 

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) 
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) 
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional 
• Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect 
• Cloud Security Alliance Certificate of Competency in Zero Trust (CCZT) 
• Other relevant certifications in cloud, architecture, or risk management 

Paylocity is an equal-opportunity employer. Paylocity is committed to the full inclusion of all individuals. We recruit, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. At Paylocity, we believe diversity makes us better.

We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, culture, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion or spiritual belief, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique. We actively cultivate these differences through our employee resource groups (ERGs), employee experiences, perspectives, talents, and approaches to drive innovation in the software and services we provide our customers.

We comply with federal and state disability laws and make reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. To request reasonable accommodation in the job application or interview process, please contact accessibility@paylocity.com. This email address is exclusively designated for such requests, aligning with federal and state disability laws. Please do not send resumes to this email address, as they will be removed.

This role can be performed from any office in the US. The pay range for this position is $118k - $170/yr; however, base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. This position is eligible for an annual restricted stock unit grant based on individual performance in addition to a full range of benefits outlined here. This information is provided per the relevant state and local pay transparency laws for the location in which this position will be performed. Base pay information is based on market location. Applicants should apply via www.paylocity.com/careers.