Associate Automation Engineer Jobs in Independence, MO

Our vision for the future is based on the idea that transforming financial lives starts by giving our people the freedom to transform their own. We have a flexible work environment, and fluid career paths. We not only encourage but celebrate internal mobility. We also recognize the importance of purpose, well-being, and work-life balance. Within Empower and our communities, we work hard to create a welcoming and inclusive environment, and our associates dedicate thousands of hours to volunteering for causes that matter most to them. Chart your own path and grow your career while helping more customers achieve financial freedom. Empower Yourself.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time, including CPT/OPT.

The Security Automation Engineer builds and supports automation solutions that strengthen the company’s cybersecurity capabilities and improve operational efficiency. This role partners with teams across the cybersecurity organization, including governance, risk and compliance, threat and vulnerability management, application security, network security, security architecture, and other security functions. The role is primarily focused on Python development and security automation.

The Security Automation Engineer works with internal partners to understand operational needs, clarify incomplete or ambiguous requirements, and design, build, test, deploy, document, monitor, and continuously improve practical automation solutions. The role also has a significant focus on AI-enabled security automation. The engineer applies hands‑on experience with large language models and Model Context Protocol (MCP) capabilities to support AI governance, secure AI integrations, and agentic security tooling.

• Develop, test, deploy, monitor, and maintain Python-based security automation solutions that improve cybersecurity capabilities and operational efficiency.
• Partner with cybersecurity teams to understand operational challenges, clarify ambiguous requirements, document solution designs, align with stakeholders, and validate delivered functionality.
• Build reliable Python applications, services, APIs, workflows, internal tools, integrations, and reusable libraries using maintainable software engineering practices.
• Develop API-driven integrations across security tools, cloud platforms, authentication systems, source code platforms, third‑party services, and internal technologies, including systems without native integrations.
• Build security and compliance automation that collects, compares, validates, and acts on data, including validation of cloud resources against required security tooling and configuration standards.
• Develop and support AI-enabled security automation using large language models and Model Context Protocol (MCP), including secure integrations, AI governance controls, and usage guardrails.
• Contribute to agentic security capabilities, including automated analysis of source code for security vulnerabilities, exposed secrets, and compliance with infrastructure standards.
• Use AI-assisted development tools for coding, debugging, automated testing, documentation, and refactoring while independently reviewing and validating generated output.
• Troubleshoot issues across application code, APIs, identity and authentication, cloud infrastructure, data flows, and automation runtime environments, independently investigating unfamiliar technologies and resolving blockers.
• Collaborate through code reviews, operational support, shared tooling, reusable modules, engineering documentation, and development practices that improve security, reliability, maintainability, compliance, and governance.

• Degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 3+ years of hands‑on software development or equivalent experience.
• Proficiency in Python, including experience developing, testing, debugging, and maintaining reliable production‑quality code.
• Experience building API-driven applications and integrations, including authentication, pagination, error handling, retries, and logging.
• Experience with software engineering practices including Git, CI/CD, automated testing, code review, dependency management, and maintainable software design.
• Experience using AI-assisted development tools for coding, debugging, testing, documentation, and refactoring, including independently validating generated output.
• Hands‑on experience working with large language models and experience understanding or developing Model Context Protocol (MCP)-based capabilities.
• Experience building or supporting automation in one or more cloud platforms, with an understanding of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and cloud-native development concepts.
• Ability to work effectively with incomplete or ambiguous requirements and independently investigate unfamiliar tools, APIs, and technical environments to develop practical solutions.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, written, verbal, and collaboration skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to non‑software‑development stakeholders and take ownership of assigned work.

• Experience working with GitLab.
• Experience developing automation within cybersecurity environments.
• Experience supporting cybersecurity functions such as governance, risk and compliance, threat and vulnerability management, application security, network security, or security architecture.
• Experience developing AI-enabled security automation, agentic security capabilities, MCP‑based integrations, or AI governance controls.

This job operates in a professional office environment.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications of the job. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. You will be evaluated in part based on your performance of the responsibilities and/or tasks listed in this job description. You may be required to perform other duties that are not included on this job description. The job description is not a contract for employment, and either you or the employer may terminate employment at any time, for any reason, as per terms and conditions of your employment contract.

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• Retirement savings - 401(k) plan with generous company matching contributions (up to 6%), financial advisory services, potential company discretionary contribution, and a broad investment lineup
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250/year
• Business‑casual environment that includes the option to wear jeans
• Generous paid time off upon hire - including a paid time off program plus ten paid company holidays and three floating holidays each calendar year
• Paid volunteer time - 16 hours per calendar year
• Leave of absence programs - including paid parental leave, paid short- and long‑term disability, and Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)
• Business Resource Groups (BRGs) - BRGs facilitate inclusion and collaboration across our business internally and throughout the communities where we live, work and play.
• BRGs are open to all.

Base Salary Range $105,700.00 - $149,275.00

The salary range above shows the typical minimum to maximum base salary range for this position in the location listed. Non‑sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation offered may vary from posted hiring range based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.

We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age (40 and over), race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, religion, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable state or local law.

For remote and hybrid positions you will be required to provide reliable high‑speed internet with a wired connection as well as a place in your home to work with limited disruption. You must have reliable connectivity from an internet service provider that is fiber, cable or DSL internet. Other necessary computer equipment, will be provided. You may be required to work in the office if you do not have an adequate home work environment and the required internet connection.