Cloud Security Architect at Salesforce

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Cloud Security Architect
Company: Salesforce
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Security & Compliance
Date Posted: 2025-06-18
Experience Level: 8-12 years
Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

Key Responsibilities: Drive secure cloud adoption, define security baselines, enforce policies, and mitigate risks in public cloud environments, with a focus on Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
Key Technologies: GCP, AWS, Azure, Terraform, Kubernetes, IAM, Detection and Monitoring, CI/CD Security, Configuration Management, Container Security, Data Protection.
Key Skills: Cloud Security Architecture, Public Cloud Security, Security Engineering, Risk Management, Cross-Functional Collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a deep understanding of public cloud security principles and a proven track record in designing, implementing, and automating security controls in cloud environments.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

🔒 Security Solution Architecture

Drive the architecture of robust and scalable security solutions for public cloud environments, utilizing guardrails, policies, and industry-leading practices.
Define and maintain comprehensive security baseline requirements, policies, and standards for public cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).

🛠 Security Control Implementation and Automation

Lead the design, implementation, and automation of security controls in public cloud environments, including IAM, Detection and Monitoring, CI/CD Security, Configuration Management, Container Security, Network Security, and Data Protection.
Utilize Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform and container orchestration platforms like Kubernetes to automate security configurations and ensure infrastructure is secure by design.

🤝 Cross-Functional Collaboration

Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, such as Product Engineering and internal Security teams, to seamlessly integrate security solutions, tooling, and risk mitigation strategies into the architecture of public cloud environments.

🔎 Threat Landscape and Trend Analysis

Continuously assess emerging trends in the cybersecurity landscape, including new threats, vulnerabilities, and technologies, to proactively evolve security policies, practices, and architectural patterns.

🌐 Cloud Security Vision and Strategy

Partner with key stakeholders to develop, communicate, and drive a converged cloud security vision and strategy across all public cloud environments, ensuring security parity and a consistent security posture.

🔍 Architecture Reviews and Guidance

Conduct periodic security architecture reviews to identify potential vulnerabilities, assess the effectiveness of existing controls, and provide actionable recommendations for improvement.
Serve as a subject matter expert, providing expert guidance and consultation to partners and stakeholders on secure architecture patterns and best practices for developing and deploying cloud-native applications and services.

📢 Secure Architecture Adoption and Advocacy

Drive the adoption of secure cloud architecture principles, patterns, and services across the organization, promoting a "security by design" mindset.

🛡 Proactive Risk Management

Partner closely with the Security Assessments team to proactively identify, prioritize, and mitigate security risks across public cloud environments, contributing to a continuous risk reduction program.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. Relevant certifications such as Professional Google Cloud Engineer, Cloud Architect, Cloud Security Engineer, CCSP, CISSP, or equivalent are preferred.

Experience: 8-12 years of progressive experience in cloud security architecture and engineering, with a deep and demonstrable understanding of public cloud platforms, especially GCP.

Required Skills:

Proven experience in designing, implementing, and automating security controls in cloud environments, including IAM, detection and monitoring, CI/CD security, configuration management, container security, network security, and data protection.
Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences, including technical and non-technical stakeholders, partners, and leadership.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proactive and strategic approach to identifying and mitigating security risks in cloud environments.
Experience with conducting security architecture reviews and providing actionable recommendations.
Familiarity with cloud-native application architectures and security considerations.
Strong knowledge of security frameworks (e.g., NIST, CIS, ISO 27001), compliance regulations, and security best practices for cloud environments.

Preferred Skills:

Relevant certifications such as Professional Google Cloud Engineer, Cloud Architect, Cloud Security Engineer, CCSP, CISSP, or equivalent.
Proven hands-on experience with Google Cloud Native Security Services such as Chronicle, Cloud Armor, Cloud Firewall, IDS, Certificate Manager, KMS, Secret Manager, DLP.
Advanced with scripting and automation languages (e.g., Python, Bash).

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Documented case studies demonstrating the design, implementation, and maintenance of secure cloud environments, leveraging cloud-native services and security tooling.
Examples of security baselines, policies, and standards defined for public cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
Evidence of successful cross-functional collaboration with product engineering and internal security teams to integrate security solutions and risk mitigation strategies into public cloud environments.
Demonstrations of threat landscape analysis and proactive risk management strategies.

Technical Documentation:

Detailed technical documentation outlining security architecture, design decisions, and implementation steps for cloud security projects.
Version control, deployment processes, and server configuration documentation.
Testing methodologies, performance metrics, and optimization techniques.

📝 Enhancement Note: While a portfolio is not explicitly required, providing case studies and documentation demonstrating your experience and expertise in cloud security architecture and engineering will significantly strengthen your application.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $251,900 to $384,100 per year (for California-based roles).

Benefits:

Time Off Programs
Medical, Dental, Vision, and Mental Health Support
Paid Parental Leave
Life and Disability Insurance
401(k)
Employee Stock Purchasing Program

Working Hours: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week, with flexible working hours and remote work options available.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Salesforce is a leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform and enterprise software company, operating in the technology industry.

