How to hire a network security architect

How to hire a network security architect, step by step

Here's a step-by-step network security architect hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a network security architect job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new network security architect
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a network security architect job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The network security architect hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A network security architect's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, network security architects from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents network security architect salaries for various positions.

   Type of Network Security Architect	Description	Hourly rate
   Network Security Architect	Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems. Their responsibilities are continually expanding as the number of cyberattacks increases.	$43-80
   Information Assurance Engineer	Information assurance engineers are responsible for protecting an organization's data. They act as a team of security specialists that use their skill in securely operating and keeping data to protect the organization's most essential asset... Show more	$32-56
   Information Systems Security Officer	An information systems security officer's role is to perform preventive measures to protect a company's data and systems from hackers or cyber-attacks. Their responsibilities revolve around assessing the existing security measures to identify any vulnerabilities or inconsistencies, recommending and implementing changes to improve security systems, and developing new strategies and programs for data protection... Show more	$32-57

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Network Security
   • Firewall
   • Security Solutions
   • Switches
   • Security Architecture
   • Routers
   • VPN
   • Incident Response
   • SIEM
   • Network Devices
   • DNS
   • Network Architecture
   • Encryption
   • Network Infrastructure

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Help manage and set up a manage cisco VOIP system for the new headquarters
   • Manage client's VOIP and advise client on upcoming billing cycles.
   • Lead architecture and design sessions with customers; initiate technical meetings with customer engineers to further engage and identify additional opportunities.
   • Configure and setup secure sockets layers (SSL) for data encryption and client authentication.
   • Conduct risk assessments to regulations in IAVA, DITSCAP, PDD-63, GISRA, and HIPAA.
   • Maintain internal and external DNS and all IP address management.

   More network security architect duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the network security architect job description is a good way to get more applicants. A network security architect salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a network security architect in North Dakota may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level network security architect. Additionally, a network security architect with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average network security architect salary

   $123,842yearly

   $59.54 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level network security architect salary

   $90,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average network security architect salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$166,248	$80
   2	Utah	$142,161	$68
   3	Pennsylvania	$138,771	$67
   4	New York	$137,420	$66
   5	Arizona	$136,770	$66
   6	Oregon	$135,200	$65
   7	Nevada	$133,963	$64
   8	Massachusetts	$127,865	$61
   9	Virginia	$120,694	$58
   10	North Carolina	$118,799	$57
   11	Maryland	$116,686	$56
   12	New Jersey	$116,535	$56
   13	Texas	$113,456	$55
   14	Illinois	$113,068	$54
   15	Maine	$112,610	$54
   16	Michigan	$112,453	$54
   17	Georgia	$111,911	$54
   18	Kentucky	$110,501	$53
   19	Colorado	$110,392	$53
   20	District of Columbia	$110,189	$53

   Average network security architect salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Palo Alto Networks	$163,593	$78.65	18
   2	Bloomberg	$156,975	$75.47	12
   3	Boston Consulting Group	$151,816	$72.99	31
   4	Amazon	$148,218	$71.26	526
   5	Bank of the West	$143,499	$68.99
   6	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$143,300	$68.89	204
   7	Applied Materials	$143,167	$68.83	13
   8	Silicon Valley Bank	$138,514	$66.59
   9	H-E-B	$138,290	$66.49	2
   10	Rackspace	$138,201	$66.44	1
   11	Insight Enterprises	$137,496	$66.10	3
   12	Motion Recruitment	$132,738	$63.82	35
   13	Kforce	$131,950	$63.44	72
   14	Pegasus	$130,586	$62.78
   15	IGT	$130,013	$62.51
   16	Organon	$129,682	$62.35
   17	ADM	$128,767	$61.91	14
   18	Salesforce	$127,762	$61.42	45
   19	Rock Ridge Financial	$126,160	$60.65
   20	Northern Technologies International	$125,943	$60.55	8

4. Writing a network security architect job description

   A network security architect job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a network security architect job description:

   Network security architect job description example

   What We Need & What You'll Do (Responsibilities)

