Lead architecture and design of a next-generation centralized authentication platform, define target-state credential consolidation, guide vendor-agnostic SDK design, evaluate integrations (Transmit, Ping, passkeys), set standards for MFA/session management/federation, ensure compliance and resilience, document technical debt and ADRs, and mentor engineering teams through a multi-year modernization.
Location: Remote, US-based (must be authorized to work in the United States)
Engagement Type: Independent Contractor
Industry: Enterprise / Financial Services
About the Role
We are looking for an IAM Solutions Architect to join a large, complex enterprise organization on a contract basis. You will serve as a technical lead and strategic advisor on the design of a next-generation, centralized authentication platform intended to replace a complex legacy identity system built over the past decade. This is a high-visibility role that requires both hands-on architectural expertise and the ability to guide engineering teams through a multi-year modernization program. The ideal candidate has designed enterprise-scale login and identity systems at Fortune 150 or global enterprise scale and understands the operational realities of running authentication infrastructure in a high-stakes environment. Experience in financial services or other highly regulated industries is a plus.
Key Responsibilities
• Lead the architecture and design of a centralized next-generation authentication platform, built in parallel with the existing production system
• Define the target-state architecture for credential consolidation across multiple business lines and product platforms
• Provide architectural guidance on the identity Abstraction Layer, a vendor-agnostic SDK library designed to decouple applications from underlying identity vendors
• Evaluate and advise on integration patterns between the Transmit platform, Transmit Mosaic (passkeys), Ping Federation, and other identity components
• Establish standards for authentication journeys, session management, MFA flows, and federation across consumer and commercial products
• Partner with security architects, application teams, and infrastructure engineers to ensure the platform meets compliance and resilience requirements
• Review existing identity journeys and connectors; document technical debt and provide remediation recommendations
• Mentor and provide technical direction to engineering teams responsible for building and maintaining the new platform
• Produce architectural decision records (ADRs), reference architectures, and roadmap documentation
Required Qualifications
• 12+ years of experience in Identity and Access Management architecture
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering enterprise-scale centralized authentication platforms at Fortune 150 or global enterprise scale; financial services or similarly regulated environments a plus
• Deep knowledge of authentication protocols and standards: OAuth 2.0, OIDC, SAML 2.0, FIDO2/WebAuthn, and LDAP/Active Directory
• Hands-on experience with two or more enterprise identity platforms (Transmit Security, Ping Identity, ForgeRock, Okta, SailPoint, CyberArk, or equivalent)
• Experience architecting systems that consolidate credentials or unify identity across multiple applications or business lines
• Strong understanding of API security, token lifecycle management, and session architecture
• Proven ability to lead architecture decisions in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• Experience with change management processes and operating within enterprise ITSM frameworks
Preferred Qualifications
• Hands-on experience with the Transmit Security platform
• Experience with passkey or FIDO2 implementations at scale
• Familiarity with SDK abstraction or facade design patterns for identity integrations
• Exposure to multi-product credential federation across large, complex enterprises
• Relevant certifications: CISSP, CIAM, Ping Certified Architect, or equivalent
• Familiarity with SOX, PCI-DSS, or FFIEC compliance frameworks
Contractor Requirements
• Must be based in the United States and authorized to work without sponsorship
• Must be able to pass a background check
Engagement Type: Independent Contractor
Industry: Enterprise / Financial Services
About the Role
We are looking for an IAM Solutions Architect to join a large, complex enterprise organization on a contract basis. You will serve as a technical lead and strategic advisor on the design of a next-generation, centralized authentication platform intended to replace a complex legacy identity system built over the past decade. This is a high-visibility role that requires both hands-on architectural expertise and the ability to guide engineering teams through a multi-year modernization program. The ideal candidate has designed enterprise-scale login and identity systems at Fortune 150 or global enterprise scale and understands the operational realities of running authentication infrastructure in a high-stakes environment. Experience in financial services or other highly regulated industries is a plus.