Company Size: Salesforce has over 50,000 employees worldwide, making it a large enterprise with significant resources and opportunities for professional growth.

Founded: Salesforce was founded in 1999, with a strong focus on innovation, customer success, and giving back to communities.

Team Structure:

The security team at Salesforce is organized into several sub-teams, including Cloud Security, Identity and Access Management (IAM), Threat Intelligence, and Security Operations Center (SOC).
The Cloud Security team is responsible for defining and implementing security strategies for public cloud environments, including GCP, AWS, and Azure.

Development Methodology:

Salesforce follows Agile development methodologies, with a focus on continuous integration, continuous deployment, and continuous delivery.
The company uses a combination of Scrum and Kanban methodologies to manage development processes and ensure efficient collaboration between teams.

Company Website: Salesforce.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Salesforce's company culture is characterized by its commitment to innovation, customer success, and giving back to communities. The company values diversity, inclusion, and work-life balance, providing a supportive and collaborative work environment for its employees.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: This role is at the senior architect level, requiring a deep understanding of cloud security principles and a proven track record in designing, implementing, and automating security controls in cloud environments.

Reporting Structure: The Cloud Security Architect reports directly to the Senior Manager or Director of Cloud Security, depending on the specific organization within Salesforce.

Technical Impact: The Cloud Security Architect has a significant impact on the security posture of Salesforce's public cloud environments, influencing the design and implementation of secure cloud architectures and driving the adoption of security best practices across the organization.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Growth: Deepen expertise in cloud security, emerging technologies, and security best practices, with opportunities to specialize in specific areas such as IAM, detection and monitoring, or cloud-native security.
Leadership Development: Develop leadership skills by mentoring junior team members, driving team initiatives, and contributing to the overall strategy and direction of the cloud security team.
Architecture Decision-Making: Gain experience in making critical architecture decisions that balance security, performance, and cost-effectiveness, driving the evolution of Salesforce's cloud security posture.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salesforce offers significant opportunities for professional growth and development, with a strong focus on continuous learning, skill development, and career progression.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Salesforce has a hybrid work environment, with a combination of on-site and remote work options available for employees.

Office Location(s): Salesforce's global headquarters are in San Francisco, California, with additional offices in other major cities worldwide.

Workspace Context:

Collaboration: Salesforce's workspaces are designed to foster collaboration and communication between team members, with open floor plans, shared workspaces, and dedicated meeting rooms.
Technology: Salesforce provides employees with modern hardware, software, and development tools to ensure they have the resources necessary to perform their jobs effectively.
Work-Life Balance: Salesforce encourages a healthy work-life balance, offering flexible working hours, remote work options, and a range of employee benefits to support the well-being of its employees.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexible working hours and remote work options available. The work schedule may vary depending on the specific team and role within Salesforce.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salesforce's work environment is designed to be collaborative, supportive, and flexible, providing employees with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed in their roles and achieve their career goals.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone Screen: A brief phone call to assess communication skills and cultural fit.
Technical Deep Dive: A comprehensive technical interview focusing on cloud security architecture, design, and implementation. This may include system design exercises, architecture review case studies, and technical deep dives into specific cloud security topics.
Behavioral Interview: An in-depth discussion of your problem-solving skills, leadership experience, and cultural fit with Salesforce.
Final Interview: A meeting with the hiring manager or senior leadership to discuss your career aspirations, expectations, and next steps.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight case studies and documentation demonstrating your experience and expertise in cloud security architecture and engineering.
Focus on the design, implementation, and maintenance of secure cloud environments, leveraging cloud-native services and security tooling.
Emphasize your ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, integrate security solutions, and mitigate risks in public cloud environments.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on your knowledge of cloud security principles, public cloud platforms (e.g., GCP, AWS, Azure), and emerging security technologies.
Practice system design exercises and architecture review case studies to prepare for the technical deep dive portion of the interview process.
Familiarize yourself with Salesforce's company culture, values, and mission to ensure a strong cultural fit during the behavioral interview.

ATS Keywords: Cloud Security, Public Cloud Security, GCP, AWS, Azure, Infrastructure as Code, Terraform, Kubernetes, IAM, Detection and Monitoring, CI/CD Security, Configuration Management, Container Security, Data Protection, Security Architecture, Security Engineering, Risk Management, Compliance, Security Frameworks, NIST, CIS, ISO 270001.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salesforce's interview process is designed to be comprehensive and rigorous, ensuring that the company selects the most qualified and culturally aligned candidates for its cloud security architect roles.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Cloud Platforms:

Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Microsoft Azure

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Tools:

Terraform
CloudFormation
Azure Resource Manager (ARM)

Containerization and Orchestration:

Kubernetes
Docker
Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS)
Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

Security Tools and Services:

