OPT Cyber Security Architect Jobs
Cyber Security Architect jobs on OPT require employers comfortable with 12-month standard OPT or 24-month STEM OPT extension, since the role falls under CIP code 11.1003 (Computer and Information Systems Security). Most openings are at large tech, finance, and defense contractors with existing visa infrastructure.
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Get Access To All JobsDepartment: Information Security & Infrastructure Operations
Reports To: Director, Detection & Automation
Location: Waltham, MA (Hybrid)
Salary Range: $141,000 to $176,900 annually
Company Overview
Nova Biomedical is a global leader in advanced analytical and diagnostic technologies supporting healthcare, biotechnology, and life sciences organizations worldwide. Nova relies on secure, resilient, and scalable technology capabilities to support manufacturing operations, research and development, commercial teams, and corporate functions across a global environment.
Position Summary
The Senior Cyber Defense Engineer is a foundational cyber defense role responsible for helping build and mature threat intelligence, cyber defense, detection engineering, investigation, incident response, and intelligent operations capabilities. This position combines analytical thinking, investigative expertise, and engineering discipline to strengthen the organization’s ability to identify, understand, and respond to cyber threats while contributing to the evolution of automation-enabled and AI-assisted security operations. The role is intended for a builder—someone who enjoys solving complex problems, improving capabilities, and helping establish the next generation of cyber defense operations.
Primary Areas of Focus
- Cyber Defense & Threat Analysis
- Detection Engineering & Operational Visibility
- Incident Response & Investigations
- Operational Intelligence & Situational Awareness
- Insider Risk & Cross-Functional Investigations
- Security Engineering & Continuous Improvement
- Automation, Analytics & Intelligent Operations
Essential Responsibilities
Cyber Defense & Threat Analysis:
- Analyze emerging threat activity, adversary techniques, and intelligence sources.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen defensive capabilities and reduce organizational risk.
- Translate threat intelligence into actionable operational and engineering outcomes.
- Support continuous improvement of cyber defense readiness and effectiveness.
Detection Engineering & Operational Visibility:
- Develop and refine detection capabilities across enterprise technology environments.
- Improve security visibility through telemetry, analytics, and monitoring enhancements.
- Advance detection quality, coverage, and operational effectiveness.
- Contribute to scalable detection engineering practices and standards.
Incident Response & Investigations:
- Lead or support the investigation of security events, incidents, and suspicious activity.
- Coordinate response activities across technical and business stakeholders.
- Support containment, recovery, and post-incident improvement efforts.
- Ensure investigations are conducted in a consistent, defensible, and well-documented manner.
Operational Intelligence & Situational Awareness:
- Produce intelligence reporting, threat briefings, and operational insights.
- Provide actionable information to support security and business decision-making.
- Improve organizational awareness of cyber risks and emerging threats.
- Contribute to strategic and operational security communications.
Insider Risk & Cross-Functional Investigations:
- Support investigations involving employee, compliance, legal, privacy, and security concerns.
- Partner with business stakeholders on sensitive and confidential matters.
- Maintain appropriate investigative documentation, evidence handling, and confidentiality practices.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of investigative processes and standards.
Security Engineering & Continuous Improvement:
- Improve the maturity, consistency, and scalability of cyber defense operations.
- Contribute to operational standards, procedures, and best practices.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen resilience, efficiency, and security outcomes.
- Support implementation of new capabilities and operational improvements.
Automation, Analytics & Intelligent Operations:
- Identify opportunities to reduce manual effort through engineering and automation.
- Contribute to workflow automation, orchestration, and intelligent operations capabilities.
- Leverage analytics to improve operational performance and decision-making.
- Support the evolution of AI-assisted cyber defense capabilities and processes.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Security, Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
- Experience in cyber threat intelligence, investigations, security operations, incident response, detection engineering, or related disciplines.
- Strong analytical, investigative, and problem-solving skills.
- Experience producing intelligence products, investigative reports, operational briefings, or security communications.
- Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences.
- Demonstrated curiosity, ownership, and desire to continuously learn and develop.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting manufacturing, healthcare, life sciences, or other regulated environments.
- Experience with enterprise cyber defense, monitoring, analytics, detection, response, or observability capabilities.
- Experience developing detections, investigations, operational analytics, or threat-informed defensive controls.
- Familiarity with automation, orchestration, workflow engineering, advanced analytics, or AI-enabled operational concepts.
- Relevant cybersecurity certifications are desirable.
Success Profile
The ideal candidate is intellectually curious, analytical, self-motivated, and passionate about cyber defense. They combine investigative thinking with engineering discipline, communicate effectively across technical and business teams, and demonstrate the ability to translate insight into action. They are eager to broaden their expertise across detection engineering, automation, analytics, and intelligent operations while helping build a world-class cyber defense capability.
