Sr. Security Engineer

Early Warning; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 132,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare Coverage

401(k) Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

Job summary

Early Warning is seeking a senior information security engineer to drive vulnerability management, configuration baselines, and secure custom software. You will evaluate tools, operate independently, and support cross-team needs while mentoring junior staff. The role requires on‑call rotation and collaboration with auditors to ensure compliance.

The position supports a hybrid work model in the U.S. and requires eligible work status in the United States.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or 2 year degree in Computer Science or Engineering.
• 5+ years of IT experience and 3+ years in IT security.
• Experience with enterprise vulnerability scanning platforms and vulnerability management.
• Experience with enterprise endpoint security tools, antivirus or DLP.
• Expert understanding of Linux and Windows administration.
• Proficiency in Python for automation.
• Expert networking concepts and firewall rules design.
• SSL/TLS certificate management and renewal procedures.

Responsibilities

• Upgrade and patch software and OS, track certificates and remediate vulnerabilities.
• Integrate security tools with existing infrastructure and assist audits.
• Define gaps and research solutions to meet them.
• Monitor health of tools, perform maintenance and remediation.
• Ensure vendor-supported versions of OS and apps.
• Complete compliance documentation on time and address gaps.
• Identify automation opportunities and drive implementation.
• Assist security teams in incident resolution and risk assessments.
• Mentor junior staff and security interns.

Skills

Linux/Windows admin

Python scripting

Networking concepts

SSL/TLS certificate management

Vulnerability management

Endpoint security tools

Security incident response

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Engineering

2 year degree in Computer Science or Engineering

Job description

At Early Warning, we’ve powered and protected the U.S. financial system for over thirty years with cutting‑edge solutions like Zelle, Paze, and so much more. As a trusted name in payments, we partner with thousands of institutions to increase access to financial services and protect transactions for hundreds of millions of consumers and small businesses. Early Warning follows a hybrid work model to allow for a more collaborative working environment. Candidates responding to this posting must independently possess the eligibility to work in the United States, for any employer, at the date of hire. This position is ineligible for employment Visa sponsorship.

Overall Purpose

This senior position drives the use and availability of the information security tool set, providing a key role in maintaining vulnerability management and configuration management baselines for the company, ensuring our custom software is secure and providing complete and accurate documentation to maintain industry standard on all we provide. As a senior team member, your skills and experience will be used to evaluate new and existing security tools to drive continuous improvement. You will be relied upon to operate independently to ensure projects are complete and on time, and with the team to ensure all team members have the information and support they need. You will assist in removing roadblocks and verify that company policies are followed by all involved at all times.

Essential Functions

• Upgrade and patch application software and operating systems, track and replace certificates and remediate vulnerabilities found on our equipment.
• Work with the operations staff to ensure the security tools are integrated into other corporate infrastructure.
• Work with auditors to ensure the security tools are supporting all compliance efforts.
• Define gaps that are not being met by our current toolset and research solutions to meet them.
• Proactively monitor the health of all tools owned by the team; initiate any needed maintenance or remediation required, following established processes.
• Ensure that tools are running vendor supported versions, including operating system, and supporting applications.
• Track and complete all compliance related documentation on time. Address any gaps following established processes.
• Identify opportunities to automate repeatable processes and drive the project to implementation.
• Assist other security teams in security incident resolution and risk assessments.
• Maximize value of tools already purchased.
• Contribute to the development of Early Warning security policy and procedures.
• Comply with all company and department policies and procedures to ensure the highest level of data confidentiality, integrity and availability is maintained.
• On‑call rotation with other security engineers to cover 24x7 response.
• Work with other security engineering staff and ensure cross training to raise the skill level of the team overall.
• Mentor junior security engineering staff and manage security interns.
• Support the company’s commitment to protect the integrity and confidentiality of systems and data.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education or experience typically obtained through completion of a Bachelor’s degree or 2 year degree in Computer Science or Engineering.
• Minimum 5 years of general IT experience and minimum 3 years of IT Security experience.
• Experience or certifications for enterprise vulnerability scanning platforms and vulnerability management frameworks.
• Experience or certifications for enterprise endpoint security tools, anti‑virus or DLP.
• Expert understanding of Linux and Windows administration.
• Proficiency in Python scripting language to support automation and operational efficiency.
• Expert understanding of networking concepts including routing, layer 2 and layer 3, and NAT.
• Expert understanding of firewall ruleset design in an enterprise setting along with packet capture interpretation.
• Proficiency in SSL/TLS certificate management, certificate chains and request/issue/renew procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with audit procedures and producing audit artifact documents.
• Additional scripting proficiency in JavaScript, Linux shell and/or Powershell.
• Certifications: one of CISSP, CCNA, or CISA desirable.
• Additional related education and/or experience preferred.