Chronicle
Cloud Armor
Cloud Firewall
Identity and Access Management (IAM) services (e.g., Google Cloud IAM, AWS IAM, Azure Active Directory)
Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)
Certificate Manager
Key Management Service (KMS)
Secret Manager
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Monitoring and Logging:

Cloud Monitoring and Logging services (e.g., Google Cloud Monitoring, AWS CloudWatch, Azure Monitor)
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems (e.g., Splunk, Elastic Stack)
Cloud-based Security Information and Event Management (Cloud SIEM) services (e.g., Azure Sentinel, Google Cloud Security Command Center)

Version Control and Collaboration:

Git
GitHub
GitLab
Bitbucket

Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD):

Jenkins
CircleCI
GitLab CI/CD
AWS CodePipeline
Azure Pipelines

📝 Enhancement Note: Salesforce's technology stack is designed to be comprehensive, cutting-edge, and aligned with industry best practices for cloud security architecture, design, and implementation.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Salesforce Values:

Customer Success
Innovation
Trust
Equality
Sustainability
Transparency
Wellness
Growth

Cloud Security Team Values:

Security First: Prioritize security in all aspects of cloud architecture, design, and implementation.
Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams to integrate security solutions and mitigate risks in public cloud environments.
Continuous Learning: Stay up-to-date with emerging trends in cloud security, new threats, and best practices.
Proactive Risk Management: Identify, prioritize, and mitigate security risks proactively to ensure a continuous risk reduction program.
Customer Focus: Understand and address the unique security requirements and concerns of Salesforce's diverse customer base.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Integration: Work closely with product engineering, design, marketing, and other teams to ensure security is integrated into the development lifecycle and user experience.
Code Review Culture: Foster a culture of code review and peer programming to ensure high-quality, secure, and maintainable cloud architectures.
Knowledge Sharing: Encourage knowledge sharing, technical mentoring, and continuous learning to drive the professional development of team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salesforce's cloud security team values are centered around collaboration, continuous learning, and a strong commitment to customer success, ensuring that the team works together effectively to drive secure cloud adoption and mitigate risks in public cloud environments.

🌍 Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Emerging Threats: Stay up-to-date with the latest cybersecurity threats, vulnerabilities, and attack vectors to proactively evolve security policies, practices, and architectural patterns.
Cloud-Native Security: Design, implement, and maintain secure cloud architectures leveraging cloud-native services and security tooling, ensuring a consistent security posture across multiple public cloud environments.
Scalability and Performance: Ensure that security controls and architectures can scale to meet the demands of a growing and evolving cloud environment, balancing security, performance, and cost-effectiveness.
Compliance and Regulatory Requirements: Stay informed about changing compliance requirements and regulatory standards to ensure that Salesforce's public cloud environments remain secure and compliant.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical Skill Development: Deepen expertise in cloud security, emerging technologies, and security best practices through continuous learning, training, and certification programs.
Leadership Development: Develop leadership skills by mentoring junior team members, driving team initiatives, and contributing to the overall strategy and direction of the cloud security team.
Architecture Decision-Making: Gain experience in making critical architecture decisions that balance security, performance, and cost-effectiveness, driving the evolution of Salesforce's cloud security posture.
Community Involvement: Engage with the broader cloud security community, attending industry conferences, participating in online forums, and contributing to open-source projects to expand your network and stay informed about emerging trends and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salesforce offers numerous challenges and growth opportunities for cloud security architects, with a strong focus on continuous learning, professional development, and career progression.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Cloud Security Principles: Demonstrate a deep understanding of cloud security principles, best practices, and emerging trends in public cloud security.
Cloud Platform Expertise: Showcase your expertise in GCP, AWS, and Azure, with a focus on the design, implementation, and maintenance of secure cloud environments.
Security Architecture and Design: Walk through complex architecture design exercises, demonstrating your ability to balance security, performance, and cost-effectiveness in cloud environments.
Risk Management and Mitigation: Discuss your approach to identifying, prioritizing, and mitigating security risks in public cloud environments, with a focus on proactive risk management strategies.

Company & Culture Questions:

Salesforce Culture: Explain how you align with Salesforce's company values, such as customer success, innovation, and trust.
Team Dynamics: Describe your experience working in cross-functional teams and your ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, partners, and leadership.
Adaptability: Discuss your experience working in dynamic and evolving environments, with a focus on continuous learning, adaptation, and growth.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Case Studies: Highlight case studies and documentation demonstrating your experience and expertise in cloud security architecture and engineering, with a focus on secure cloud adoption, risk mitigation, and compliance.
Architecture Walkthroughs: Provide detailed walkthroughs of your cloud security architectures, design decisions, and implementation steps, emphasizing your ability to balance security, performance, and cost-effectiveness.
Threat Landscape Analysis: Discuss your approach to assessing emerging trends in the cybersecurity landscape, including new threats, vulnerabilities, and technologies, to proactively evolve security policies, practices, and architectural patterns.