Global Cybersecurity Principal Domain Architect - Core Infrastructure

Date: Sep 10, 2025

Location: Chicago, IL, US, 60607

Company: McDonald's Corporation

Company Description: 

McDonald’s growth strategy, Accelerating the Arches, encompasses all aspects of our business as the leading global omni-channel restaurant brand. As the consumer landscape shifts we are using our competitive advantages to further strengthen our brand. One of our core growth strategies is to Double Down on the 3Ds (Delivery, Digital and Drive Thru). McDonald’s will accelerate technology innovation so 65M+ customers a day will experience a fast, easy experience, whether at one of our 25,000 and growing Drive thrus, through McDelivery, dine-in or takeaway.  

McDonald’s Global Technology is here to power tomorrow’s feel-good moments.   

That’s why you’ll find us at the forefront of transformative technology, exploring new and innovative ways to serve our millions of customers and spread happiness one delicious Hot Fudge Sundae-dipped fry at a time. Using AI, robotics and emerging tech, we’re digitizing the Golden Arches. Combine that with our unparalleled global scale, and we’re reshaping all areas of the business, industry and every community that is home to a McDonald’s restaurant. We face complex tech challenges every day. But that’s where our diverse and talented teams come in. They’re made up of the best and brightest from all over the globe, and they thrive in the space where feel-good meets fast-paced.   

Check out the McDonald’s  Global Technology Technical Blog to learn how technology and our global team are directly enabling the Accelerating the Arches strategy.  

Department Overview

The Global Cybersecurity Principal Domain Architect – Core Infrastructure will serve as a technical authority for the Network, Cloud and End-User cybersecurity architecture, leading the design and governance of security solutions across the enterprise. This position ensures alignment with business objectives, enterprise architecture, and cybersecurity strategy while driving innovation and reducing risk. The Domain Architect will participate in the Architecture Review Board for cybersecurity and collaborate with other domain architects to define and enforce security standards, reference architectures, and PSPGs (Policies, Standards, Procedures, and Guidelines).

Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

· Own the Global Cyber Security Core Infrastructure architecture domain, ensuring end-to-end accountabilities for all initiatives.

· Make major architectural decisions and resolve domain-level technical challenges.

· Align security architecture with business objectives, enterprise architecture, technical strategy and cybersecurity strategy.

· Collaborate with management and additional experts in various subject areas to uphold a cohesive security posture.

· Advocate for secure-by-design and secure-by-default principles and influence adoption across teams.

· Establish and maintain a risk-weighted technical debt register for the Core Infrastructure domain; quantify impact and drive remediation with product leaders.

· Collaborate with engineering and product teams to ensure prioritization and secure implementation of solutions.

· Approve and ensure the production of architecture artifacts, security models, and design patterns.

· Co-create and maintain domain reference architectures and contribute to Policies, Standards, Procedures & Guidelines (PSPGs) using approved templates and governance lifecycle.

· Evangelize cybersecurity priorities and translate PSPGs/reference architectures into reusable patterns and guidance adopted by infrastructure, product and platform teams.

· Improve visibility of business risks by conducting threat modeling, mapping controls, and performing risk assessments.

· Provide architectural oversight for major initiatives from design through deployment.

· Act as a resident chair member, offering guidance on architectural decisions for cybersecurity initiatives.

· Stay current on emerging technologies, evolving threats, and industry trends to proactively shape and strengthen the security strategy.

· Mentor senior architects and engineers, improving security architecture practices.

· Conduct risk assessments and ensure compliance with frameworks like NIST CSF, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS.

Qualifications

· Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field with equivalent experience accepted.

· 12+ years in information security, with at least 5 years in security architecture roles.

· Certifications such as CISSP, CISM, SABSA, TOGAF, or equivalent.

· In-depth technical expertise in the Core Infrastructure domain areas, encompassing Cloud Security (AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI, CSPM, RBAC, MFA, SSO, PAM, VMs, containers, storage, network, host and OS hardening, KMS, DLP, SDLC, logging, monitoring, compliance, governance, etc), Network Security (firewall, SSE, VPNs, remote access, proxy, IDS, IPS, DMZ, segmentation, zero trust, DNS, routing, switching, wireless, branch network, hub and spoke architecture, TLS/SSL, IPsec,

NAC, MACsec, NDR, IoT, OT, monitoring, logging, etc.) and End User technologies (Microsoft, Apple, Android, laptops, smartphones, tablets, virtual desktops, wearables, peripherals, productivity suite, collaboration tools, email, EDR, MDM, DLP, disk encryption, storage, remote desktop support, Intune, DEM, video-conferencing, asset inventory, etc).

· Technical expertise with identity and access management, data protection, encryption, Dev/Sec/Ops, application security, platform security, IoT security and OT security.

· Proven experience designing security for cloud, hybrid, and on-prem environments.

· Deep knowledge of security frameworks (NIST, ISO 27001) and the ability to translate frameworks into enforceable enterprise standards and measurable outcomes.

· Experience working in an Agile environment with a Scrum Master, Daily Scrum meetings, Backlogs, Sprints, and written Stories and deliverables. Familiar with documentation process and tools, JIRA and Confluence preferred.

· Demonstrated results reducing risk and security technical debt while accelerating delivery.

· Outstanding communication and influence skills; ability to simplify complexity for senior leadership (E.g. CISO, CIO and CTO), guide distributed teams and resolve conflict.

· Strong analytical skills to critically evaluate information gathered from multiple sources; diligent, with excellent problem-solving skills.

· Ability to conduct research into issues, solutions, products and evaluate new technologies, translating them into roadmaps and leadership presentation materials.

· Ability to understand business challenges, drive process improvements and translate into solutions.

· Comfortable with ambiguity and ability to navigate uncertainty.

· Naturally elevates others and builds a culture of belonging through engaging high-performing teams.

Compensation

Bonus Eligible: Yes

Long - Term Incentive: Yes

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Salary Range

The expected salary range for this role is $168,350.00 - $218,860.00 per year
 
The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we may also consider your experience, and other job-related factors.

Additional Information: 

Benefits eligible: This position offers health and welfare benefits, a 401(k) plan, adoption assistance program, educational assistance program, flexible ways of working, and time off policies (including sick leave, parental leave, and vacation/PTO). Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on job classification and length of employment.  

Bonus eligible: This position is eligible for a bonus, calculated based on individual and company performance. 

Long term Incentive eligible: This position is eligible for stock or other equity grants pursuant to McDonald’s long-term incentive plan. 

McDonald’s is an equal opportunity employer committed to the diversity of our workforce. We promote an inclusive work environment that creates feel-good moments for everyone. McDonald’s provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities as part of the application or hiring process or to perform the essential functions of their job. If you need assistance accessing or reading this job posting or otherwise feel you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact mcdhrbenefits@us.mcd.com. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. 

McDonald’s provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to sex, sex stereotyping, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, age, disability status, medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, protected military or veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. 

Nothing in this job posting or description should be construed as an offer or guarantee of employment. 


Nearest Major Market: Chicago