Working Conditions
Occasional travel may be required. Participation in after-hours investigations, incident response activities, maintenance windows, and critical business events may be required based on operational needs.
Why Join Nova Biomedical
This role offers the opportunity to help shape the future of cyber defense at a global healthcare technology organization. The successful candidate will work alongside experienced technology and security professionals while building capabilities that improve resilience, security, operational efficiency, and business outcomes across the enterprise. Beyond contributing to critical cyber defense operations, this role provides a unique opportunity to gain experience across threat intelligence, investigations, incident response, detection engineering, operational analytics, automation, and AI-assisted security operations. As Nova continues to mature its cyber capabilities, this position offers a natural path toward advanced engineering responsibilities, technical leadership, and increased ownership of strategic cyber defense initiatives. This role is intended for individuals who are excited to build, innovate, and continuously expand their skills while helping protect a mission-driven organization.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Nova Biomedical is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Department: Information Security & Infrastructure Operations
Reports To: Director, Detection & Automation
Location: Waltham, MA (Hybrid)
Salary Range: $141,000 to $176,900 annually
Company Overview
Nova Biomedical is a global leader in advanced analytical and diagnostic technologies supporting healthcare, biotechnology, and life sciences organizations worldwide. Nova relies on secure, resilient, and scalable technology capabilities to support manufacturing operations, research and development, commercial teams, and corporate functions across a global environment.
Position Summary
The Senior Cyber Defense Engineer is a foundational cyber defense role responsible for helping build and mature threat intelligence, cyber defense, detection engineering, investigation, incident response, and intelligent operations capabilities. This position combines analytical thinking, investigative expertise, and engineering discipline to strengthen the organization’s ability to identify, understand, and respond to cyber threats while contributing to the evolution of automation-enabled and AI-assisted security operations. The role is intended for a builder—someone who enjoys solving complex problems, improving capabilities, and helping establish the next generation of cyber defense operations.
Primary Areas of Focus
- Cyber Defense & Threat Analysis
- Detection Engineering & Operational Visibility
- Incident Response & Investigations
- Operational Intelligence & Situational Awareness
- Insider Risk & Cross-Functional Investigations
- Security Engineering & Continuous Improvement
- Automation, Analytics & Intelligent Operations
Essential Responsibilities
Cyber Defense & Threat Analysis:
- Analyze emerging threat activity, adversary techniques, and intelligence sources.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen defensive capabilities and reduce organizational risk.
- Translate threat intelligence into actionable operational and engineering outcomes.
- Support continuous improvement of cyber defense readiness and effectiveness.
Detection Engineering & Operational Visibility:
- Develop and refine detection capabilities across enterprise technology environments.
- Improve security visibility through telemetry, analytics, and monitoring enhancements.
- Advance detection quality, coverage, and operational effectiveness.
- Contribute to scalable detection engineering practices and standards.
Incident Response & Investigations:
- Lead or support the investigation of security events, incidents, and suspicious activity.
- Coordinate response activities across technical and business stakeholders.
- Support containment, recovery, and post-incident improvement efforts.
- Ensure investigations are conducted in a consistent, defensible, and well-documented manner.
Operational Intelligence & Situational Awareness:
- Produce intelligence reporting, threat briefings, and operational insights.
- Provide actionable information to support security and business decision-making.
- Improve organizational awareness of cyber risks and emerging threats.
- Contribute to strategic and operational security communications.
Insider Risk & Cross-Functional Investigations:
- Support investigations involving employee, compliance, legal, privacy, and security concerns.
- Partner with business stakeholders on sensitive and confidential matters.
- Maintain appropriate investigative documentation, evidence handling, and confidentiality practices.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of investigative processes and standards.
Security Engineering & Continuous Improvement:
- Improve the maturity, consistency, and scalability of cyber defense operations.
- Contribute to operational standards, procedures, and best practices.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen resilience, efficiency, and security outcomes.
- Support implementation of new capabilities and operational improvements.
Automation, Analytics & Intelligent Operations:
- Identify opportunities to reduce manual effort through engineering and automation.
- Contribute to workflow automation, orchestration, and intelligent operations capabilities.
- Leverage analytics to improve operational performance and decision-making.
- Support the evolution of AI-assisted cyber defense capabilities and processes.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Security, Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
- Experience in cyber threat intelligence, investigations, security operations, incident response, detection engineering, or related disciplines.
- Strong analytical, investigative, and problem-solving skills.
- Experience producing intelligence products, investigative reports, operational briefings, or security communications.
- Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences.
- Demonstrated curiosity, ownership, and desire to continuously learn and develop.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting manufacturing, healthcare, life sciences, or other regulated environments.
