Principal, Technical Program Manager, Cyber Defense

TransUnion; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 169,000 - 281,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Paid holidays (12)

Job summary

TransUnion invites an experienced Principal, Cybersecurity to lead the Cyber Defense learning system, post-incident reviews, and executive communications. You will shape metrics, run the Detection Council, and drive cross-functional initiatives from planning through escalation to improve security maturity.

You will partner with senior leaders to translate risk into clear priorities, manage an end-to-end feedback loop, and ensure timely remediation actions.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Technical Program Management (TPM), Security Operations, or Engineering Program Management with measurable outcomes.
• Experience in Detection and Response, Security Operations, Reliability, or similar technical teams with executive priorities.
• Proven ability to build operating systems, leadership cadences, metrics, feedback loops, decision forums, action tracking, and learning.
• Strong executive communication, facilitation, and narrative development skills for risk and priorities.

Responsibilities

• Build the Cyber Defense learning system by connecting incidents, detections, and exercises into an end-to-end feedback loop producing prioritized improvements.
• Own post-incident learning; establish and operate post-incident review framework and cadence; track remediation actions to closure.
• Define metrics and signals to measure detection effectiveness, response quality, speed, and learning throughput for executive assessment.
• Enable the Detection Council as a decision-oriented forum with agendas, materials, and follow-through.
• Lead cross-functional Cyber Defense initiatives from planning through execution, including risk management and escalation.
• Deliver executive communications translating technical work and risk into clear decisions and updates.
• Capture outcomes and lessons learned to showcase Cyber Defense maturity and impact.

Skills

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Leadership facilitation

Program management

Security Operations

Detection Engineering

Risk management

Clear decision forums

Operating rhythms

Systems thinking

Job description

Team Overview

Cyber Defense protects TransUnion by strengthening the organization’s ability to detect, respond to, and learn from cyber threats and operational events. The team connects incidents, detections, exercises, metrics, and strategic initiatives so that operational activity translates into measurable improvements in Cyber Defense maturity.

Role Overview and Core Responsibilities

Build the Cyber Defense learning system: Establish learning as a first-class operational activity by connecting incidents, detections, and exercises through an end-to-end feedback loop that produces prioritized, assigned, and verified improvements.

Own post-incident learning: Establish and operate the post-incident review framework and cadence, facilitate blameless and high-quality reviews focused on systemic improvement, track remediation actions to closure, and identify recurring or systemic risks.

Define metrics and operational signals: Develop and evolve measures of detection effectiveness and coverage, response quality and speed, and learning throughput so leadership can assess maturity, identify gaps, and make informed decisions.

Enable the Detection Council: Operate the Detection Council as a decision-oriented forum by owning agendas, materials, decision records, prioritization, accountability, and follow-through.

Lead critical programs and initiatives: Drive cross-functional Cyber Defense initiatives from planning through execution, including risk management, dependency tracking, proactive issue resolution, and timely escalation.

Deliver executive communications: Translate technical work, operational risk, progress, and required decisions into clear, concise, and executive-relevant narratives and updates.

Manage wins and organizational narrative: Capture and communicate meaningful outcomes, improvements, and lessons learned to build a visible narrative of Cyber Defense maturity and impact over time.

Strengthen the leadership operating rhythm: Improve meeting hygiene and operating cadence through clear agendas, defined decisions, assigned actions, and consistent follow-through.

Increase executive effectiveness: Support the SVP, Global Cyber Defense with prioritization, preparation, decision forums, and execution across competing organizational demands while operating with ownership, judgment, and discretion.

Required Knowledge and Experiences

10+ years of experience in Technical Program Management (TPM), Security Operations, or Engineering Program Management, with demonstrated ownership of complex cross-functional programs and measurable outcomes.

Experience working in or alongside Detection and Response, Security Operations, Reliability, or comparable technical teams, with the ability to operate across technical depth and executive-level priorities.

Proven ability to build and sustain operating systems, including leadership cadences, metrics, feedback loops, decision forums, action tracking, and closed-loop organizational learning.

Strong executive communication, facilitation, and narrative-development skills, with the ability to translate technical risk and operational work into clear decisions, priorities, and business-relevant updates.

Demonstrated high ownership and judgment, with a systems-thinking mindset, execution bias, low-ego approach, and ability to influence outcomes without direct authority.

