Full-Time

Principal Security Architect

Updated on 9/10/2026

Advance Auto Parts

Advance Auto Parts

10,001+ employees

Automotive aftermarket parts retailer

No salary listed

Raleigh, NC, USA

Hybrid

Four days in the office and one day remote per week.

Category
Cybersecurity (1)
Required Skills
Threat modeling
Cybersecurity
Vulnerability Analysis
Role-based Access Control
Cryptography

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Requirements
  • The candidate must have 8–12+ years of cybersecurity experience with substantial architecture and engineering experience.
  • The candidate must have depth across identity and access management, endpoint detection and response or endpoint security, vulnerability management, and security architecture design with formal review processes.
  • The candidate must be able to solve complex, ambiguous technical and organizational problems in large or complex environments and interface effectively across security, information technology and engineering, cloud, and business teams.
  • The candidate must have experience with security architecture principles, frameworks, and practices, including Zero Trust, NIST Cybersecurity Framework and NIST 800-53, ISO 27001, MITRE ATT&CK, and threat-modeling methodologies such as STRIDE.
  • The candidate must have hands-on familiarity with relevant technologies and platforms, including identity platforms such as Okta and Microsoft Entra ID and endpoint detection and response solutions.
  • The candidate must have experience designing and reviewing architectures for hybrid, multicloud, and on-premises environments.
  • The candidate must be able to communicate complex topics and drive alignment across stakeholders.
Responsibilities
  • Develop and maintain cybersecurity architecture strategy, roadmaps, reference architectures, standards, patterns, and artifacts aligned with business drivers, technology strategy, and the evolving threat landscape across multicloud and on-premises environments.
  • Lead architecture design and formal security architecture reviews for new solutions, major changes, cloud migrations, applications, infrastructure, and third-party integrations; identify risks and recommend practical mitigations.
  • Architect and guide identity and access management solutions using Zero Trust principles, single sign-on and multifactor authentication, role-based access control and least privilege, identity lifecycle management, privileged access, and federation.
  • Architect and guide endpoint detection and response, extended detection and response, and related endpoint protection controls.
  • Architect and guide vulnerability management, including scanning architecture, prioritization, remediation workflows, and integration with broader risk processes.
  • Architect and guide broader security controls, including network segmentation, encryption, logging and detection, cloud security posture, and secure configurations.
  • Evaluate tools and platforms, support proofs of concept, guide implementation and integration, validate controls, and contribute to automation and scripting where appropriate.
  • Conduct threat modeling, risk assessments, and gap analyses, and translate findings into actionable architecture recommendations and control improvements.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor and liaison by communicating technical risks, trade-offs, and solutions to technical and non-technical audiences and influencing decision-making and continuous improvement.
  • Stay current with emerging threats, technologies, and frameworks and evaluate and recommend enhancements to security posture and processes.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience in retail, large distributed enterprises, or highly regulated environments.
  • Leadership or principal-level individual-contributor experience guiding technical direction without direct people management, or light leadership of architecture efforts.

Advance Auto Parts supplies automotive aftermarket parts and accessories to both professional installers and DIY customers through thousands of stores in North America. Its product lineup includes replacement parts, maintenance items, and car accessories for cars, vans, and light trucks, sold in-store and online with staff guidance to help customers select the right parts. The company differs from many competitors through its extensive store network, broad product assortment, and ability to serve both professional businesses and individual customers with knowledgeable service and a nationwide distribution and retail model. Its goal is to be the preferred source for auto parts by offering a wide selection, convenient locations, and expert customer assistance.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Raleigh, North Carolina

Founded

1932

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Q2 2026 free cash flow reached $120 million year-to-date, reversing prior outflows.
  • Q2 2026 gross margin hit 46.2%, driven by merchandising gains.
  • Management reaffirmed August 20, 2026 guidance, including $2.60-$3.30 adjusted EPS.

What critics are saying

  • DIY sales fell sharply in Q2 2026, especially during the final four weeks.
  • The $26 million Q2 2026 tariff refund disappears in second-half results.
  • If holiday 2026 DIY demand weakens, positive free cash flow disappears again.

What makes Advance Auto Parts unique

  • Advance Auto Parts runs 38 market hubs, targeting 60 by mid-2027.
  • Its June 17, 2026 OneRail expansion strengthens same-day fulfillment across 4,000 locations.
  • The Pro channel outgrew DIY in Q2 2026, favoring installer demand.

