Jobs › Alliant Energy

Manager Cybersecurity Architecture & Engineering

Alliant Energy · Madison, WI · $128,000–$176,000 a year · Full time

Posted May 19, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a security platform you were accountable for that had a reliability problem. What did you do?

What they are checking: Ownership of platform reliability, which is part of this role alongside design.

Tell me about a time you had to address a performance gap on your team.

What they are checking: Real people leadership, since the posting lists performance improvement plans and conflict as part of the job.

How do you grow security engineers into architects?

What they are checking: Talent development in a field where skilled people are hard to hire.

What would you do

How do you build an engineering roadmap when the business, compliance and threat landscape all want different things first?

What they are checking: Ability to prioritize and explain trade-offs to leadership.

An operations team says a new security control will slow their work. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they find workable designs with the business instead of forcing or abandoning controls.

A vendor pushes a critical patch for a system that touches OT. Walk me through how you decide when to apply it.

What they are checking: Risk judgment that balances vulnerability exposure against the risk of disrupting operations.

About the work

How do security architecture decisions differ between IT and OT environments at a utility?

What they are checking: Whether they know OT puts availability and safety first and that IT tools can break control systems.

What does Zero Trust mean in practice for an energy company, and where would you start?

What they are checking: Whether they can turn a buzzword into a sequenced, realistic plan.

How do NERC CIP requirements shape your engineering standards?

What they are checking: Regulatory awareness specific to utilities, which the posting ties to architecture decisions.

How do you write architecture standards that engineers will actually follow?

What they are checking: Whether they make standards clear, practical and backed by reference designs.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Alliant Energy.

Bring YOUR energy to Alliant Energy! At Alliant Energy, our purpose is to serve customers and build stronger communities. We are passionate about powering beyond the market challenges of today, while powering what's next in energy. When our employees say "I am energy", it means they take pride in the work we do when disaster strikes, as well as all the days in between. We want you to be safe, happy and healthy. That's why we prioritize safety, offer volunteer opportunities and provide competitive pay, comprehensive health and retirement benefits, tuition reimbursement and paid time off. Job Summary Manager Cybersecurity Architecture & Engineering leads the design and implementation of enterprise security standards across IT and OT environments. This role ensures alignment with Alliant Energy’s cybersecurity roadmap, Zero Trust principles, and regulatory requirements, and is accountable for architecture standards, engineering roadmaps, and reliability of critical security platforms. What you will do • Performs all leadership duties including, but not limited to, hiring and rewarding talent, fostering an inclusive and safe workplace, partnering with employees to set clear goals and expectations, providing timely and specific feedback on performance, developing improvement plans to address performance gaps, addressing conflict with care and respect, identifying opportunities for growth and development, embracing and modeling a mindset of lifelong learning, ensuring employees report to work fit for duty, adhering to our Code of Conduct and modeling Alliant Energy’s Core Values at all times • Defines and maintain enterprise security architecture standards across cloud, identity, network, and OT environments; ensure decisions align with risk appetite, regulatory requirements, and governance frameworks. • Designs and implements a comprehensive strategy to deliver continuous improvements on Alliant Energy infrastructure and systems security posture. • Leads enterprise-level cybersecurity initiatives, including cloud security strategy, Zero Trust adoption, and modernization of security platforms to strengthen enterprise resilience. • Drives AI governance by ensuring security standards are integrated into emerging technologies and enterprise processes. • Serve as security design authority and collaborate with enterprise architecture to implement segmentation and monitoring strategies aligned with industry frameworks (e.g., Purdue model) • Oversees strategy and operational reliability of security monitoring and automation platforms and provide technical direction to project teams; mentor and develop security engineers to build organizational capability. • Establishes security architecture lifecycle processes, including threat modeling, design reviews, post-implementation validation, and integrate feedback loops from SOC and vulnerability management into continuous improvement. • Engage in other duties as needed that support Alliant Energy’s Values and helps deliver on our Purpose to serve customers and build stronger communities. Supervision • Performs work under the general supervision of the Director - Cyber & Physical Security. • Supervises the work of professional employees engaged in cyber security services activities. May supervise the work of external contractors. Education Requirements • Master’s Degree Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, STEM or related field Preferred. Certification Requirements • CISSP, CISM, CRISC, GICSP, or equivalent Preferred Required Experience • 7 years of experience in cybersecurity, including security architecture, engineering, or security leadership roles. • 3 years of experience leading security architecture or engineering initiatives at an enterprise level. • Experience designing or governing enterprise cyber security architecture across cloud, IAM/PAM, network segmentation, and security monitoring platforms (SIEM/SOAR/TIP). Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities • Strong understanding of enterprise security architecture principles and major frameworks, including NIST CSF, Zero Trust, and cybersecurity standards for operational technology (e.g., IEC 62443, NIST 800-82). • Ability to interpret and apply regulatory requirements and compliance standards to security architecture decisions • Ability to translate security frameworks into actionable designs and lead enterprise-level initiatives that align with risk appetite and regulatory requirements. • Demonstrates ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage vendor relationships, and mentor security engineers to build organizational capability. • Ability to assess complex security challenges, apply threat modeling, and integrate continuous improvement into architecture decisions. • Ability to translate complex security concepts into business terms, influence senior leadership decisions, and drive adoption of modern security practices across IT and OT environments through strategic thinking and change leadership. • Ability to work effectively in a collaborative and inclusive work environment. Key Skills • Cybersecurity Risk Management • Identity Access Management • Leadership • Security Architecture Design • Security Governance Our people are passionate about what they do, the product they sell, and the customers they serve. If you're looking for an opportunity to be a part of a work family that values collaboration, innovation and dedication, we're the right company for you. Alliant Energy offers a comprehensive total rewards package including competitive compensation and benefit programs. Information on these benefit programs is available on our Careers site. Pay Range: $128,000 - $176,000 This position is eligible to participate in the annual incentive program. The final salary offered will generally fall within this range and is dependent on various factors including but not limited to the responsibilities of the position, experience, skill set, internal pay equity and other relevant qualifications of the applicant. It's not just what we do; it's how we do it. Live Safety. Everyone. Always | Make Things Better | Care For Others | Do The Right Thing | Act For Tomorrow | Think Beyond. Be Bold Alliant Energy and its subsidiaries are committed to creating a culture of belonging and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by law. All candidates selected for employment with Alliant Energy will be required to successfully complete a background check, and a drug screen where applicable. Disclaimer: The above information on this description has been crafted to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not crafted to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Applicants in need of a reasonable accommodation for any part of the hiring process, please email talent@alliantenergy.com .

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