Kirkland & Ellis
Cyber Security Architect & AI Principal
Kirkland & Ellis, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
About Kirkland & Ellis
At Kirkland & Ellis, we are united in our ambition and drive to move forward. We share core values that help us achieve excellence: collaboration, talent empowerment, service, inclusion, respect and gratitude. Our people are our greatest asset, and we invest in the brightest talent and encourage a diversity of perspectives and strengths to create dynamic teams that operate at the pinnacle of their field. Our talented professionals show up every day knowing they will engage in meaningful work, continuous learning and professional development.
As one of the world's leading law firms, we serve a broad range of clients with market-leading practices in private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions; investment fund formation and alternative asset management; restructurings; high-stakes commercial and intellectual property litigation; and government, regulatory and internal investigations. We handle the most complicated and sophisticated legal matters because we don't just meet industry standards, we create them. We bring innovation and entrepreneurialism to every engagement and, as a result, have long-standing client relationships with leading global corporations and financial sponsors. With 6,500 employees (including more than 3,500 lawyers) operating from 21 offices across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we are one of the largest law firms in the world and a top financial performer.
Essential Job Functions
The Cyber Security Architect & Artificial Intelligence Principal role is part of the Security Governance department and reports to the Director of Cyber Security Architecture and Forensics. The Security Governance department leads in protecting the firm from Cyber and Physical threats, and assists with assuring compliance to contractual, legal, and ethical requirements. Risk to the firm is reduced by providing clear direction for the secure delivery of technology, active identification of risks, and rapid response to threats. Security Governance is led by the CSO who reports to the CAO and works directly with the firm's General Counsel.
This position is specifically meant to focus on the security aspects of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at the Firm. Project work will primarily focus on AI/ML initiatives / software packages that protect and safeguard the Firm's data and working with project teams to enable AI/ML technologies in a thoughtful, secure way that complies with Firm Policies. We seek someone who has not only used AI technology but has built it and has a deep knowledge of the security pitfalls that are both realized and unrealized.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Security Architecture and Engineering Evaluate currently deployed technologies against established good practices and providing reasoned recommendations for improvements. Define responsible security reference architecture for AI Platforms. Thorough knowledge of internet technologies and secure coding best practices in web development. Previous software engineering/architecture experience. Ability to come to expert level knowledge of security solutions that will be implemented at the Firm. Creation of Project Security Whitepapers describing the security risks of new solutions. Deep knowledge of Generative AI models with particular focus on the security pitfalls and strategies to protect the Firm's data. Experience in implementing and rolling out model scanning solutions as part of the model development process. Engaging with senior enterprise architects and directors to shape the security and technical roadmap for the Firm. Voting member of the Architecture Review board Writing technical documentation. Technical Knowledge / Skills
Demonstrated background of expertise in AI technology - both building and using. Deep knowledge of Machine learning techniques. Deep knowledge and understanding of AI/ML LLM security vulnerabilities (OWASP). Understanding of AL/ML model formats (such as pickle, TensorFlow, safetensors, etc). Experience with Azure Open AI Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines covering source control, integration, and deployment Leadership
Enable AI Technologies at the Firm in a way that is secure and puts the protection of the Firm's data at the forefront. Identify the responsible use of AI which extends from top level principles to guiding direction in low level concepts, for instance, what does a responsible use of unsupervised learning look like? The ability to come up to speed to the Firm's Security and Risk appetite, and ability to recommend solutions to implement those polices and practices with agility and expertise. Reviewing and maturing the security standards at the Firm. Providing input in the assessment of enterprise cyber risk. Mentoring junior members of the Security Architecture group Innovation and Development
Recommending and deploying technologies to deploy AI technologies at the Firm in a secure configuration that meets the Firm's policies and practices. Evaluating and implementing existing and new technologies, technical configurations, and policies and standards. Providing thought leadership to the overall Architecture community at the Firm specifically as related to AI/ML initiatives. Project Management
Ensuring delivery of project goals and strong hand over practices to operational teams. Conduct risk assessments of vulnerabilities and threats to our systems and networks. Develop strategies to mitigate risks and ensure ongoing compliance with industry and regulatory requirements. Participating in the development and delivery of the firmwide cyber security strategy. Supporting investigations and incident response activities. OTHER FUNCTIONS
Communication
Developing organizational mission, objectives, milestones, and plans with little supervision. Independent and persuasive business writing. Communicate technical and non-technical information (both written and oral formats) to customers, peers and/or management in a one-on-one or team context with some oversight. Effective production support activities, including technical writing and the creation of documentation, training, and other communications without frequent supervision. Decision Making
Produces effective and practical decisions and problem solutions based on a mixture of analysis, experience, and judgment. Provides innovative and insightful ideas. Perceives the cross impact on other engagements. Determines personnel needs and staffing. Interpersonal Skills
Capable of defusing complex interpersonal issues effectively. Negotiates skillfully in very difficult situations with both internal and external groups. Inspires and motivates. Recognized as a positive and motivational leader on the team. Strategic/Change Leadership
Builds strategy and focuses on six months to one-year plans. Contributes individually or through others on complex issues or initiatives. Facilitates group progress on complex issues and initiatives. Program/Project Management
Spearheads complex programs that span multiple inter-organizational units and clients. Interfaces with senior management. Qualifications & Requirements
Education, Work Experience, Skills
The following experience and education does not need to be consecutive and is preferred. Any combination of experience, education, and certification that demonstrates that the candidate can be successful in the position will be considered.
Minimum fifteen (15) years of experience in Information Technology operational and/or engineering roles of which at least ten (10) years of experience in IT security, compliance, or risk management developing and deploying security technologies, policies, standards, and procedures. Understanding of industry standard frameworks such as ISO 27001, NIST 800-53, CSF, CIS, ATT&CK Matrix. Demonstrated education or experience in AI Technologies Bachelor's degree or better in Cyber Security or similar is preferred. Understanding of AL/ML model formats (such as pickle, TensorFlow, safetensors, etc). Experience with Azure Open AI Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines covering source control, integration, and deployment Technologies/Software you might be interacting with
Azure Open AI Various coding languages as relevant to AI Advanced Endpoint Security Data Loss Prevention technologies and strategies Application AllowBlocklisting Azure IaaS & PaaS Security Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) Network Segmentation Strategies M365 Security Suite Network IPS/IDS Next Generation Firewall Privileged Access Management SIEM Vulnerability Management Web Application Firewall (WAF) Certificates, Licensures, Registrations
CISSP, CISM and AI focused certifications is preferred. WORK ENVIRONMENT
This job operates in a professional office environment.
How to Apply
Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."
Equal Employment Opportunity
All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee's race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
Closing Statement
The www.kirkland.com job postings and recruiting mailbox are for candidates only. If you are a recruiter, search firm or employment agency, and do not have a signed contract with Kirkland & Ellis LLP ("K&E") and have not been asked specifically to submit candidates, you will not be compensated in any way for your referral of a candidate even if K&E hires the candidate. Direct contact with K&E employees in an attempt to present candidates is inappropriate and will be a factor in determining any future professional relationship with the Firm. #LI-Hybrid #LI-DR1
At Kirkland & Ellis, we are united in our ambition and drive to move forward. We share core values that help us achieve excellence: collaboration, talent empowerment, service, inclusion, respect and gratitude. Our people are our greatest asset, and we invest in the brightest talent and encourage a diversity of perspectives and strengths to create dynamic teams that operate at the pinnacle of their field. Our talented professionals show up every day knowing they will engage in meaningful work, continuous learning and professional development.
As one of the world's leading law firms, we serve a broad range of clients with market-leading practices in private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions; investment fund formation and alternative asset management; restructurings; high-stakes commercial and intellectual property litigation; and government, regulatory and internal investigations. We handle the most complicated and sophisticated legal matters because we don't just meet industry standards, we create them. We bring innovation and entrepreneurialism to every engagement and, as a result, have long-standing client relationships with leading global corporations and financial sponsors. With 6,500 employees (including more than 3,500 lawyers) operating from 21 offices across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we are one of the largest law firms in the world and a top financial performer.
Essential Job Functions
The Cyber Security Architect & Artificial Intelligence Principal role is part of the Security Governance department and reports to the Director of Cyber Security Architecture and Forensics. The Security Governance department leads in protecting the firm from Cyber and Physical threats, and assists with assuring compliance to contractual, legal, and ethical requirements. Risk to the firm is reduced by providing clear direction for the secure delivery of technology, active identification of risks, and rapid response to threats. Security Governance is led by the CSO who reports to the CAO and works directly with the firm's General Counsel.