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Benefits

Performance Bonus

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

13%

1 year growth

13%

2 year growth

13%
Yahoo Finance
Aug 20th, 2026
Dow drops 703 points as Treasury yields surge past 4.7%, Walmart tumbles 9% on sales miss

Stocks fell Thursday as Treasury yields rebounded and retail earnings disappointed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 703 points, or 1.3%, to 52,759. The S&P 500 declined 0.9% to 7,641, whilst the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.0% to 26,067. Rising yields on the 10-year and 30-year Treasuries pressured equities after US debt crossed $40 trillion. Walmart led decliners, tumbling 9.2% despite beating earnings expectations. The retailer's same-store sales growth of 2.6% fell short of forecasts, and it issued soft third-quarter guidance. Advance Auto Parts plunged 24.6% after reporting revenue below analyst expectations, despite stronger-than-expected earnings per share.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 20th, 2026
Advance Auto Parts returns to positive free cash flow of $120M amid DIY spending slowdown

Advance Auto Parts reported positive free cash flow of $120 million year-to-date in Q2 2026, marking a significant turnaround supported by improved working capital management and tariff refunds. However, the company experienced a slight decline in comparable sales due to weaker-than-expected DIY spending during the quarter's final four weeks. The Pro channel met expectations, with Main Street business growth outpacing the segment by 200 basis points. Operational improvements included Net Promoter Scores rising to nearly 80 points and in-store attachment rates reaching 30%. The company completed its distribution centre consolidation, reducing from nearly 40 facilities to 15 locations. Management maintained full-year comparable sales guidance of 1% to 2% and reaffirmed a medium-term adjusted operating margin target of 7%. Advance Auto Parts plans to open 15 to 20 Market Hubs this year, reaching 60 locations by mid-2027.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 20th, 2026
Advance Auto Parts raises EPS guidance to $2.60–$3.30 despite DIY sales drop

Advance Auto Parts reported second-quarter sales of $2 billion, with comparable sales declining slightly. Low-single-digit growth in the professional channel was offset by a larger-than-expected low-double-digit drop in DIY sales as tighter household budgets weighed on consumer spending. Adjusted operating margin expanded to 5.6% and adjusted EPS rose to $1.03. The company benefited from product-margin gains and $26 million in tariff refunds. Free cash flow improved to $120 million year to date, whilst net-debt leverage fell to 2.1 times. The company reaffirmed its 2026 sales, margin and free-cash-flow outlook but raised adjusted EPS guidance to $2.60–$3.30, largely due to higher expected interest income.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 20th, 2026
Advance Auto Parts plunges 21% on $2B revenue miss despite $26M tariff refund boosting earnings

Advance Auto Parts shares plunged 21% to $44.33 after reporting second-quarter results that missed revenue expectations despite an earnings beat. The company posted adjusted earnings per share of $1.03, beating estimates of $0.81, but revenue of $2 billion fell short of the $2.04 billion forecast. Comparable sales declined 0.5%. The earnings beat included a one-time $26 million tariff refund worth $0.31 per share. Management noted the DIY channel weakened sharply in the quarter's final four weeks, whilst the Pro channel delivered low single-digit growth. The sell-off rippled through the auto parts sector. AutoZone fell 4% to $2,961, O'Reilly Automotive dropped 2% to $89.57, and Genuine Parts slipped 3% to $131.05, reflecting concerns about softening do-it-yourself demand across the industry.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 4th, 2026
Advance Auto Parts vs. Caterpillar: Which stock offers better value in 2026?

Advance Auto Parts and Caterpillar present contrasting investment profiles for 2026, balancing retail recovery against industrial stability. Advance Auto Parts operates in the automotive aftermarket, serving mechanics and DIY enthusiasts. The company recently expanded its AI-powered same-day delivery partnership with OneRail. FY 2025 revenue fell 5.4% year-over-year to $8.6 billion, with net income of $44 million and a 0.5% margin. The firm faces a 2.4x debt-to-equity ratio and negative $298 million free cash flow whilst implementing multi-year restructuring. Caterpillar serves construction, mining, and energy sectors through a global dealer network across nearly 190 countries. FY 2025 revenue grew 4.3% to $67.6 billion. Net income declined to $8.9 billion from $10.8 billion previously, yielding a 13.1% margin. The company is acquiring mining software providers to enhance digital services. Both face distinct macroeconomic pressures, making valuation critical for investment decisions.