Data Protection Lead Engineer

Ford Motor Company; Chennai District; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Ford Motor Company is seeking a DLP Senior Security Engineer to shape Ford's global data loss prevention program. You will own the strategy for Microsoft Purview and Sentinel, and translate security needs into scalable policies and tooling.

You'll apply ML/AI techniques to improve data classification, detect threats, and enforce policies across multinational environments, collaborating with security and engineering teams worldwide.

Qualifications

• Engineering or equivalent degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity or related field.
• 5+ years in Cybersecurity, with 3+ years focused specifically on DLP or data governance.
• 3+ years hands-on experience with Microsoft Purview and/or Sentinel in a large enterprise environment.
• 2+ years hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud Platform (GCP), including securing data across cloud environments.
• Demonstrated experience applying ML/AI concepts to a security or data protection use case.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical strategy and architecture for Ford's global DLP program within Microsoft Purview and Sentinel (or equivalent).
• Apply machine learning and AI techniques to improve data classification accuracy, reduce false positives, and strengthen threat detection at enterprise scale.
• Lead the design and implementation of advanced DLP policies, balancing security effectiveness against business usability across global regions.
• Architect and oversee automated workflows and data pipelines (Python, Logic Apps) that transform raw DLP telemetry into actionable risk insights.
• Design, manage, and govern RESTful APIs that integrate DLP tooling with the broader cybersecurity ecosystem.
• Lead technical retrospectives and process improvement initiatives, identifying systemic gaps and driving org-wide fixes.

Skills

ML/AI security concepts

Security architecture

DLP / data governance

Education

Engineering or equivalent degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity or related field

Tools

Microsoft Purview

Microsoft Sentinel

Azure

Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

Job description

Ford's Cyber Security Data Protection team is the frontline defense for our global digital transformation, safeguarding the company's most critical data assets. As a DLP Senior Security Engineer, you'll be a subject matter expert in Microsoft Purview and Sentinel, applying machine learning and AI techniques to strengthen data classification, threat detection, and policy enforcement across a global enterprise.

• Own the technical strategy and architecture for Ford's global DLP program within Microsoft Purview and Sentinel (or equivalent platform), setting direction for policy design, tooling, and roadmap.
• Apply machine learning and AI techniques to improve data classification accuracy, reduce false positives, and strengthen threat detection at enterprise scale.
• Lead the design and implementation of advanced DLP policies, balancing security effectiveness against business usability across global regions and business units.
• Architect and oversee automated workflows and data pipelines (Python, Logic Apps) that transform raw DLP telemetry into actionable risk insights.
• Design, manage, and govern RESTful APIs that integrate DLP tooling with the broader cybersecurity ecosystem.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex DLP incidents, leading investigation, remediation, and root-cause analysis for high-risk data loss events.
• Define and deliver executive-level DLP metrics and reporting, giving senior leadership visibility into global data loss risk posture and program maturity.
• Partner with senior stakeholders across business and technology teams to translate ambiguous requirements into technical roadmaps, negotiating scope, feasibility and resourcing.
• Formalize and present architecture decisions and technical strategy to leadership and cross‑functional review boards, securing buy‑in and approvals.
• Drive continuous improvement of DLP tooling, processes and detection capabilities, championing adoption of emerging ML/AI security technologies.
• Lead technical retrospectives and process improvement initiatives, identifying systemic gaps and driving org‑wide fixes rather than one‑off patches.
• Mentor and develop junior and mid‑level engineers, providing technical guidance, code/architecture review and career development support.
• Act as a technical role model and change agent, representing the DLP team in broader security architecture discussions and influencing enterprise‑wide data protection strategy.

Proactively identify and remove cross‑team roadblocks, collaborating with adjacent security, privacy and infrastructure teams to keep initiatives on track.

• Engineering or equivalent degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity or related field.
• 5+ years in Cybersecurity, with 3+ years focused specifically on DLP or data governance.
• 3+ years hands‑on experience with Microsoft Purview and/or Sentinel in a large enterprise environment.
• 2+ years hands‑on experience with Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud Platform (GCP), including securing data across cloud environments.
• Demonstrated experience applying ML/AI concepts to a security or data protection use case.