Physical Requirements

Working conditions consist of a normal office environment. Work is primarily sedentary and requires extensive use of a computer and involves sitting for periods of approximately four hours. Work may require occasional standing, walking, kneeling, and reaching. Must be able to lift 10 pounds occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently. Requires visual acuity and dexterity to view, prepare, and manipulate documents and office equipment including personal computers. Requires the ability to communicate with internal and/or external customers. Employee must be able to perform essential functions and physical requirements of position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Pay, Incentives, and Benefits

The base pay scale for this position in: Phoenix, AZ/Chicago, IL in USD per year is: $132,000 - $165,000. Additionally, candidates are eligible for a discretionary incentive plan and benefits. This pay scale is subject to change and is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific candidate, which is always dependent on legitimate factors considered at the time of job offer. Early Warning Services takes into consideration a variety of factors when determining a competitive salary offer, including, but not limited to, the job scope, market rates and geographic location of a position, candidate’s education, experience, training, and specialized skills or certification(s) in relation to the job requirements and compared with internal equity (peers).

Some of the Ways We Prioritize Your Health and Happiness

• Healthcare Coverage - Competitive medical (PPO/HDHP), dental, and vision plans as well as company contributions to your Health Savings Account (HSA) or pre‑tax savings through flexible spending accounts (FSA) for commuting, health & dependent care expenses.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Featuring a 100% Company Safe Harbor Match on your first 6% deferral immediately upon eligibility.
• Paid Time Off - Flexible Time Off for Exempt (salaried) employees, as well as generous PTO for Non-Exempt (hourly) employees, plus 11 paid company holidays and a paid volunteer day.
• 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Maven Family Planning - provides support through your Parenting journey including egg freezing, fertility, adoption, surrogacy, pregnancy, postpartum, early pediatrics, and returning to work.
• and SO much more! We continue to enhance our program, so be sure to check our Benefits page here for the latest. Our team can share more during the interview process!

Equal Employment Opportunity

Early Warning Services, LLC (“Early Warning”) considers for employment, hires, retains and promotes qualified candidates on the basis of ability, potential, and valid qualifications without regard to race, religious creed, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, protected veteran or disability status or any factor prohibited by law, and as such affirms in policy and practice to support and promote equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and municipal laws.

The company also prohibits discrimination on other bases such as medical condition, marital status or any other factor that is irrelevant to the performance of our employees.

Early Warning Services LLC is a proud participant in E-Verify, a federal program to help ensure a legal and authorized workforce. As part of our hiring process, we electronically verify the employment eligibility of all new hires through E-Verify. For more information on your rights and responsibilities under E-Verify please visit Home | E-Verify.

Early Warning Services delivers innovative payment and risk solutions to financial institutions nationwide. For over 25 years, Early Warning has been a leader in technology that helps protect and advance the financial system. We serve a diverse network of approximately 2,500 financial institutions, government entities and payment companies.

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View supplemental EEO is the law poster. Early Warning has developed and maintained a written AAP and upholds pay transparency nondiscrimination.

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