- Experience with enterprise cyber defense, monitoring, analytics, detection, response, or observability capabilities.
- Experience developing detections, investigations, operational analytics, or threat-informed defensive controls.
- Familiarity with automation, orchestration, workflow engineering, advanced analytics, or AI-enabled operational concepts.
- Relevant cybersecurity certifications are desirable.
Success Profile
The ideal candidate is intellectually curious, analytical, self-motivated, and passionate about cyber defense. They combine investigative thinking with engineering discipline, communicate effectively across technical and business teams, and demonstrate the ability to translate insight into action. They are eager to broaden their expertise across detection engineering, automation, analytics, and intelligent operations while helping build a world-class cyber defense capability.
Working Conditions
Occasional travel may be required. Participation in after-hours investigations, incident response activities, maintenance windows, and critical business events may be required based on operational needs.
Why Join Nova Biomedical
This role offers the opportunity to help shape the future of cyber defense at a global healthcare technology organization. The successful candidate will work alongside experienced technology and security professionals while building capabilities that improve resilience, security, operational efficiency, and business outcomes across the enterprise. Beyond contributing to critical cyber defense operations, this role provides a unique opportunity to gain experience across threat intelligence, investigations, incident response, detection engineering, operational analytics, automation, and AI-assisted security operations. As Nova continues to mature its cyber capabilities, this position offers a natural path toward advanced engineering responsibilities, technical leadership, and increased ownership of strategic cyber defense initiatives. This role is intended for individuals who are excited to build, innovate, and continuously expand their skills while helping protect a mission-driven organization.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Nova Biomedical is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.
See all 74+ OPT Cyber Security Architect Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Cyber Security Architect Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Cyber Security Architect
Confirm your role qualifies for STEM OPT
Cyber Security Architect falls under CIP code 11.1003, making it STEM OPT-eligible. Confirm your degree matches an approved STEM field before accepting any offer, since your employer must enroll in E-Verify to authorize your 24-month extension.
Target employers with E-Verify enrollment
STEM OPT requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Large defense contractors, financial institutions, and enterprise tech companies almost always are. Smaller startups often aren't, so verify enrollment before you invest time in their interview process.
Start your STEM OPT extension early
File your STEM OPT extension at least 90 days before your standard OPT expires. USCIS processing can take 3 to 5 months, but your work authorization automatically continues while the application is pending if filed on time.
Get a formal offer letter before filing
Your employer must sign the I-983 Training Plan before you submit your STEM OPT extension. Without a confirmed offer and signed form, USCIS will reject the application. Have HR confirm their E-Verify status and willingness to sign early.
Position yourself for H-1B sponsorship from day one
Cyber Security Architect is a strong H-1B visa profile. Use your OPT period to build employer relationships at companies with H-1B sponsorship history. The April H-1B lottery registration deadline means your employer needs to commit by March of your extension year.
Highlight clearance eligibility if applicable
Many Cyber Security Architect roles at defense contractors require security clearances, which typically limit hiring to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Focus your search on commercial tech and finance employers where clearance is not required and OPT is welcomed.
Cyber Security Architect OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Cyber Security Architect on OPT?
Yes, if your degree is in computer science, information security, or a related STEM field, Cyber Security Architect qualifies for both standard 12-month OPT and the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Your employer must enroll in E-Verify for the STEM extension. Most large tech and finance employers already meet this requirement.
Does a Cyber Security Architect role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It does, provided your underlying degree falls under an approved STEM CIP code. Information security and computer science degrees (CIP 11.1003, 11.0101, and related codes) are on the STEM OPT designated degree list. Confirm your specific degree program with your DSO before applying, since the qualifying field is your degree, not the job title.
Do Cyber Security Architect employers typically sponsor OPT students?
Sponsorship willingness varies by employer. Large financial institutions, enterprise software companies, and cloud providers frequently sponsor OPT and H-1B for security architecture roles. Defense contractors often require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency for clearance-dependent positions. Migrate Mate filters for OPT-friendly employers so you can focus your applications where authorization is already expected.
What happens to my OPT work authorization if I change employers as a Cyber Security Architect?
Standard OPT allows employer changes without notifying USCIS, but you must report the change to your DSO within 10 days. For STEM OPT, each new employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign a new I-983 Training Plan before you begin work. There is no grace period for starting work at a new employer under STEM OPT without a completed I-983.
What security clearance requirements should I be aware of as an OPT student applying for Cyber Security Architect roles?
Many federal contractor and government-adjacent Cyber Security Architect positions require active security clearances, which are generally unavailable to nonimmigrant visa holders including OPT students. Focus on commercial sector roles in finance, healthcare, and technology where clearance is not a prerequisite. These sectors have strong demand for security architects and established processes for sponsoring international candidates through OPT and beyond.