Senior Data and AI Cybersecurity Architect

CenterPoint Energy (CNP) is seeking a Senior Data & AI Security Architect to help secure and govern enterprise data platforms and AI enabled solutions within a highly regulated, critical infrastructure environment. This role is responsible for designing security architecture that protects sensitive data and enables responsible use of AI while meeting strict regulatory, reliability, and audit expectations. The architect will be the primary designer of security guardrails that protect every database, LLM, and automation tool we deploy is “secure by design” and “resilient by default”.

You will work closely with Cybersecurity, Privacy, IT, Legal, and Risk teams to ensure data and AI capabilities are secure by design and resilient. Responsibilities:

• Define and maintain enterprise data and AI security architecture standards, patterns, and reference models aligned to regulatory and critical infrastructure requirements
• Work with development teams to embed security from design through deployment across CI/CD pipelines including DevSecOps, and MLSecOps
• Assess and mitigate AI specific security and compliance risks including prompt injection, data poisoning, and model extraction
• Secure the interfaces where AI models interact with users and applications
• Implement controls to monitor AI outputs for data leakage and unauthorized data access
• Provide security architecture oversight for AI use cases supporting business operations, analytics, automation, and decision support
• Architect and guide implementation of enterprise-wide data security programs including Data Classification, Data Loss Prevention, Data Encryption, Database Activity Monitoring
• Design automated workflows to discover, classify and label sensitive data across structured and unstructured sources
• Architect Zero Trust models for data access, enforce encryption standards, and data security standards
• Assess and govern the implementation of immutable backups, and data restoration strategies to ensure business continuity against catastrophic data loss and data unavailability
• Conduct threat modeling and security architecture reviews for data and AI solutions
• Identify attack paths, control gaps, and compensating controls for complex, integrated multi-cloud environments

• Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field., * Minimum of 5 years of experience in security architecture, data security, AI, ML or closely related fields.
• Strong understanding of enterprise data platforms, cloud and hybrid environments, and AI/ML or advanced analytics systems.
• Experience with implementing OWASP Top 10 for LLMs and the NIST AI Risk Management Framework
• Experience with Data Classification/DLP/DSPM/AiSPM security tools
• Knowledge of cloud infrastructure security standards (Azure and GCP).
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CCP, or other relevant cloud or AI security certifications preferred
• Familiarity with common regulatory requirements and utility-specific standards (e.g., ISO 27001, NIST) preferred

• Competitive pay
• Paid training
• Benefits eligibility begins on your first day
• Transit subsidies
• Flexible work schedule, paid holidays and paid time off
• Access to discounts at fitness clubs and an on-site wellness center at our headquarters in Houston
• Professional growth and development programs including tuition reimbursement
• 401(k) Savings Plan featuring a company match dollar-for-dollar up to 6% and a company contribution of 3% regardless of your contribution

CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years.

Our Vision: Our vision is to become the most admired utility in the United States through the execution of our long-term growth strategy. We have an unwavering commitment to safely and reliably deliver electricity and natural gas to millions of people.

Our Commitment: CenterPoint Energy is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where business results are achieved through the skills, abilities and talents of our diverse workforce.

At CenterPoint Energy, individuals are respected for their contributions toward our company objectives. We strive for an inclusive work environment across all levels that is reflective of the available workforce in the communities we serve., Being a part of the CenterPoint Energy team is more than a career alone. It’s an opportunity to make a positive impact. You will be an integral part of enabling everyday life and the pursuit of possibilities for the customers we serve and the communities we share. The vital services we provide are at the core of making our world work, and by sharing your energy with us, we’ll create a better tomorrow together.