This position is specifically meant to focus on the security aspects of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at the Firm. Project work will primarily focus on AI/ML initiatives / software packages that protect and safeguard the Firm's data and working with project teams to enable AI/ML technologies in a thoughtful, secure way that complies with Firm Policies. We seek someone who has not only used AI technology but has built it and has a deep knowledge of the security pitfalls that are both realized and unrealized.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Security Architecture and Engineering Evaluate currently deployed technologies against established good practices and providing reasoned recommendations for improvements. Define responsible security reference architecture for AI Platforms. Thorough knowledge of internet technologies and secure coding best practices in web development. Previous software engineering/architecture experience. Ability to come to expert level knowledge of security solutions that will be implemented at the Firm. Creation of Project Security Whitepapers describing the security risks of new solutions. Deep knowledge of Generative AI models with particular focus on the security pitfalls and strategies to protect the Firm's data. Experience in implementing and rolling out model scanning solutions as part of the model development process. Engaging with senior enterprise architects and directors to shape the security and technical roadmap for the Firm. Voting member of the Architecture Review board Writing technical documentation. Technical Knowledge / Skills
Demonstrated background of expertise in AI technology - both building and using. Deep knowledge of Machine learning techniques. Deep knowledge and understanding of AI/ML LLM security vulnerabilities (OWASP). Understanding of AL/ML model formats (such as pickle, TensorFlow, safetensors, etc). Experience with Azure Open AI Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines covering source control, integration, and deployment Leadership
Enable AI Technologies at the Firm in a way that is secure and puts the protection of the Firm's data at the forefront. Identify the responsible use of AI which extends from top level principles to guiding direction in low level concepts, for instance, what does a responsible use of unsupervised learning look like? The ability to come up to speed to the Firm's Security and Risk appetite, and ability to recommend solutions to implement those polices and practices with agility and expertise. Reviewing and maturing the security standards at the Firm. Providing input in the assessment of enterprise cyber risk. Mentoring junior members of the Security Architecture group Innovation and Development
Recommending and deploying technologies to deploy AI technologies at the Firm in a secure configuration that meets the Firm's policies and practices. Evaluating and implementing existing and new technologies, technical configurations, and policies and standards. Providing thought leadership to the overall Architecture community at the Firm specifically as related to AI/ML initiatives. Project Management
Ensuring delivery of project goals and strong hand over practices to operational teams. Conduct risk assessments of vulnerabilities and threats to our systems and networks. Develop strategies to mitigate risks and ensure ongoing compliance with industry and regulatory requirements. Participating in the development and delivery of the firmwide cyber security strategy. Supporting investigations and incident response activities. OTHER FUNCTIONS
Communication
Developing organizational mission, objectives, milestones, and plans with little supervision. Independent and persuasive business writing. Communicate technical and non-technical information (both written and oral formats) to customers, peers and/or management in a one-on-one or team context with some oversight. Effective production support activities, including technical writing and the creation of documentation, training, and other communications without frequent supervision. Decision Making
Produces effective and practical decisions and problem solutions based on a mixture of analysis, experience, and judgment. Provides innovative and insightful ideas. Perceives the cross impact on other engagements. Determines personnel needs and staffing. Interpersonal Skills
Capable of defusing complex interpersonal issues effectively. Negotiates skillfully in very difficult situations with both internal and external groups. Inspires and motivates. Recognized as a positive and motivational leader on the team. Strategic/Change Leadership
Builds strategy and focuses on six months to one-year plans. Contributes individually or through others on complex issues or initiatives. Facilitates group progress on complex issues and initiatives. Program/Project Management
Spearheads complex programs that span multiple inter-organizational units and clients. Interfaces with senior management. Qualifications & Requirements
Education, Work Experience, Skills
The following experience and education does not need to be consecutive and is preferred. Any combination of experience, education, and certification that demonstrates that the candidate can be successful in the position will be considered.
Minimum fifteen (15) years of experience in Information Technology operational and/or engineering roles of which at least ten (10) years of experience in IT security, compliance, or risk management developing and deploying security technologies, policies, standards, and procedures. Understanding of industry standard frameworks such as ISO 27001, NIST 800-53, CSF, CIS, ATT&CK Matrix. Demonstrated education or experience in AI Technologies Bachelor's degree or better in Cyber Security or similar is preferred. Understanding of AL/ML model formats (such as pickle, TensorFlow, safetensors, etc). Experience with Azure Open AI Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines covering source control, integration, and deployment Technologies/Software you might be interacting with
Azure Open AI Various coding languages as relevant to AI Advanced Endpoint Security Data Loss Prevention technologies and strategies Application AllowBlocklisting Azure IaaS & PaaS Security Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) Network Segmentation Strategies M365 Security Suite Network IPS/IDS Next Generation Firewall Privileged Access Management SIEM Vulnerability Management Web Application Firewall (WAF) Certificates, Licensures, Registrations
CISSP, CISM and AI focused certifications is preferred. WORK ENVIRONMENT
This job operates in a professional office environment.
How to Apply
Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."
Equal Employment Opportunity
All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee's race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
Closing Statement
The www.kirkland.com job postings and recruiting mailbox are for candidates only. If you are a recruiter, search firm or employment agency, and do not have a signed contract with Kirkland & Ellis LLP ("K&E") and have not been asked specifically to submit candidates, you will not be compensated in any way for your referral of a candidate even if K&E hires the candidate. Direct contact with K&E employees in an attempt to present candidates is inappropriate and will be a factor in determining any future professional relationship with the Firm. #LI-Hybrid #LI-DR1