Security Architect

Under the direction of the Teachers’ Retirement Board and the administrative direction of the Chief Executive Officer, the Office of the General Counsel provides advice on legal issues as they affect the overall programs and policies of California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS), manages CalSTRS legal program, and represents the System in litigation, appeals, and other legal matters.

The Office of the General Counsel is comprised of multiple highly visible and complex business areas: Office of Legal Ethics & Accountability, Enterprise Information Management & Legal Operations, Information Security Office, Legal Services, Investment Counsel, and Litigation Services.

The Information Security Office (ISO) is CalSTRS’ authority on information security and cybersecurity matters. The Information Security Office protects CalSTRS data assets from unauthorized access, use, misuse, disclosure, destruction, modification, or disruption. Read about the programs in ISO below.

Under the general direction of the Security Services Manager, the incumbent serves as a Security Architect for the CalSTRS’ BenefitConnect pension administration system. The incumbent will provide leadership and technical expertise in the design and blueprinting of security controls; security monitoring and threat management; and communicate the security direction for compliance, auditing, and risk management strategies. This position is in the Information Security Engineering, IT Project Management, System Engineering, and Software Engineering domains., Interested individuals must submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) in addition to the standard state application (form STD 678). Your SOQ will be considered the first interview for this position. If your qualifications are competitive, you will be invited to an interview. When completing the SOQ, please include all relevant experience, education, and training, as applicable, and explain all answers thoroughly. Your SOQ should not exceed two pages, single-spaced, 12-point font, and address the following questions:

1. Describe your experience working with a third-party vendor hired to implement a large technology project. Include how you evaluated and managed security risks and the approach you used to ensure the vendor met security requirements.
2. Describe your experience defining security controls for a complex application. Explain which framework you used, how you selected the controls, and what the review and approval process was for your recommendations.
3. Describe your skills, experiences and education or training credentials in the following areas: (1) Security assessments (e.g., penetration testing, vulnerability management, threat hunting) (2) Enterprise security tools and technologies (SIEM, EDR, IDS/IPS, firewalls, cloud security tools, etc.) (3) Secure system hardening in a Windows or AWS environment., Investment Branch employees are required to participate in the CalSTRS Personal Trading Program which allows CalSTRS to monitor employees’ personal trading transactions in order to reduce risks associated with insider trading, front running, and misusing material non-public information. Upon accepting a position within the Investment Branch, you will be required to disclose your personal broker account information and be required to utilize a personal broker from a designated list as provided by CalSTRS.

Background Investigation

Prior to employment with CalSTRS, a background investigation (BI) will be conducted. The BI consists of a Personal History Statement and fingerprinting through the Department of Justice. The BI will check criminal and civil records and, if applicable, verify education and check driving records.

CalSTRS Disclosure Requirements

This position may be subject to disclosure and disqualification requirements concerning economic conflict of interest in government work, including the Conflict of Interest Code that applies to CalSTRS team members and the Political Reform Act, which require disclosure of certain investment information and use of a designated trading platform for securities transactions, as well as filing a Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700).

Incompatible Activities

This position is subject to the provisions of Government Code Section 19990. Upon accepting a position at CalSTRS, you will also be required to comply with the CalSTRS Incompatible Activities Policy by ensuring that outside work or activities are compatible and align with your professional activities or workplace obligations.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application. Final Filing Date: 10/25/2026

Who May Apply Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

• Experience designing or supporting security architecture for enterprise level systems.
• Experience using SIEM tools to perform searches, threat detection, or security monitoring.
• Experience creating dashboards, reports, or automated alerts for security operations.
• Experience developing or maintaining technical documentation such as architectural diagrams, strategic plans, and roadmaps for information security and enterprise architecture initiatives.
• Experience providing security guidance to project teams, architects, or vendors.
• Experience conducting or supporting security based technical or architectural reviews.
• Experience working with security governance, compliance, or risk-management processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts clearly.
• Knowledge of:
• Logging and monitoring of both system and security logs across servers, endpoints, and cloud environments
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISO/IEC 27001 and Center for Internet Security Critical Security Controls
• Network segmentation
• Identity and access controls
• Encryption standards and methods
• Penetration testing
• Vulnerability assessment and remediation, This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment with CalSTRS.

Every 12 months, based on performance evaluation, employees may receive a 5% salary increase until they reach the maximum salary for the position.

In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025. This program reduces employees’ monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits for the duration of the program. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the reduced amounts., CalSTRS offers a hybrid approach including in-office and remote work solutions based on business needs., CalSTRS offers a competitive pay schedule and a work-life-balance for all its employees. The State of California provides comprehensive benefits packages determined by the employee’s bargaining unit and conditions of employment. Some benefits include:

• Alternative work schedules
• Flexible work hours
• Remote work options
• Medical benefits, including health, dental and vision insurance
• Paid holidays and a defined benefit retirement program
• More than four weeks of vacation/sick leave for leaders
• More than three weeks of vacation/sick leave for staff
• Health insurance in retirement
• Employee Assistance Program
• Loan forgiveness under the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

CalSTRS is the largest educator-only pension fund in the world, providing retirement, disability and survivor benefits to California’s more than 1 million public school educators and their families. Named as one of the best places to work in money management ten times by Pensions & Investments magazine, we are a world-class financial services institution with a commitment to sustainability and wellness. Our two U.S. Green Building LEED Platinum-certified headquarters buildings in West Sacramento, California, feature sustainable construction, abundant natural lighting, an organic garden, sustainable beekeeping and ergonomic functionally designed workspaces. We offer a variety of on-site amenities to our team members, including two full-service cafés, two free fitness centers, a bicycle rental library and a child care center with a covered playground. Team members enjoy walks along the Sacramento River and nearby seasonal farmers markets. In addition to our state-of-the-art amenities, we offer thriving wellness and sustainability programs, an award-winning employee recognition program, and ongoing training, learning and development opportunities. We offer competitive benefits, flexible work hours and hybrid work options. We are committed to creating a workplace where our team members thrive.

If you’re looking for a rewarding career and are interested in becoming part of a diverse and inclusive workforce where talent, expertise and wellness are valued, we encourage you to find out more about our many career options at CalSTRS.com/Careers.