Sr. Engineer - Data Security

MetLife; Cary (NC); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Life insurance

Job summary

MetLife is seeking a Senior Engineer to lead Infrastructure Operations and Data Security within its Global Technology team. The role involves engineering secure, resilient infrastructure, automating deployments, and collaborating across security, cloud, and network teams in a data-driven environment.

You will build automation with Python, PowerShell, Ansible, and YAML, while advancing AI-enabled automation with strong security controls. Hybrid work with in-office requirements applies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience with enterprise infrastructure or security services.
• Hands-on programming and automation with Python or PowerShell; experience with APIs and infrastructure automation.
• AI proficency to evaluate, implement, and secure AI-enabled automation with responsible controls.
• Strong troubleshooting, documentation, and ability to communicate risks to stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Engineer and support secure, reliable infrastructure services across Linux and Windows, including cloud environments.
• Develop and maintain automation using Python, PowerShell, Ansible, YAML, APIs, and CLI.
• Implement AI-enabling technologies with proper security, logging, and human-oversight controls.
• Oversee data security platforms for posture management, database activity monitoring, and data loss prevention.
• Coordinate incident response, problem management, vulnerability remediation, and change management with source control.

Skills

Python

PowerShell

APIs

Ansible

YAML

GitHub

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, cybersecurity, information systems, or a related field

Tools

Ansible

GitHub

YAML

Job description

When you join MetLife’s Global Technology team, you’ll be part of a forward-thinking group dedicated to shaping the future of digital solutions for customers worldwide. You’ll develop, maintain and support technology applications and delivery, leveraging AI, automation, and contemporary ways of working to enhance experiences and drive business outcomes. Your work will simplify complex processes, improve tech resiliency, and ensure high-performing, seamless solutions that power life’s most important moments. In this dynamic environment, you’ll collaborate with talented peers across teams and functions, expanding your skills in impactful ways. Ready to push boundaries and set new industry standards? Join us and help drive the future of technology forward.

The Opportunity

The Senior Engineer - Infrastructure Operations, Data Security is responsible for engineering, automating, and supporting secure, resilient infrastructure services that enable enterprise data protection. In this role, you will work with security, infrastructure, network, cloud, database, and application teams to modernize operations, improve service reliability, and reduce risk across a complex technology environment. You will have the opportunity to build automation, support cloud and on-premises platforms, strengthen critical data security capabilities, and help implement emerging AI-enabling technologies in a secure and responsible manner. Guided by our purpose – always with you, building a more confident future – and our New Frontier strategy, this role offers meaningful work at the intersection of infrastructure engineering, cybersecurity, automation, and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Engineer and support secure, reliable infrastructure services across Linux and Windows platforms, networking, databases, and cloud environments such as Microsoft Azure and IBM Cloud, applying working knowledge of data security and cybersecurity principles.
• Develop and maintain automation using Python, PowerShell, Ansible, YAML, APIs, and command-line interfaces to standardize deployments, configuration, monitoring, evidence collection, and operational support activities.
• Implement and operationalize AI-enabling technologies, including Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers, local AI models, and AI-assisted automation, with appropriate security, access, logging, testing, and human-oversight controls.
• Oversee the operational health, integration, lifecycle, and continuous improvement of data security platforms supporting data security posture management, database activity monitoring, and data loss prevention, including environments that use Varonis, Prisma Cloud, Cyera, IBM Security Guardium, and Forcepoint.
• Coordinate incident response, problem management, vulnerability remediation, change implementation, documentation, and engineering handoffs while maintaining source control and artifact-management practices using GitHub and Artifactory.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, cybersecurity, information systems, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, with substantial experience engineering and supporting enterprise infrastructure or security services.
• Working knowledge of data security and cybersecurity, with foundational knowledge of networking, Linux and Windows operating systems, cloud computing, and relational or distributed database technologies.
• Hands‑on programming and automation skills using Python or PowerShell and experience with APIs, command-line tools, infrastructure automation, source control, and structured configuration such as Ansible, YAML, and GitHub.
• Artificial intelligence proficiency sufficient to evaluate, implement, secure, and support AI‑enabling technologies and AI‑assisted automation, including MCP servers or locally hosted models, while applying responsible AI and cybersecurity controls.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, documentation, and collaboration skills, with the ability to manage operational priorities and communicate technical risks and recommendations clearly to technical and nontechnical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting data security posture management, database security monitoring, or data loss prevention capabilities, including exposure to Varonis, Prisma Cloud, Cyera, IBM Security Guardium, or Forcepoint.
• Experience with Microsoft Azure or IBM Cloud, Artifactory, GitHub‑based delivery workflows, CI/CD practices, observability, configuration management, and highly available enterprise services.
• Relevant industry certifications or demonstrated advanced knowledge in cloud, networking, Linux/Windows administration, cybersecurity, database technologies, automation, or AI engineering.

Location Expectation: This is a hybrid role rrequiring a minimum of 3 days per week in office.

Expected salary range for this position is $95,000 - $125,000. This role may also be eligible for annual short-term incentive compensation. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms.

Benefits We Offer

Our U.S. benefits address holistic well‑being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability. We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, paid time off, paid holidays, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more! For more information regarding MetLife’s U.S. benefits, please click here.

About MetLife

Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the World's Most Admired Companies, Fortune World's 25 Best Workplaces, as well as the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For, MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

As part of our New Frontier strategy, MetLife is building an AI-enabled, people-centered future. We’re looking for people who bring curiosity, adaptability, and a growth mindset as we use AI to enhance how we serve customers, support communities, and evolve the way work gets done. At MetLife, AI is a responsible partner that supports human judgment, creativity, and continuous improvement while helping us build trust, inclusion, and long-term value.

Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by our core values - Win Together, Do the Right Thing, Deliver Impact Over Activity, and Think Ahead - we’re inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it’s #AllTogetherPossible. Join us!

MetLife is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status (although applicants and employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States), uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law (“protected characteristics”).

If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [e-mail]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.

MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liabilities.

This posting is for a current vacancy and is anticipated to remain open for at least 30 days from the listed posting date.