Required Technical Skills

Ability to define and manage operational metrics covering detection effectiveness, detection coverage, response quality, response speed, and learning throughput.

Experience designing and operating post-incident review processes, remediation tracking, feedback loops, and verification mechanisms that convert lessons learned into measurable improvement.

Advanced technical program management capabilities, including program planning, dependency management, risk tracking, issue resolution, escalation, and cross-functional execution.

Ability to create decision-ready executive materials, operating reviews, agendas, action logs, and concise program status narratives.

Technical fluency sufficient to engage effectively with Cyber Defense, Detection and Response, Security Operations Center (SOC), Detection Engineering, and Reliability stakeholders.

We’re also looking for the preferred skills below. Whether you are proficient or could use some brushing up, we’re happy to support your career development and growth in:

Direct experience in Cyber Defense, a Security Operations Center (SOC), Detection Engineering, or Detection and Response.

Prior experience in business operations, executive program management, or a leadership‑adjacent role supporting a senior technical or security executive.

Demonstrated experience building systemic learning practices that connect incidents, detections, exercises, and remediation work.

Experience operating leadership councils or decision forums that require strong preparation, prioritization, accountability, and follow-through.

Experience communicating organizational wins, maturity improvements, and operational impact to executive and cross‑functional audiences.

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Benefits that support every part of your life

For Your Health: Enjoy day‑one eligibility for medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus supplemental plan options. Spousal, domestic partner, and other eligible dependent coverage is available on select plans. Choose tax‑advantaged HSA and FSA accounts to make everyday care more affordable.

For Your Protection: We’ve got your back with company‑paid basic life and AD&D, optional voluntary life and AD&D for you and your family, and short‑and‑long‑term disability. You can also opt into a legal plan, pet insurance, and travel accident coverage.

For Your Family: From adoption assistance and fertility planning coverage to caregiver support, we’re here for every chapter. Access Dependent Care FSA for possibility of an employer match, a complimentary Care@Work membership, and up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave with eligibility for a thoughtful, gradual return.

For Your Future: Build toward what’s next with our 401(k) with employer match and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). Tap financial wellness resources, career coaching, and optional long‑term care insurance to plan confidently.

For You: Grow and recharge with tuition reimbursement, flexible time off for exempt employees or paid time off for nonexempt employees, up to 12 paid holidays per year, commuter benefits, employee discounts, charitable gift matching, and paid volunteer time off, plus corporate volunteer events that make it easy to give back.

For Your Wellness: Access 24/7 support including professional therapy, coaching, and emotional well‑being programs alongside guided meditation and resources that support physical, mental, social, and financial wellness.

Pay Scale Information

The U.S. base salary range for this position is $168,750.00 - $281,250 annually. *The salary range for this position reflects a reasonable estimate of the range of compensation for this job. At TransUnion, actual compensation is based on careful consideration of additional factors such as (but not limited to) an individual’s education, training, work experience, job‑related skill set, location, and industry knowledge, as well as the scope and responsibilities of the position and market considerations. Regular, fulltime non‑sales positions may be eligible to participate in TransUnion’s annual bonus plan. Certain positions may be also eligible for long‑term incentives and other payments based on applicable company guidance and plan documents.

We are committed to being a place where diversity is not only present, it is embraced. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability status, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law. Additionally, in accordance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, TransUnion takes affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with a disability and protected veterans in all levels of employment and develops annual affirmative action plans. Components of TransUnion’s Aff‑Program for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are available for review to any associate or applicant for employment upon request by contacting [e-mail]. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and the California Fair Chance Act. Adherence to Company policies, sound judgment and trustworthiness, working safely, communicating respectfully, and safeguarding business operations, confidential and proprietary information, and the Company’s reputation are also essential expectations of this position.

TransUnion Overview

At TransUnion, we encourage and are committed to creating a real, positive impact and shared sense of purpose within our Workforce for Good, which empowers our people to grow, innovate and contribute to a better future for our communities and customers. We strive to build an environment where our associates are in the driver’s seat of their professional development— while having access to help along the way. We recognize that success comes when our associates thrive both professionally and personally; that’s why we prioritize work/life flexibility and offer resources for our teams across the globe to collaborate and drive excellence. Be a part of our Workforce for Good – you’ll work with great people, pioneering products and cutting‑edge technology.

TransUnion's Internal Job Title: Principal, Cybersecurity Company: TransUnion LLC