Security Engineer

OP Recruiting; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

OP Recruiting is seeking a hands-on Security Engineer in Chicago or NYC to drive end-to-end security initiatives across our high-performance technology ecosystem. You will own complex security projects from concept to completion and partner with software engineers, system administrators, and leadership to harden security posture.

You will conceptualize, build, and deploy scalable security controls and automated tooling while monitoring AI/ML threats and evolving security risks.

Qualifications

• Multi-year track record in security engineering, systems security, or infrastructure protection.
• Strong technical acumen to navigate complex engineering environments.
• Proven history of leading security projects through full lifecycle.
• Practical, engineering-focused security approach rather than theoretical background.
• Ability to uncover unconventional security flaws, system failure modes, and broken architectural assumptions.
• Strong collaborative skills to work effectively with software developers and cross-functional partners.
• High degree of self-direction, sound technical decision-making with minimal oversight.

Responsibilities

• Direct and execute technical security projects across systems, networks, and internal computing environments.
• Proactively identify system vulnerabilities, architectural gaps, and non-traditional attack vectors prior to exploitation.
• Partner directly with software engineers, system administrators, and technical leadership to harden overall security posture.
• Conceptualize, build, and deploy custom security controls, automated tooling, and operational processes.
• Research emerging threat vectors, assessing their practical impact on complex technical infrastructure.
• Monitor advancements in AI/ML tech and evaluate new security risks introduced by emerging artificial intelligence tools.
• Translate abstract security concepts into practical, production-ready engineering solutions.
• Help set and refine organizational security standards and operational best practices.
• Take full ownership of complex security initiatives, independently driving them from initial concept to completion.

Skills

Security engineering

Technical leadership

Threat modeling

Collaborative skills

Self-directed

Job description

About The Opportunity

We are seeking a hands-on, proactive Security Engineer to drive end-to-end security initiatives across our high-performance technology ecosystem. In this individual contributor role, you will hold broad autonomy to evaluate operational risks, design robust defense strategies, and build scalable security controls. This is an exceptional opportunity for a technical practitioner who thrives in fast-paced engineering environments and wants to shape security practices from the ground up.

Job Title

Security Engineer

Location

Chicago or NYC

Responsibilities

• Direct and execute technical security projects across systems, networks, and internal computing environments.


• Proactively identify system vulnerabilities, architectural gaps, and non-traditional attack vectors prior to exploitation.


• Partner directly with software engineers, system administrators, and technical leadership to harden overall security posture.


• Conceptualize, build, and deploy custom security controls, automated tooling, and operational processes.


• Research emerging threat vectors, assessing their practical impact on complex technical infrastructure.


• Monitor advancements in AI/ML tech and evaluate new security risks introduced by emerging artificial intelligence tools.


• Translate abstract security concepts into practical, production-ready engineering solutions.


• Help set and refine organizational security standards and operational best practices.


• Take full ownership of complex security initiatives, independently driving them from initial concept to completion.

Requirements (Must-Have)

• Multi-year track record in security engineering, systems security, or infrastructure protection.


• Strong technical acumen with the ability to navigate and analyze complex engineering environments.


• Proven history of leading technical security projects throughout their full lifecycle.


• Practical, engineering-focused approach to security rather than a purely theoretical or academic background.


• Demonstrated ability to uncover unconventional security flaws, system failure modes, and broken architectural assumptions.


• Strong collaborative skills to work effectively alongside software developers and cross-functional partners.


• High degree of self-direction, sound technical decision-making, and comfort operating with minimal oversight.

Preferred Qualifications (Nice-to-Have)

• Active curiosity regarding emerging security technologies, novel threat landscapes, and AI-driven security challenges.


• Experience implementing pragmatic security defenses within high-throughput, low-latency, or performance-critical computing environments.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, ethnic origin, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.