Staff Security Assurance Engineer

Databricks Inc.; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Databricks Inc. is seeking a Staff Security Assurance Engineer to lead high-visibility security compliance initiatives within the Security Assurance Team. The role requires an active Top Secret clearance and a strong background in project management and security compliance frameworks.

In this position, you will work collaboratively with various teams to ensure the success of complex, cross-functional security projects. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of experience and a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.

You will drive project outcomes, enhance operational efficiencies, and cultivate strategic partnerships in the ever-evolving field of security compliance.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in security and technical program/project management.
• Active Top Secret (TS) Clearance with access to a SCIF.
• Experience with security compliance frameworks like FedRAMP, DoD IL5/IL6, NIST 800-53.

Responsibilities

• Drive end-to-end delivery for new security certifications.
• Proactively identify and neutralize project blockers.
• Oversee project lifecycles including milestones and risk mitigation.

Skills

Project Management

Security Compliance

Technical Communication

Agility & Continuous Learning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Job description

As a Staff Security Assurance Engineer within the Security Assurance Team, you will help lead high‑visibility security compliance implementation initiatives. Reporting directly to the Senior Director, you will serve as a strategic catalyst for these programs, ensuring seamless execution and alignment with Databricks’ global security objectives.

You will navigate a complex, cloud‑native landscape, collaborating with Security, IT, Engineering, Internal Audit, Corporate Operations, and other teams, to assure successful completion of highly cross‑functional projects that enable the growth of our business and safeguard our customers.

To qualify for this role you must hold an active Top Secret clearance, have the ability to access and work within a SCIF environment, and reside within the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

The impact you will have

• Drive Project Outcomes: Adopt an ownership mindset to manage the end‑to‑end delivery of work required for new security certifications, federal authorizations, and compliance initiatives that expand Databricks’ reach across regulated and government markets.
• Accelerate Execution: Act as a force multiplier by proactively identifying and neutralizing project blockers, reducing friction, and maintaining high velocity in a cloud‑native environment.
• Orchestrate Cross‑Functional Decision Making: Navigate complex technical and compliance trade‑offs, driving consensus across Engineering, IT, Product, and Security teams to reach timely resolutions.
• Optimize Delivery Methodologies: Continuously refine project frameworks to maximize effectiveness, ensuring that security initiatives are both rigorous and agile.
• Precision Program Management: Masterfully oversee project lifecycles—including milestones, dependencies, and risk mitigation—while providing executive‑level transparency through accurate status reporting.
• Build Strategic Partnerships: Forge deep, collaborative relationships with Security Assurance Team subject matter experts and technical stakeholders to ensure seamless alignment on security goals.

What we look for

• Active Top Secret (TS) Clearance with the ability to access and work within a SCIF environment.
• Location Requirement: Must be located in, or willing to relocate to, the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
• Proven Expertise: 7+ years of experience (with Bachelor’s degree or 5+ years with advanced degree) in security and technical program/project management. Ideally, at a fast‑paced, cloud‑native organization.
• Strategic Ownership: Demonstrated success in leading high‑stakes security compliance initiatives (e.g., FedRAMP, DoD IL5/IL6, NIST 800‑53, CMMC, PCI, HIPAA) from inception to authorization or market.
• Complexity Management: Experience navigating projects with intricate technical dependencies, multiple stakeholders, and competing constraints with geo‑distributed teams.
• Executive Presence: Ability to influence and communicate effectively across the spectrum, from deep‑dive technical discussions with engineers to high‑level briefings for senior leadership and government stakeholders.
• Agility & Continuous Learning: A proven track record of rapidly mastering new processes, methodologies, technologies, and security frameworks to meet evolving business needs.
• Communication Excellence: Superb verbal and written skills, with a knack for translating complex project data into clear, actionable insights and documentation.
• Educational Foundation: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related technical field (or equivalent practical experience).
• Federal Experience Preferred: Experience supporting U.S. Government, Defense, Intelligence Community, or other highly regulated environments is strongly preferred.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At Databricks, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone can excel. We take great care to ensure that our hiring practices are inclusive and meet equal employment opportunity standards. Individuals looking for employment at Databricks are considered without regard to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio‑economic status, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.

Compliance

If access to export‑controlled technology or source code is required for performance of job duties, it is within Employer's discretion whether to apply for a U.S. government license for such positions, and Employer may decline to proceed with an applicant on this basis alone.