Associate Director, AI Security Architecture

Salary Range:

€57,900.00 - €107,500.00

Job Description Summary

Internal Job Title: Assoc. Dir. DDIT ISC Security Architecture AI
#LI-Hybrid
Location: Barcelona
Relocation Support: This role is based in Barcelona. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible.
Help shape how AI can be built, deployed, and scaled securely. In this role, you’ll influence the security architecture behind next-Generation AI solutions, defining standards and patterns that protect AI models, data, pipelines, and agentic systems throughout their lifecycle. You’ll work at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, cloud engineering, and architecture, partnering with technical teams to address emerging threats, strengthen secure AI development, and turn evolving security challenges into practical, scalable solutions.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Lead AI architectural activities and develop secure solution architectures across business and technology domains.
• Define AI security standards and best practices for protecting AI pipelines, datasets, models, and infrastructure.
• Develop logical architecture designs and strategies to secure the organization’s AI domain and infrastructure.
• Establish and evolve AI architecture governance frameworks, including methods, practices, standards, and reusable architecture patterns.
• Assess the AI landscape, identifying and mitigating security risks across model training, deployment, and operations.
• Evaluate AI security technologies and integrate appropriate security controls across AI platforms and Large Language Models.
• Secure AI and agentic systems against model poisoning, adversarial inputs, prompt injection, jailbreaking, and emerging threats.
• Design Model Context Protocol servers, AI agent workflows, secure deployment architectures, and AI gateway integrations.
• Build Python services, developer tools, integrations, and AI security harnesses supporting secure software development.
• Collaborate with data scientists, engineers, and DevOps teams to embed security throughout the AI development lifecycle.

Essential Requirements

• 12+ years of overall professional experience, including substantial experience across security, architecture, software development, and AI security engineering.
• At least 5 years of security experience, 5 years in architecture, 5 years in development, and 2+ years in AI security and engineering.
• Proven AI security architecture expertise covering training data, models, pipelines, deployed AI solutions, security policies, standards, and architecture patterns.
• Strong knowledge of AI threats, risk identification, threat modeling, data privacy, and defenses against adversarial and AI-based attacks.
• Hands-on experience securing Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning applications across cloud platforms, with strong Amazon Web Services engineering and architecture expertise.
• Production experience with AI coding agents, Model Context Protocol servers, agent workflows, Python development, automated testing, and AI gateway integrations.

Desirable Requirements

• Security engineering or application security background, with experience evaluating and working with specialized AI security technologies.
• Experience building developer-facing command-line tools and working effectively in multi-vendor, global technology environments.

Benefits & Rewards

At Novartis, we’re committed to reimagining medicine together - and rewarding the people who make it happen.

Expected Annual Base Salary Range for role:  57,900.00 - 107,500.00 EUR Annual

The base salary offered is determined based on gender-neutral objectives, such as relevant skills, competencies and experience in accordance with the Novartis pay setting policy and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically.

In addition to your base salary, you may be eligible for a performance-based bonus depending on certain performance parameters.

The rewards of being part of our team go far beyond base pay and incentives. We also offer a variety of competitive benefits in kind to help you thrive personally and professionally, such as insurance plans, retirement plans, wellbeing resources and global recognition programs. In addition, we provide flexible and hybrid working options, where possible, and minimum 14 weeks paid parental leave.

Pay equity is a fundamental principle of our employment policy and reflects our commitment to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment that treats all employees with dignity and respect, as outlined in our Code of Ethics.

Read our brochure to learn more about our global total rewards offering:

Note: Benefits and compensation may vary by country and are subject to local legal requirements, including provisions of collective bargaining agreements where applicable. A full overview of your compensation package, including any relevant collective bargaining agreement details applicable to your role based on your employment location and Novartis employer entity, will be communicated separately to you during the application process.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion / EEO

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams’ representative of the patients and communities we serve.

You’ll receive: You can find everything you need to know about our benefits and rewards in the Novartis Life Handbook. Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams' representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Skills Desired

Business Acumen, Business Value Creation, Change Management, Consulting, Digital Capabilities, Enterprise Architecture (EA), Influencing Skills, Integration Architecture, IT Governance, Solution Architecture, Stakeholder Engagement