Security Engineer

Optiver; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match up to 50%

Comprehensive health coverage

25 paid vacation days

Office perks (meals, events)

Job summary

Optiver is seeking a motivated Security Engineer to enhance the security of its global systems, focusing on both cloud and on-premise infrastructure. This role encompasses risk mitigation, incident response, and the automation of security operations.

The ideal candidate will have strong technical fundamentals related to cloud security, AWS, and Microsoft platforms, with a focus on improving security practices across the organization. Competitive compensation and benefits are offered for this role.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in security engineering or operations.
• Experience securing AWS and Microsoft security environments.
• Strong understanding of networking fundamentals.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and respond to security incidents across environments.
• Implement security best practices and controls.
• Perform vulnerability assessments and risk mitigation.

Skills

Cloud security (AWS)

Microsoft security technologies

Incident response

Automation using Python

Risk assessment

Tools

EDR

SIEM

Python

Job description

We are seeking a motivated, hands‑on Security Engineer to join our security team. In this role, you will help protect, monitor, and continuously improve the security of our global systems — including cloud (AWS and M365) and on‑premises infrastructure. You’ll play a central part in risk mitigation, incident response, automation of security operations, and embedding security best practices across our organization.

What You'll Do

As a Security Engineer at Optiver, you’ll be responsible for monitoring, protecting, and continuously improving the security of our global systems and infrastructure. You’ll focus on proactive threat prevention, swift identification of security risks, and rapid response to incidents to keep our systems secure under all circumstances.

Security Operations & Monitoring

• Monitor daily security operations, identify threats, investigate alerts, and respond to incidents across cloud and on‑prem environments.
• Maintain and tune security tools across AWS, Microsoft 365, endpoints, and network infrastructure.

Cloud & Identity Security

• Strengthen Microsoft 365 and Entra ID security through Conditional Access, MFA, PIM, Defender for Endpoint/Identity/O365, and tenant configuration hardening.
• Implement and support data protection capabilities, including Microsoft Purview, sensitivity labels, DLP, and insider risk policies.

Automation & Engineering

• Build and maintain security automation using Python and PowerShell, focusing on reducing manual processes and improving detection and response.
• Integrate systems using APIs (Graph API, REST, etc.) to enhance security workflows.
• Work with AI and our AI engineering teams to ensure the security of the environment.

Risk Assessment & Security Controls

• Perform vulnerability assessments, review system configurations, and develop practical mitigation strategies.
• Conduct security reviews of systems, cloud workloads, and new technologies.
• Ensure and assure that our security controls are effective and working as intended.

Incident Response

• Lead or contribute to incident response activities including investigation, containment, communication, and remediation.
• Analyze logs, IOCs, and behavior patterns using SIEM tools and threat intelligence.

Collaboration & Enablement

• Work closely with engineering, technology, and business teams to embed security best practices.
• Provide guidance on secure architecture, access controls, and identity management.
• Support user education and uplift security behaviors across the business.

What You'll Get

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem‑solvers.

• The opportunity to work alongside best‑in‑class professionals from over 40 different countries.
• Highly competitive compensation package including performance‑based bonus structure.
• 401(k) match up to 50%.
• Comprehensive health, mental, dental, vision, disability, and life coverage.
• 25 paid vacation days alongside market holidays.
• Extensive office perks, including breakfast, lunch and snacks, regular social events, clubs, sporting leagues and more.

Who You Are

You are a hands‑on security engineer with strong technical fundamentals and a passion for building secure, scalable systems. You may come from a background in Security Engineering, Security Operations, Cloud Security, Identity & Access Management, DevSecOps, or a related field.

• Experience securing and supporting cloud environments, particularly AWS, including services such as IAM, GuardDuty, CloudTrail, Security Hub, AWS Config, and KMS.
• Experience with Microsoft security technologies including Entra ID, Conditional Access, MFA, PIM, Microsoft Defender, and Secure Score.
• Familiarity with security tools such as EDR, SIEM, vulnerability management, SOAR, CASB, or related technologies.
• Experience investigating security events, responding to incidents, and managing security risks across cloud and on‑premises environments.
• Experience managing identity and access controls, including RBAC, PAM, SSO, and federation technologies such as SAML, OAuth, and OIDC.
• Experience supporting and securing Windows and Linux environments.
• Application of networking fundamentals including TCP/IP, DNS, VPNs, proxies, and firewalls to secure enterprise systems.
• Experience building automation and tooling using Python and/or PowerShell.
• Experience integrating systems through APIs and working with version control systems such as Git.
• Experience implementing or supporting data protection technologies such as Microsoft Purview, DLP, classification, and information protection solutions.

Beyond Your Technical Experience

• Approach security challenges with an engineering mindset and prefer pragmatic, effective solutions to unnecessary complexity.
• Look for opportunities to automate repetitive work through scripting, tooling, and emerging technologies, including AI‑enabled security workflows.
• Have hands‑on experience in security engineering, security operations, or DevSecOps, with a track record of monitoring, incident response, and risk reduction.
• Stay curious about evolving threats, cloud technologies, detection techniques, and emerging security trends.
• Communicate effectively across technical and non‑technical teams and can clearly articulate security concepts to a variety of audiences.
• Are comfortable collaborating with engineers, infrastructure teams, and business stakeholders, and constructively challenging assumptions when needed.
• Take ownership of problems from investigation through resolution and enjoy working in a fast‑paced, highly collaborative environment.

Who We Are

At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilising the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritise safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market‑making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Legal Notice

Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

Base Salary Range

$120,000 — $200,000 USD