About the Role
We build a distributed, agent-based endpoint security platform for the payment ecosystem, combining an endpoint agent (a core runtime plus pluggable security modules, built entirely in Go), an on-premise management component deployed at the customer site, a local telemetry relay component, and a cloud backend. Kernel-level components that hook into the OS are written in C/C++, as is standard for driver-level development. We're looking for a Senior/Principal Architect to own end-to-end architecture across this stack — from the control-plane protocol on the endpoint, through on-premise components, to secure egress into the cloud backend. This is a hands-on architecture role: you will be expected to review code and low-level design, not just produce diagrams.
Key Responsibilities
- Define the architecture for kernel-level components on the endpoint (drivers/kernel modules used for real-time monitoring, hooking, or enforcement), including their interaction with and isolation from the user-mode agent runtime and its modules.
- Own architectural decisions across the full platform: the endpoint agent (core runtime + pluggable security modules), the on-premise management component, the on-premise telemetry relay component, and the cloud backend.
- Define and evolve the control-plane (gRPC/Protobuf) and data-plane transport strategy between the endpoint agent, the on-premise management component, and the telemetry relay component.
- Own version compatibility strategy across independently-versioned components (agent, core runtime, modules, management component, cloud backend).
- Design secure, outbound-only, multi-tenant deployment topology — mTLS and certificate lifecycle management, IPSec/VPN egress design — suitable for PCI-regulated payment industry clients.
- Own the client-facing security architecture narrative: per-hop network/port/protocol documentation, PCI-DSS scoping discussions, and direct engagement with client InfoSec/audit teams.
- Architect the security-module lifecycle: subscription entitlement enforcement, binary distribution, staged/canary rollout and rollback, resource governance across concurrently running modules, and failure isolation so a single module cannot take down the core agent runtime.
- Define HA/DR strategy for on-premise components deployed inside customer environments that are not directly operated by us.
- Evaluate and decide on the design of any bi-directional channel between the cloud backend and on-premise components, ensuring it doesn't undermine the outbound-only security posture documented to clients.
- Run architecture reviews, mentor senior and mid-level engineers, and own technical roadmap and tech-debt prioritization.
- Represent the company in high-stakes architecture and security review calls with enterprise client stakeholders.
Required Technical Skills
- 15–20+ years in software engineering, including 8+ years in architecture or senior technical leadership roles.
- Deep expertise in distributed systems design; direct experience with agent-based security products (EDR/XDR, endpoint protection, DLP, or similar) is strongly preferred.
- Strong hands-on background in Go — the agent runtime and its modules are built entirely in Go — plus working proficiency in C/C++ for reviewing and guiding kernel-level driver work. Able to review code and low-level design in depth, not just at a diagram level.
- Solid understanding of kernel-level/OS-internals development (e.g., Windows kernel drivers/minifilters, Linux kernel modules/eBPF) sufficient to architect and review how endpoint agents hook into the OS for real-time monitoring or enforcement, and to reason about the security and stability risks that come with it.
- Expert-level knowledge of gRPC, Protocol Buffers, and HTTP/2, including streaming and multiplexing trade-offs at scale.
- Strong grasp of mTLS/PKI design: certificate issuance, rotation, and revocation for large, distributed fleets.
- Solid understanding of network security fundamentals: IPSec/VPN tunnel design, NAT/firewall traversal, and outbound-only architecture patterns for customer-premise deployments.
- Experience architecting multi-tenant SaaS products with components deployed partially on customer premises, not just in a vendor-controlled cloud.
- Working knowledge of PCI-DSS (or equivalent frameworks such as ISO 27001/SOC 2) and their direct implications on network and data-flow architecture.
Preferred / Nice to Have
- Prior architecture role at a cybersecurity product company (EDR, XDR, SIEM, DLP, or breach-and-attack simulation).
- Direct exposure to active security-testing or breach-and-attack simulation style products.
- Cloud infrastructure experience (AWS/Azure/GCP) for the backend/cloud side of the platform.
- Track record presenting architecture directly to enterprise client security/audit teams.
What Success Looks Like in This Role
- A documented, defensible security architecture narrative that survives client InfoSec audits without surprises.
- A version compatibility and module-lifecycle strategy that prevents fleet-wide breakage from a single bad rollout.
- A mentored engineering team capable of making sound architectural trade-offs independently.
Education
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. Equivalent hands-on experience will be given full weight over formal qualifications.