Key Responsibilities
• Lead the architecture and design of a centralized next-generation authentication platform, built in parallel with the existing production system
• Define the target-state architecture for credential consolidation across multiple business lines and product platforms
• Provide architectural guidance on the identity Abstraction Layer, a vendor-agnostic SDK library designed to decouple applications from underlying identity vendors
• Evaluate and advise on integration patterns between the Transmit platform, Transmit Mosaic (passkeys), Ping Federation, and other identity components
• Establish standards for authentication journeys, session management, MFA flows, and federation across consumer and commercial products
• Partner with security architects, application teams, and infrastructure engineers to ensure the platform meets compliance and resilience requirements
• Review existing identity journeys and connectors; document technical debt and provide remediation recommendations
• Mentor and provide technical direction to engineering teams responsible for building and maintaining the new platform
• Produce architectural decision records (ADRs), reference architectures, and roadmap documentation
Required Qualifications
• 12+ years of experience in Identity and Access Management architecture
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering enterprise-scale centralized authentication platforms at Fortune 150 or global enterprise scale; financial services or similarly regulated environments a plus
• Deep knowledge of authentication protocols and standards: OAuth 2.0, OIDC, SAML 2.0, FIDO2/WebAuthn, and LDAP/Active Directory
• Hands-on experience with two or more enterprise identity platforms (Transmit Security, Ping Identity, ForgeRock, Okta, SailPoint, CyberArk, or equivalent)
• Experience architecting systems that consolidate credentials or unify identity across multiple applications or business lines
• Strong understanding of API security, token lifecycle management, and session architecture
• Proven ability to lead architecture decisions in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• Experience with change management processes and operating within enterprise ITSM frameworks
Preferred Qualifications
• Hands-on experience with the Transmit Security platform
• Experience with passkey or FIDO2 implementations at scale
• Familiarity with SDK abstraction or facade design patterns for identity integrations
• Exposure to multi-product credential federation across large, complex enterprises
• Relevant certifications: CISSP, CIAM, Ping Certified Architect, or equivalent
• Familiarity with SOX, PCI-DSS, or FFIEC compliance frameworks
Contractor Requirements
• Must be based in the United States and authorized to work without sponsorship
• Must be able to pass a background check
Similar Jobs
Artificial Intelligence • Cloud • HR Tech • Information Technology • Productivity • Software • Automation
Lead product vision and execution for a 0-1 agentic AI platform, prototyping and shipping autonomous agent capabilities. Drive roadmap for orchestration, memory, action execution, and governance; partner with engineering, GTM, and ecosystem to drive adoption, metrics, and platform primitives that scale across ServiceNow AI offerings.
Top Skills:
Agentic AiAutonomous AgentsLlm Fine-TuningLlm OrchestrationLlmsLow-Code/No-CodeMemory ArchitecturesMulti-Agent SystemsOpen-Source Agent FrameworksPrompt EngineeringRpaServicenow Ai Platform
Artificial Intelligence • Cloud • HR Tech • Information Technology • Productivity • Software • Automation
Lead product vision and execution for an agentic AI platform: prototype and ship autonomous agent capabilities, define platform primitives (orchestration, memory, execution, governance), drive adoption and measurable outcomes, partner with engineering, frontier AI teams, and GTM to scale enterprise deployments.
Top Skills:
Agentic AiAutonomous AgentsLlm OrchestrationLlmsLow-Code/No-CodeModel Fine-TuningOpen-Source Agent FrameworksPrompt EngineeringRpaServicenow Ai
Cloud • Healthtech • Social Impact • Software • Biotech
Drive new business within 1-3 top global accounts by generating pipeline, managing complex enterprise sales cycles, forecasting to targets, negotiating with multi-level stakeholders, and collaborating with internal and partner teams to align Benchling solutions to customer R&D and IT needs.
Top Skills:
AIAi Agents And ModelsAWSBenchlingMeddiccSalesforce
What you need to know about the Chicago Tech Scene
With vibrant neighborhoods, great food and more affordable housing than either coast, Chicago might be the most liveable major tech hub. It is the birthplace of modern commodities and futures trading, a national hub for logistics and commerce, and home to the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association. This diverse blend of industry influences has helped Chicago emerge as a major player in verticals like fintech, biotechnology, legal tech, e-commerce and logistics technology. It’s also a major hiring center for tech companies on both coasts.
Key Facts About Chicago Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 245,800; 5.2% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: McDonald’s, John Deere, Boeing, Morningstar
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, software, logistics technology
- Funding Landscape: $2.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Arch Venture Partners, MATH Venture Partners, Jump Capital, Hyde Park Venture Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