   1. Support the Planning, Creation, Design, and Enablement of services that
   support emerging and existing technologies. The Senior Architect will support the Senior Principle and Principle Architect in the design of the end to end journey of a service or solution.
   Strategic:
   · Provide market, sector and competitor insight
   · Member of senior management team responsible for achieving long term goals
   · Promote knowledge sharing, good practice, industry/client information, lessons learned
   Methodology/Innovation:
   · Scope out and kick off projects and provide support for project team
   · Design and innovate processes, standardization, efficiencies, streamline toolkit
   · Support the Capability Center to implement new techniques and
   methodologies
   · Direct and challenge seniors on methodologies and innovation
   Project Delivery:
   · Lead designer on high profile/high value projects
   · Manage project deliverables - quality, budget control, time
   · Deliver client expectations/satisfaction - liaison, objectives, extend scope, opportunities
   · Manage project evaluation - debrief, lessons learned
   · Identify and create case studies - measurable success stories

   2. Support the Senior Principle and Principle Architect in the improvement of existing services and solutions.
   Strategic:
   · Provide market, sector and competitor insight
   · Member of senior management team responsible for achieving long term goals
   · Promote knowledge sharing, good practice, industry/client information, lessons learned
   Methodology/Innovation:
   · Scope out and kick off projects and provide support for project team
   · Design and innovate processes, standardization, efficiencies, streamline toolkit
   · Support the Capability Center to implement new techniques and
   methodologies
   · Direct and challenge seniors on methodologies and innovation
   Project Delivery:
   · Lead designer on high profile/high value projects
   · Manage project deliverables - quality, budget control, time
   · Deliver client expectations/satisfaction - liaison, objectives, extend scope, opportunities
   · Manage project evaluation - debrief, lessons learned
   · Identify and create case studies - measurable success stories

   3. With assistance from the Senior Principle and Principle Architect, design implementable and customer compelling steady state solutions which address client business problems and accurately reflect CompuCom's cost to deliver the services and also meet all requirements, including SLAs, KPIs, and OLAs. Work with Solution Director to manage the end-to-end solution strategy. Deliverables include completed cost estimates, presentations (prepare, and contribute to, and/or deliver), and SOWs (contribute to).

   Work collaboratively with clients, third party advisors, sales, other solution team members, and delivery SMEs to ensure the solutions meet client requirements and are approved. Communicate developed solution and associated costs to various stakeholders from engineers up to internal Directors.

   Assist with client orals, create and deliver or coordinate client demos,
   participate in pursuit team kickoff meetings, attend Solution Services team meetings, follow administrative processes, and participate in internal team projects. Responsible for engaging with appropriate delivery subject matter experts. Participate in creating and/or updating solution document templates, presentations, solution descriptions, cost estimates, SOWs, and related deliverables. Update Capability Center-owned information within SalesForce. Participate in creation of technical and operational responses and solution content for RFPs. Responsible for written Technical Solution Document (TSD) as required per customer response documents.

   4. Develops and executes implementation project plans to build services successfully. Working closely with the customer and delivery teams to gather the necessary information, perform data analysis, design and build the tools, create documentation, execute staffing activities, and develop other constructs to prepare to deliver the services.

   Engages appropriate resources internally, externally, and with the client within the disciplines to perform implementation tasks during a transition.

   Maintains close relationships with the discipline(s) to stay in sync on processes, requirements, reporting and documentation needs for the delivery teams to be successful.

   Provides input to the Transition Manager on risks, issues, decisions, gaps, changes, and status for logging in the Control Workbook.

   Identifies and recommends contingency measures resulting from risks, scope changes or unplanned events.

   Provides experienced guidance and level of effort input to transition scoping on new opportunities as needed.

   5. Assist with identification of potential technical, delivery and financial risks in technical solutions, transition, and delivery. Assist with developing appropriate mitigations and coordinate capture of and communicate all risks to the Solution Director.
   
   

   6. Participate in all knowledge sharing sessions for developed solutions to review technical aspects as required.
   Serves as a member of the transition/transformation/implementation team until such time the "steady-state" cutover is achieved, i.e., the delivery operations organization has assumed the services and is meeting SLAs, KPIs, CSAT (typically ~90 days after implementation cutover). % of time spent on this discipline will be determined based on win rates and deal complexity.

   7. Practice continuous learning through certifications, attending company and/or industry training, reviewing existing client delivery, gaining experiential exposure to company toolsets and delivery teams, and working closely with Delivery SMEs.

   Equal Employment Opportunity

   CompuCom is committed to providing equal employment opportunities in all employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, age, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right network security architect for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your network security architect job on Zippia to find and recruit network security architect candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with network security architect candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview network security architect candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new network security architect

   Once you've selected the best network security architect candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a network security architect?