Distinguished Engineer Security Architecture

When you join Verizon

You want more out of a career. A place to share your ideas freely — even if they’re daring or different. Where the true you can learn, grow, and thrive. At Verizon, we power and empower how people live, work and play by connecting them to what brings them joy. We do what we love — driving innovation, creativity, and impact in the world. Our V Team is a community of people who anticipate, lead, and believe that listening is where learning begins. In crisis and in celebration, we come together — lifting our communities and building trust in how we show up, everywhere & always. Want in? Join the #VTeamLife.

The Network Security Services Planning (NSSP) team is seeking a Distinguished Engineer of Security Architecture (DESA) to lead the security transformation of NSSP's planning and service delivery.

This role owns the end-to-end requirements and roadmaps for AI-assisted security capabilities, including agentic threat intelligence, vulnerability triage, automated compliance assessment, and machine-assisted detection. As a DESA, you will drive security architectures for key Verizon systems—including 4G/5G networks, our intelligent Edge Network (iEN), IoT, and hybrid-cloud infrastructure.

Combining deep domain knowledge, threat intelligence, and emerging standards, this is a hands-on builder role. You will be responsible for prototyping proof-of-concepts, managing long-term enterprise risk, and briefing executive leadership on strategic technical direction.

Core Responsibilities

• AI Strategy & Roadmaps: Define and deliver technical objectives, timelines, and architectures for AI-assisted security capabilities across on-premise and private cloud network environments.

• Portfolio & Tool Optimization: Conduct build-vs-buy analyses, lead vendor evaluations (RFIs/RFPs), and define quantifiable replacement criteria to consolidate tools and retire incumbent licensing.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner with the CISO organization, engineering, and operations teams to align risk plans, track quantitative security KPIs, and define emerging workforce roles driven by automation.

• Architecture Definition: Design and document enterprise security architectures tailored to massive-scale telecommunications and edge computing environments.

• Hands-On Prototyping: Directly code, script, and validate software proofs-of-concept to prove out new capabilities before handing them off for production scaling.

***This role can be located in any US based Verizon hub location.***

What we’re looking for...

You’ll need to have:

• Bachelor’s degree or four or more years of work experience.

• Eight or more years of relevant experience required, demonstrated through one or a combination of work and/or military experience, or specialized training.

• Hands-on experience designing and securing massive-scale network architectures (e.g., 4G/5G, IoT, or hybrid-cloud/edge networks).

• Documented experience authoring and delivering at least 3 enterprise-scale security roadmaps that integrate across multiple domains, specifically: IAM, PKI, EDR, Vulnerability Management, and Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery.

• Experience designing or securing AI/ML systems (e.g., agent orchestration, tool calling, RAG) and applying AI governance frameworks (NIST AI RMF, OWASP LLM Top 10, or MITRE ATLAS).

• Active software development or advanced scripting experience (Python, Go, or equivalent) with a portfolio of prototyped and deployed security tooling/capabilities.

Even better if you have one or more of the following:

• Master's degree in a related STEM field. Active top-tier industry certifications (e.g., CISSP, CCSP, SANS GIAC/GSE, CKA/CKS, or specific Cloud AI/ML credentials).

• Proven track record implementing 5G security standards (3GPP TS 33.501), NFV frameworks (ETSI MANO, ONAP), and Threat Intelligence platforms (STIX/TAXII).

• Deep technical experience with UNIX/Linux, Red Hat OpenStack/OpenShift, eBPF runtime security, container scanning, and Policy-as-Code (Kyverno, OPA/Gatekeeper).

• Experience planning and executing enterprise migrations for post-quantum cryptography (FIPS 203/204/205, CNSA 2.0) and managing enterprise PKI/secrets (HashiCorp Vault).

• Hands-on experience operationalizing software supply chain security (SBOM/CBOM, EPSS, CISA KEV) across a large enterprise CI/CD pipeline.

• Experience building automated baseline deployments aligned with CIS benchmarks and DISA STIGs.

• Strong written and oral communication skills, capable of bridging the gap between highly technical engineering concepts and executive leadership strategy. 

• Ability to work independently on multiple high-priority projects in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment. 

• Proven ability to manage multiple high-visibility, complex technical projects from initial inception through enterprise-wide deployment. 

• Strong problem-solving skills applied to novel, massive-scale security challenges where standard playbooks do not yet exist. 

In this hybrid role, you'll have a defined work location that includes working from home and a minimum of three days per week in the office, which will be set by your manager. Employees are responsible for maintaining compliance with hybrid work policies.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Verizon is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to veteran status, disability or other legally protected characteristics.

Benefits and Compensation

Our benefits are designed to help you move forward in your career, and in areas of your life outside of Verizon. From health and wellness benefit options including: medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability, basic life insurance, supplemental life insurance, AD&D insurance, identity theft protection, pet insurance and group home & auto insurance. We also offer a matched 401(k) savings plan, up to 8 company paid holidays per year and up to 6 personal days per year, paid parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition assistance, plus other incentives, we’ve got you covered with our award-winning total rewards package. Depending on the role, employees have the opportunity to receive compensation in the form of premium pay such as overtime, shift differential, holiday pay, allowances, etc. Newly hired employees receive up to 15 days of vacation per year, which grows with additional service. For part-timers, your coverage will vary as you may be eligible for some of these benefits depending on your individual circumstances.

The salary will vary depending on your location and confirmed job-related skills and experience. This is an incentive based position with the potential to earn more. For part-time roles, your compensation will be adjusted to reflect your hours.

The annual salary range for the location(s) listed on this job requisition based on a full-time schedule is: $137,000.00 - $263,000.00.

The annual salary range for the Colorado location(s) listed on this job requisition based on a full-time schedule is: $137,000.00 - $239,000.00.