Senior Enterprise Security Architect (API Security)

About Akamai and the Role

Akamai is at the forefront of digital transformation, providing businesses with advanced solutions to deliver, secure, and optimize online experiences. As a Senior Enterprise Security Architect, you will play a critical role in empowering organizations to protect their API ecosystems while achieving their business objectives. You’ll act as a trusted advisor, showcasing Akamai’s cutting-edge solutions in API discovery, posture management, and threat mitigation.

This role bridges technology and business, combining deep technical expertise with strategic thinking to create real-world value for our clients. You’ll engage with enterprise customers, shaping their API security strategies, and act as a subject matter expert for both customers and internal teams, ensuring the highest level of understanding and excellence in API security. You will be part of a global team of experts that have been over achieving their objectives in the last few years.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership in Pre-Sales:

• Own the technical sales lifecycle, including discovery, solution design, and delivery of compelling product demonstrations.
• Translate complex technical concepts into practical, impactful use cases for diverse audiences, from technical engineers to C-level executives.
• Develop and lead technical Proofs-of-Values (PoVs) to showcase product capabilities in real-world scenarios.

Subject Matter Expertise:

• Serve as the go-to expert on API security for customers, internal teams, and partners.
• Educate sales teams and other stakeholders on API security trends, threats, and best practices.
• Contribute to internal training initiatives to enhance team knowledge and technical expertise.

Customer Advocacy:

• Act as the technical point of contact for customers during their pre-sales journey, ensuring their success and satisfaction.
• Gather customer requirements and work closely with product and engineering teams to align solutions to customer needs.
• Foster long-term relationships with prospects and customers, positioning Akamai as a strategic partner.

Evangelism and Enablement:

• Present Akamai’s API security vision and best practices at industry conferences, webinars, and customer workshops.
• Create and maintain high-quality solution design documentation, presentations, and other technical sales assets.
• Stay ahead of trends in API security, contributing to internal knowledge sharing and external thought leadership.

Collaboration Across Teams:

• Partner with sales, product management, and engineering teams to drive alignment and continuously improve the customer experience.
• Support RFP responses with clear, concise, and accurate technical insights.

What We’re Looking For

Technical Expertise:

• Strong knowledge of APIs, API gateways, web application firewalls (WAF), and API security practices.
• Proficiency in internet technologies, including TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, SSL/TLS, and RESTful APIs.
• Hands-on experience with scripting languages such as Python, JavaScript, or Bash.

Cloud and Kubernetes Experience:

• Familiarity with cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP) and cloud-native architectures.
• Experience deploying and managing Kubernetes clusters and containerized applications.
• Familiarity with Kubernetes networking, ingress controllers, and service mesh technologies (e.g., Istio, NGINX).

Experience:

• Experience in a technical pre-sales, solution architecture, or related role in cybersecurity or API-related fields.
• Proven track record of designing and presenting technical solutions to customers and stakeholders.

Communication Skills:

• Exceptional presentation skills with the ability to explain complex concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong written communication skills, including email correspondence, technical documentation, and RFP responses.

Problem-Solving and Collaboration:

• Proven ability to analyze customer challenges and creatively design tailored solutions.
• Collaborative mindset, working effectively across sales, product, and engineering teams.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Experience in vulnerability management, penetration testing, or incident response.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements such as PCI DSS, GDPR, APPI and SOC-2.
• Certifications in relevant technologies or familiarity with OWASP API Top 10.
• Familiarity with DevOps practices and tools (e.g., CI/CD pipelines, Helm, Terraform).

Why Join Akamai?

At Akamai, you’ll join a collaborative and innovative team dedicated to solving some of the most pressing cybersecurity challenges facing enterprises today. You’ll have the opportunity to work with industry-leading solutions, engage with high-profile customers, and grow as a thought leader in API security.

You’ll also play a key role in empowering your colleagues, acting as a subject matter expert on API security to ensure that the entire team stays ahead of evolving threats and technologies.