Sr. Cloud Security Architect

Who is
Trace3
?

Trace3 is a leading Transformative IT Authority, providing unique technology solutions and consulting services to our clients. Equipped with elite engineering and dynamic innovation, we empower IT executives and their organizations to achieve competitive advantage through a process of Integrate, Automate, Innovate.

Our culture at Trace3 embodies the spirit of a startup with the advantage of a scalable business. Employees can grow their career and have fun while doing it

Trace3 is headquartered in Irvine, California. We employ more than 1,200 people all over the United States. Our major field office locations include Denver, Indianapolis, Grand Rapids, Lexington, Los Angeles, Louisville, Texas, San Francisco.

Ready to discover the possibilities that live in technology?

Come Join Us

Street-Smart
 
- 
Thriving in Dynamic Times

We are flexible and resilient in a fast-changing environment. We continuously innovate and drive constructive change while keeping a focus on the "big picture." We exercise sound business judgment in making high-quality decisions in a timely and cost-effective manner. We are highly creative and can dig deep within ourselves to find positive solutions to different problems.

Juice - 
The "Stuff" it takes to be a Needle Mover

We get things done and drive results. We lead without a title, empowering others through a can-do attitude. We look forward to the goal, mentally mapping out every checkpoint on the pathway to success, and visualizing what the final destination looks and feels like.

Teamwork - 
Humble, Hungry and Smart

We are humble individuals who understand how our job impacts the company's mission. We treat others with respect, admit mistakes, give credit where it's due and demonstrate transparency. We "bring the weather" by exhibiting positive leadership and solution-focused thinking. We hug people in their trials, struggles, and failures – not just their success. We appreciate the individuality of the people around us.

Summary

We're looking for a former hands-on cloud security practitioner who's ready to take their technical expertise into a client-facing pre-sales role. This position is for a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in cloud security—covering AWS, Azure, and GCP—who can help our sales organization understand customer pain points and confidently guide them toward secure, scalable solutions.  As a Sr. Cloud Security Architect, you will partner with account executives throughout the sales cycle, from discovery and solution design to proposal support and technical validation. You'll engage directly with customer architects, engineers, and executives to assess cloud security posture, design well-architected multi-cloud solutions, and position leading security platforms such as Wiz, Sysdig, Orca, and other CNAPP/CSPM tools.

If you've been a practitioner securing cloud environments and are now ready to move into a role that blends technical depth with business impact, this role is for you.

Ideal Candidate

You are a cloud security practitioner at heart who thrives in technical problem-solving but is ready to step into a role where you can influence strategy and shape solutions before they're built. You have spent years securing AWS, Azure, and/or GCP environments, are comfortable with frameworks like CIS and NIST, and have worked hands-on with CNAPP or CSPM platforms such as Wiz, Sysdig, or Orca. You excel at explaining technical concepts to both engineers and executives, and you enjoy guiding organizations toward secure cloud adoption. Most importantly, you're eager to transition your expertise into pre-sales engagements, becoming the trusted advisor who connects business needs with the right security solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Client Engagement & Pre-Sales Leadership

• Act as the technical lead and cloud security SME during pre-sales engagements.
• Partner with account teams to align security strategies with customer priorities, risk posture, and compliance requirements.
• Lead discovery sessions, workshops, and executive briefings to uncover challenges and shape solution strategy.
• Present cloud security platforms (e.g., Wiz, Sysdig, Orca) in competitive pre-sales environments.
• Contribute to proposals, RFP responses, and reference architectures that support sales opportunities.
• Partner with our vendor relationships to help drive successful outcomes

Cloud Security Architecture

• Design and articulate secure, well-architected multi-cloud environments across AWS, Azure, and GCP.
• Recommend architectures leveraging CNAPP, CSPM, CWPP, and CIEM solutions to improve security posture.
• Guide secure configuration and hardening of IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS resources, focusing on identity, networking, and workload protection.
• Apply frameworks like CIS Benchmarks, NIST 800-53, CSA CCM, and cloud provider well-architected frameworks.

Solution Assessment & Positioning

• Evaluate customer environments to identify misconfigurations, over-permissioned roles, and exposed services.
• Recommend remediation strategies that balance security requirements with operational realities.
• Map technical findings to business outcomes, helping customers understand ROI and risk reduction.

Collaboration & Enablement

• Work closely with delivery and partner teams to ensure solutions are scoped for successful implementation.
• Provide internal enablement for sales and technical teams on emerging cloud security capabilities.
• Develop reusable assets—architectural templates, demo scripts, technical diagrams—for scalable pre-sales execution.

Qualifications

Education & Certifications (Preferred)

• Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, or related field—or equivalent experience.

• Relevant cloud certifications such as:

• AWS Solutions Architect Professional or Security Specialty

• Azure Solutions Architect Expert or Security Engineer Associate

• GCP Professional Cloud Architect or Security Engineer

• CISSP or other advanced security certifications a plus.

Experience

• 7+ years in cloud security, cloud architecture, or security engineering—preferably in a practitioner role.
• Strong working knowledge of AWS, Azure, and GCP security models, controls, and best practices.
• Hands-on experience with one or more CNAPP/CSPM platforms (Wiz, Sysdig, Orca, Prisma Cloud, Lacework, etc.).
• Experience applying cloud security frameworks (CIS, NIST, CSA) and conducting well-architected reviews.
• Comfort interacting with technical and executive stakeholders in pre-sales settings.

Skills

• Ability to translate technical risks into clear business value.
• Proficiency in secure cloud networking, IAM hardening, encryption strategies, and centralized monitoring/logging.
• Knowledge of container and Kubernetes security best practices.
• Strong presentation, communication, and solution-selling skills.

Why This Role?

This is your opportunity to bring your cloud security practitioner expertise to a pre-sales leadership role where you'll influence strategy, shape solutions, and help clients achieve secure cloud adoption. You'll work with cutting-edge platforms, collaborate with top-tier partners, and be the trusted technical voice in the room.

Actual salary will be based on a variety of factors, including location, experience, skill set, performance, licensure and certification, and business needs. The range for this position in other geographic locations may differ. Certain positions may also be eligible for variable incentive compensation, such as bonuses or commissions, that is not included in the base salary.

Estimated Pay Range: $165,000 USD - $220,000 USD

The Perks

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans for you and your dependents
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer Match, 529 College Savings Plan, Health Savings Account, Life Insurance, and Long-Term Disability
• Competitive Compensation
• Training and development programs
• Stocked kitchen with snacks and beverages
• Collaborative and cool culture
• Work-life balance and generous paid time off

Our Commitment

At the core of Trace3's DNA is our people. We are a diverse group of talented individuals who understand the importance of teamwork and demonstrating leadership, character, and passion in all that we do.

We're committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to grow. We recognize that embracing diversity drives innovation, improves outcomes, fosters collaboration, boosts teammate satisfaction, and builds a more inclusive culture.

As an equal opportunity employer, Trace3 bases all employment decisions based on individual qualifications, merit, and business requirements. We do not engage in discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Any demographic information provided is strictly voluntary, kept confidential in accordance with Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) regulations, and will not be used in employment decisions, including hiring, promotions, or mentorship programs. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process or participate in an interview, please email 

.

***To all recruitment agencies:
 Trace3 does not accept unsolicited agency resumes/CVs. Please do not forward resumes/CVs to our careers email addresses, Trace3 employees or any other company location. Trace3 is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/CVs.