Morgan Stanley

Principal Authentication Engineer (IAM) — Vice President

Morgan Stanley$150K — $210K *
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-10 years of hands-on experience in engineering and integrating identity and access management solutions.
  • Expertise in authentication standards such as OIDC/OAuth2, SAML, and FIDO2/WebAuthn at an enterprise level.
  • Proficient in major IAM platforms including HashiCorp Vault, CyberArk, and SailPoint, with integration experience.
  • Strong programming and automation skills, particularly with Python, Go, Terraform, and CI/CD tools.
  • Demonstrated ability to operate in complex and large-scale environments, emphasizing operational excellence and reliability.
  • Experience with security frameworks, policies, and compliance standards related to identity and access management.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the design, integration, and implementation of authentication solutions for diverse identities.
  • Establish and enforce authentication and federation standards across complex systems.
  • Customize IAM platforms, providing robust integrations in cloud and hybrid settings.
  • Enhance reliability and automation of IAM services at scale, focusing on performance and observability.
  • Develop identity governance policies, managing identity lifecycle and access controls for diverse identities.
  • Evaluate existing authentication solutions, identifying risks and implementing secure patterns.
  • Communicate architectural designs into actionable work for engineering teams and stakeholders.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Retirement savings plan with company match to support your future financial security.
  • Generous paid time off and flexible work schedules for work-life balance.
  • Continuing education and professional development opportunities to advance your career.
  • Access to wellness programs and resources to promote overall well-being.
Full Job Description

We’re seeking someone to join our Authentication Engineering (IAM) team as a Principal Authentication Engineer in Cybersecurity (Identity & Access Management) to design, integrate, and operate standards-based authentication at global scale across hybrid environments—enabling secure, seamless access for our workforce and platforms.


What you’ll do in the role

  • Lead Hands-On Authentication Engineering: design, build, integrate, and ship secure, scalable solutions for human and non-human identities (bots, service accounts, applications, agentic systems).  
  • Own Enterprise Authentication & Federation: implement and harden OIDC/OAuth2, SAML, SSO, FIDO2/WebAuthn, PKI (mTLS, cert lifecycle), API auth, and Unix/Linux authentication.  
  • Integrate and Customize IAM Platforms: deliver end-to-end integrations across Entra ID, Ping Identity, SailPoint, CyberArk, HashiCorp Vault, HSMs, IDM/LDAP, and RCBI in cloud and hybrid environments.  
  • Drive Reliability and Automation at Scale: operate and evolve large-scale IAM estates with HA/DR, performance tuning, IaC (Terraform), config management (Ansible/Puppet/Chef), CI/CD, observability, and safe deployment strategies.  
  • Harden and Govern Identity Controls: define and enforce policies for identity lifecycle, authentication, authorization, PAM, and secrets management for human and non-human identities.  
  • Assess and Uplift Existing Solutions: identify risks and technical debt, deliver remediation plans, and implement secure-by-default patterns with measurable outcomes.  
  • Translate Architecture into Executable Work: break down complex designs into clear epics, stories, runbooks, and pipelines; produce ADRs, standards, and audit-ready documentation to align engineers, SREs, POs, and QA.  
  • Partner and Operate Across Teams: collaborate with product/platform leads to scale adoption; participate in on-call, lead RCAs, and drive operational excellence.

What you’ll bring to the role

  • Hands-On Principal Engineer (not architect-only): design and implement—comfortable coding, configuring, integrating products, and shipping production outcomes.  
  • Deep authentication expertise: OIDC/OAuth2, SAML, SSO, FIDO2/WebAuthn, PKI (CA/RA, mTLS, cert lifecycle), API auth (JWT/mTLS), and Unix/Linux authentication at enterprise scale.  
  • IAM platforms & integration mastery: experience with HashiCorp Vault, HSMs, CyberArk, SailPoint, Entra ID, Ping Identity, IDM/LDAP, and RCBI—covering policy design, integration, automation, and migrations.  
  • Resiliency and Automation at Scale: proven experience operating IAM/auth services across large, globally distributed environments with multi-region HA/DR, performance tuning, IaC (Terraform), config management (Ansible/Puppet/Chef), CI/CD, observability; strong Shell plus Python/Go.  
  • Security & compliance acumen: threat modeling, least privilege, PAM, secrets management, policy-as-code, and auditability for human and non-human identities (including agentic systems).  
  • Systems integrator mindset: ability to customize and stitch vendor products and open standards into cohesive, well-documented solutions and APIs.  
  • Team enablement & communication: skill in decomposing solutions into clear epics/stories, authoring ADRs/runbooks/standards, conducting reviews, coaching engineers/SREs, and producing clear written documentation to influence stakeholders in an agile squad model.  
  • Enterprise & industry savvy: experience navigating large-institution environments; influencing roadmaps; driving adoption of controls and best practices; typically 10+ years in IAM engineering within complex, global settings.

Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $150,000 and $210,00 per year at the commencement of employment. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.

About Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley Investment Management are active managers of capital, working to outperform the market and deliver results for their clients. Morgan Stanley Investment Management's long-tenured professionals apply their experience and expertise across public and private markets, in single-sector, multi-asset and custom solutions.

Morgan Stanley Careers

Joining Morgan Stanley today means becoming part of a global team dedicated to strengthening communities, pioneering innovation, and fostering diversity. As a leading global financial services firm, Morgan Stanley offers unparalleled job opportunities, career growth, and a culture of leadership that together create an exceptional employment experience. Work You’ll Do At Morgan Stanley, you will collaborate with knowledgeable professionals to drive innovation and deliver solutions in financial services. Our team is composed of diverse, talented individuals who bring their unique skills and perspectives to work every day, setting the standard for leadership in the global market. Morgan Stanley is not just a company; it's a place where ambitious, creative, and skilled individuals can build a rewarding career. Here, you can experience the benefits of a vibrant culture dedicated to professional growth and diversity training. Internship Programs Kickstart your career with Morgan Stanley’s internship programs. These positions offer invaluable industry insights and professional experience to students and recent graduates. Interns at Morgan Stanley gain hands-on experience, working alongside seasoned experts in a dynamic, supportive environment. Innovation and Professional Growth We believe in the power of innovation to solve complex problems and encourage our team to think differently and act boldly. Morgan Stanley supports your career development through comprehensive training, development programs, and leadership workshops, ensuring that every employee has the tools they need to succeed. Join Our Team Explore the various job opportunities at Morgan Stanley, from entry-level positions to executive roles. We are hiring individuals who are passionate about finance and eager to contribute to a team that values integrity, excellence, and a forward-thinking mindset. Enhance your skills through our networking events, mentorship opportunities, and ongoing professional development. Stay Connected Keep up to date with the latest from Morgan Stanley Careers by subscribing to our job alert emails. Tailor your preferences to receive updates about new postings, career tips, and exclusive insights from our team leaders. Apply Now Ready to take the next step in your career? Search open positions that match your skills and interests on the Morgan Stanley Jobs portal. Prepare your resume, refine your interview techniques, and join a company that values innovation and leadership. At Morgan Stanley, we’re not just building careers—we’re developing leaders. Discover how far your talents can take you by joining our team today.
Learn more about Morgan Stanley
Size
77,000 employees
Market Cap
$144.1 billion
Industry
Net Income
$10.9 billion
Founded
1935
5 Year Trend
+10%
Revenue
$52 billion
NASDAQ

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