Principal Security & IAM Architect

The Principal Security & IAM Architect is responsible for designing and supporting the implementation of the security and identity architecture of the MyCDW platform — CDW Managed Services’ unified ServiceNow environment serving thousands of customers and coworkers. This role owns the future-state access management model, the consolidation of fragmented identity platforms (Entra, Okta, and native ServiceNow authentication), and the security controls that protect customer and coworker access across the Managed Services estate. It ensures the security and identity architecture aligns with the organization’s business strategy, regulatory obligations, and enterprise hardening standards, and drives the strategic planning, governance, and risk reduction required to operate MyCDW securely at scale. What you will do Define and own the future-state security and access management architecture for the MyCDW ServiceNow platform, covering authentication, authorization, and identity lifecycle management for both customer and coworker users. Lead the consolidation of fragmented identity platforms (Entra, Okta, and native ServiceNow authentication) toward a unified, future-state identity model that reduces attack surface, duplicative controls, and licensing cost. Architect the SailPoint → Microsoft Entra ID Governance (IGA) migration and the RBAC and access-tier model for ServiceNow, aligning coworker identity to Entra IGA standards. Design access request, approval, certification, and lifecycle (joiner / mover / leaver) workflows with clear ownership and auditable controls. Ensure the platform and identity model meet security and compliance requirements, including PCI DSS v4.0.1 access-control requirements, SOC 2, and corporate security policies. Establish identity and security governance — decision rights, ownership frameworks, and standards — across ITSM processes and the MyCDW platform. Define a staged transition that decouples coworker identity (Entra IGA-aligned) from customer identity, minimizing customer disruption and avoiding repeated identity changes for the same customers. Partner with the Principal Applications Architect and the Integration & Automation Architect to ensure identity and security designs align to the platform’s target-state architecture. Evaluate identity, security, and IGA technologies and products to determine their suitability and cost-effectiveness, including benchmarking, proof-of-concept projects, and risk/cost trade-off analysis. Implement security monitoring, threat detection, and identity analytics for predictive risk insights and platform health. Conduct security and identity risk assessments, threat modeling, and design reviews, and provide remediation guidance for technical debt carried forward from legacy environments. Lead, mentor, and set standards for the Managed Services security and IAM engineering team, including security engineers and IAM analysts. Effectively communicate and collaborate with development, engineering, infrastructure, compliance, and product stakeholders to ensure the security and identity vision is understood and implemented. Create and maintain documentation related to the security and identity architecture, roadmaps, design decisions, control mappings, and technical specifications. Resolve complex security and identity issues that arise during design, migration, and operations, providing guidance and solutions to overcome obstacles. Balance security requirements with budget and experience constraints to make cost-effective, risk-based decisions. Interact with identity and security technology vendors, negotiate contracts, and manage relationships to ensure the organization gets the best value. Anticipate and keep up with emerging security and identity threats, standards, and industry trends to recommend innovative, defensible solutions. What we expect of you Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or related field and 10 years’ experience in IT, including security architecture and identity & access management, OR 14 years’ experience in IT, security, and IAM. Deep, hands-on expertise designing enterprise security and IAM architectures, including authentication, authorization, federation (SAML / OAuth / OIDC), SSO, MFA, and privileged access management. Strong, demonstrated experience with Microsoft Entra ID and Entra ID Governance (IGA), and with identity governance platforms such as SailPoint, ideally including migrations between them. Expertise in RBAC / ABAC design, access certification, and joiner / mover / leaver identity lifecycle automation. Strong knowledge of regulatory and compliance frameworks, particularly PCI DSS v4.0.1, SOC 2, and corporate security and hardening standards, with the ability to map controls to architecture. Experience securing SaaS and ITSM platforms (ServiceNow strongly preferred), including platform authentication models and integration security. Experience/research in Artificial Intelligence principles as applied to security — identity analytics, anomaly and threat detection, and the access governance of AI agents and automated workflows. Ability to develop and implement security and identity strategies that support organizational objectives while reducing risk and cost. Experience leading project teams from an architecture perspective, collaborating with stakeholders across departments, and influencing decision-making at a strategic level. Demonstrated ability to lead security transformation initiatives, drive risk reduction, and manage change effectively. Extensive and demonstrated understanding of network architecture, security principles, infrastructure management, and cloud security. Exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to think strategically, anticipating threats and translating them into actionable, defensible plans aligned with enterprise-wide goals. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including collaboration, leadership, influencing, and conflict resolution. Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously. Proven track record designing and implementing large-scale, complex security and identity solutions. Extensive experience in multiple IT domains, such as applications, data, infrastructure, security, and cloud services. Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CISM, SailPoint, or Microsoft Identity & Access Administrator (SC-300), a plus. Master’s degree, a plus. Pay range: $156,400 - $218,920 depending on experience and skill set ​ Annual bonus target of 10% subject to terms and conditions of plan Benefits overview: https://cdw.benefit-info.com/ Salary ranges may be subject to geographic differentials CDW is committed to being an AI-fluent organization We’re looking for people who bring curiosity, a learner’s mindset, and a willingness to engage with ever-evolving technology and tools. We value adopting AI as a partner, openness to experimentation, and a shared interest in learning together on AI. Our goal is to create a culture where AI enhances—not replaces—human creativity and decision-making. You don’t need to be an expert today; what matters is your readiness to explore, adapt, and grow with us as we integrate AI responsibly and effectively into our work. Additionally, CDW is committed to fostering an equitable, transparent, and respectful hiring process for all applicants. During our application process, our goal is to understand your experience, strengths, skills, and qualifications. As an AI forward company, we see AI not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for new ways of thinking, creating, and communicating. We encourage candidates to embrace an AI mindset, one that’s curious, adaptive, and ready to explore what’s possible. We welcome thoughtful use of AI to expand your perspective and elevate how you share your story, while ensuring your application remains rooted in your own background, judgment, and voice. About Us CDW is a Fortune 500 technology solutions provider that helps businesses, government, education, and healthcare organizations achieve what’s possible through technology. What makes CDW different isn’t just what we do—it’s how we do it. At CDW we act as one—building trust, speaking candidly, and working together to achieve more. We play to win—focusing on what matters most and delivering for our customers. And we think forward—staying curious, moving fast, and continuously learning. We believe meaningful work happens when people feel supported, heard, and empowered to contribute. That’s why we think of ourselves as coworkers, not just employees—working together to solve complex challenges and deliver real impact for our customers and communities. As a full‑stack, full‑lifecycle technology partner, CDW brings deep expertise, strong relationships, and broad industry knowledge to help turn ideas into outcomes. When you join CDW, you become part of a collaborative environment where your work matters, your growth is supported, and your contributions help shape what’s next. Together, we deliver the full promise of what technology can do. Together, we Make Amazing Happen. CDW is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by state and local law.