Principal Security Engineer (m/f/d)

Halian | Managed Services, Recruitment Agency & Contract Staffing; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

Halian seeks a Principal Security Engineer to provide technical leadership across cybersecurity engineering initiatives in a major banking environment. This role defines security architecture standards, leads deployment of controls, and ensures compliance with regulatory obligations.

The candidate will act as a senior technical authority, partnering with engineering, architecture, and business teams to build resilient, secure technology solutions. CISSP is mandatory; OSCP preferred.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in cybersecurity engineering or information security.
• Proven leadership in security engineering teams.
• Experience designing enterprise-scale security architectures.
• Strong knowledge of security frameworks, risk management, and regulatory contexts.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership across cybersecurity engineering and security architecture initiatives.
• Design and implement enterprise security architectures for critical banking platforms and applications.
• Lead deployment of advanced security controls across on-premise, cloud, and hybrid environments.
• Define security patterns, standards, and secure design principles for technology teams.
• Mentor security engineers and support capability development across the organization.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to improve security posture and resilience.

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Principal Security Engineer to provide technical leadership across enterprise cybersecurity engineering initiatives within a major banking environment.

This role will be responsible for defining security architecture standards, leading the implementation of advanced security controls, and ensuring critical technology platforms adhere to enterprise security requirements, risk frameworks, and regulatory obligations.

The successful candidate will act as a senior technical authority, partnering with engineering, architecture, infrastructure, and business teams to build resilient, secure, and compliant technology solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership across cybersecurity engineering and security architecture initiatives.
• Design and implement enterprise security architectures for critical banking platforms and applications.
• Lead the deployment of advanced security controls across on-premise, cloud, and hybrid environments.
• Define security patterns, standards, and secure design principles for technology teams.
• Guide security engineering teams on best practices, risk mitigation, and security remediation activities.
• Support secure-by-design initiatives throughout the technology delivery lifecycle.
• Implement and enhance security controls covering:
• Identity & Access Management
• Encryption
• Data Protection
• Security Monitoring
• Conduct architecture reviews, threat modelling exercises, and security risk assessments.
• Collaborate with technology and business stakeholders to improve security posture and resilience.
• Support vulnerability management and remediation strategies.
• Ensure projects comply with enterprise security standards, regulatory obligations, and risk requirements.
• Contribute to security governance, audit, compliance, and assurance activities.
• Mentor security engineers and support capability development across the organization.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend innovative security solutions.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Cybersecurity Engineering, Security Architecture, or Information Security roles.
• Proven expertise designing and implementing enterprise-scale security architectures.
• Strong technical knowledge across:
• Security Architecture
• Identity & Access Management
• Network Security
• Data Security
• Experience implementing security controls across cloud and hybrid environments.
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity frameworks, standards, and risk management practices.
• Experience conducting threat modelling and security assessments.
• Proven leadership experience within security engineering teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Financial services or banking industry experience preferred.

Certifications

Mandatory

• CISSP

Preferred

• OSCP

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience designing security controls for digital banking platforms.
• Strong understanding of secure cloud adoption strategies.
• Exposure to DevSecOps and modern software security practices.
• Experience supporting audits, security assessments, and regulatory engagements.
• Knowledge of enterprise security monitoring and detection engineering.
• Experience working within highly regulated environments.

Halian Group

With over 28 years of experience, we have come to understand that innovation is the only way to provide agile, practical solutions that transform businesses and careers. Our resourcing and smart services help you to realise tomorrow's potential. Discover the amazing things possible when you bring the right people and the right technologies together.

At Halian, we recognise that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are essential to building high-performing teams for our clients. We are committed to connecting organisations with top talent from all backgrounds, ensuring that every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives.

We encourage applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of race, gender, disability, or any other characteristic that makes them unique.

Principal Security Engineer in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates