Staff Engineer II - Cyber

westernalliancebank; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

401k matching program

Tuition assistance program

Employee volunteer program

Wellness program

Job summary

Western Alliance Bank is seeking a Staff Engineer II - Cyber to own cyber defense platforms, with a focus on ASM and CTEM across cloud, on‑prem, and internet-facing environments. You will drive risk-based security programs, partnering with vendors to optimize defenses and ensure cost control and cert validity.

You will lead cross‑functional teams, implement SSPM capabilities, and prioritize vulnerabilities to reduce exposure while aligning with CIS/NIST/MITRE guidelines.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in advanced cybersecurity.
• Bachelor's degree in related field.
• Advanced knowledge of banking/financial services context preferred.
• Linux and PowerShell proficiency.
• SAML, SSO, LDAP understanding.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end cyber defense platform ownership (ASM/CTEM).
• Lead ASM capabilities using Assetnote and external scanners.
• Engineer SSPM technology with API discovery and privilege analysis.
• Coordinate remediation and risk reduction across IT and Cyber teams.
• Ensure regulatory alignment and disaster recovery readiness.

Skills

Cybersecurity leadership

ASM/CTEM

Linux

PowerShell

SAML/SSO/LDAP

Threat modeling

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

Assetnote

CSPM

EDR

DLP

CASB

Job description

Staff Engineer II - Cyber

Location: Block 23

What you'll do:

As a Staff Engineer II - Cyber, you will serve as a technical leader responsible for end-to-end ownership of the bank's cyber defense platforms, with a strong focus on Attack Surface Management (ASM) and Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM). You will drive a proactive, risk-based security program that continuously discovers, prioritizes, and reduces cyber exposure across internal and external environments.

This role combines deep engineering expertise, platform ownership, and strategic influence, leveraging tools such as CSPM, Vulnerability & Exposure Management, AV/EDR, Phishing, and DLP platforms to deliver integrated security outcomes across cloud, endpoint, network, and data layers.

Additionally, you'll lead the continuous review and improvement of the defense, auditing, access standards, tactics, and techniques to meet regulatory guidelines as well as owning the resiliency of cyber applications and platforms via routine disaster recovery exercises. You'll partner with vendors routinely to optimize cyber defense, auditing, and access products, as well as ensure costs/licenses do not exceed expectations, and that certificates do not expire while maintaining capacity planning to ensure quality end user experience. Engineer and operationalize a Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) program, including: Asset discovery across cloud, on-prem, and internet-facing environments.

Risk-based prioritization of vulnerabilities and exposures.

Validation of findings through real-world context and exploitability.

Coordination of remediation and risk reduction efforts across IT and Cyber teams.

Lead Attack Surface Management (ASM) capabilities using tools such as Assetnote and external scanning platforms:

Identify and map internet-exposed assets (IPs, domains, cloud services).

Validate exposures (open ports, public access, misconfigurations, weak controls).

Provide continuous visibility into known and unknown attack surfaces.

Engineer and operationalize a SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) technology:

API discovery across cloud, on-prem, and internet-facing environments.

Privilege Analysis, API development for 3rd party SaaS platforms to enforce the principle of least privilege.

Validation of findings and reporting to fix misconfigurations and excessive permissions.

Coordination of remediation and risk reduction efforts across IT and Cyber teams.

What you'll need:

6+ years of advanced cybersecurity experience.

Bachelor's degree in related field required.

Advanced knowledge of general Financial Services or Banking is preferred.

Working knowledge of Linux and PowerShell. Solid understanding of authentication protocols SAML, SSO, and LDAP.

Solid understanding of concepts regarding ASM, CTEM, DLP, CASB, CSPM, Firewall, SSL/TLS, Vulnerability Scanners, and EDR.

Solid understanding of OSI layers, DNS, SMTP, etc. for troubleshooting application functionality.

Advanced experience of CIS, NIST, MITRE, and Administration of either or all within organizations.

Advanced speaking and writing communication skills.

Demonstrated leadership in security operations architecture or detection engineering.

Proven ability to translate technical findings into executive‑level risk context.

Benefits you’ll love:

• We offer all the important things you'd want - like competitive salaries, an ownership stake in the company, medical and dental insurance, time off, a great 401k matching program, tuition assistance program, an employee volunteer program, and a wellness program. In addition, you'll have the opportunity to bolster your business knowledge, learning the ins and outs of how successful companies operate and manage their finances, giving you invaluable hands‑on experience to help grow your career!

About the company:

Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Western Alliance Bancorporation. Serving clients nationwide, Western Alliance Bank includes six legacy bank brands - Alliance Association Bank, Alliance Bank of Arizona, Bank of Nevada, Bridge Bank, First Independent Bank and Torrey Pines Bank - that remain part of the company's heritage, as well as AmeriHome Mortgage, a Western Alliance Bank Company.

Western Alliance Bancorporation is committed to equal employment and will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, sex, color, religion, age, nation origin, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or genetic information. Western Alliance Bancorporation is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process and/or need an alternative method of applying, please email [e-mail] or call 602-386-2488. When contacting us, please provide your contact information and