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Director Security Engineering Jobs in Reston, VA

Wsgr

Senior AI Security Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site +1

$129K - $177K/yr

... Director, Security Engineering and Operations, sits at the frontier of AI infrastructure and enterprise security - a rare opportunity to architect how one of the world's leading law firms builds and ...

VB Spine

Manager, Security Engineering

Leesburg, VA · On-site

Reporting to the CISO (Sr. Director, Cybersecurity & IT Compliance), this individual will oversee ... The Security Engineering Manager will partner closely with Infrastructure, Application Development ...

VB Spine, LLC

Manager, Security Engineering

Leesburg, VA · On-site

Reporting to the CISO (Sr. Director, Cybersecurity & IT Compliance), this individual will oversee ... The Security Engineering Manager will partner closely with Infrastructure, Application Development ...

Meta

Director, Security Risk Program

Washington, DC · On-site

$227K - $287K/yr

We are looking for a Director of Security Risk Program to lead this portfolio through a period of ... engineering and product reality into a defensible risk position. This is a role for a risk leader ...

Meta

Director, Security Risk Program

Washington, DC · On-site

$227K/yr

... engineering leader whose roadmap they are trying to shape.The ideal candidate is a proven risk ... Director, Security Risk Program Responsibilities: * Own the strategy, operating model, and end-to ...

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All JobsSecurity Engineering JobsDirector Security Engineering JobsDirector Security Engineering Jobs in Reston, VA

Director Security Engineering information

See Reston, VA salary details

$75.9K

$202.6K

$264.2K

How much do director security engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for director security engineering in Reston, VA is $202,567.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $147,200.00 and $263,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a director of security engineering do?

A Director of Security Engineering leads a team responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining an organization's security infrastructure. This role involves developing security strategies, overseeing security projects, and ensuring that all systems and data are protected against cyber threats. They collaborate with other departments to assess security risks, establish policies, and ensure compliance with industry regulations. Additionally, they mentor security engineers and help shape the overall security culture within the organization.

How does a director of security engineering typically collaborate with other departments to ensure organizational security?

A Director of Security Engineering works closely with IT, legal, compliance, and executive leadership to develop and implement robust security strategies. They frequently coordinate cross-functional initiatives, provide guidance on secure software development, and respond collaboratively to emerging threats. Effective communication and partnership with these teams are essential to align security priorities with business objectives and regulatory requirements. This collaborative environment fosters a proactive security culture and ensures comprehensive risk management across the organization.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of security engineering, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Security Engineering, you need deep expertise in cybersecurity principles, risk management, and security architecture, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field and significant leadership experience. Familiarity with security frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001), security tools (SIEM, IDS/IPS), and certifications like CISSP or CISM are highly valued. Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and strong communication skills help drive cross-functional collaboration and foster a culture of security. These skills are crucial to effectively protect organizational assets, manage complex security initiatives, and guide teams in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

What is the difference between Director Security Engineering vs Security Manager?

AspectDirector Security EngineeringSecurity Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees security architecture, strategy, and engineering teams; focuses on security infrastructure and long-term planning.Manages security operations, implements policies, and handles day-to-day security incident response.
Required CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, computer science, or related fields; certifications like CISSP or CISM are common.Similar credentials as Director, often with CISSP, CISM, or Security+.
Work EnvironmentStrategic, leadership-focused, often in larger organizations or tech companies.Operational, team management, and incident handling, often in various industries.

The main difference between a Director Security Engineering and a Security Manager lies in scope and focus. The Director emphasizes security architecture and strategic planning, while the Security Manager concentrates on daily security operations and policy enforcement. Both roles require similar credentials and work in security-focused environments, but their responsibilities differ in scale and focus.

Is a director security engineering a stressful job?

A director of security engineering often faces high-pressure situations due to the critical nature of protecting organizational assets and managing security incidents. The role involves overseeing security teams, implementing complex systems, and staying current with evolving threats, which can contribute to stress levels. However, effective leadership, clear priorities, and experience with security tools can help manage workload and reduce stress.
Infographic showing various Director Security Engineering job openings in Reston, VA as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $202,567 per year, or $97.4 per hour.

Senior Director, Security Engineering

Washington, DC • On-site

P2P
See more jobs at P2Pexternal

Other

Retirement, PTO

Posted 23 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Build and lead a team of Security Engineers to secure Ripple's products, infrastructure, and corporate IT systems.

  • Define and implement security strategies, including AI security guardrails, agentic workflows, and security guidelines across engineering processes.

  • Lead security architecture reviews, manage vulnerability programs, and communicate security risks to senior leadership and engineering teams.

Job description

At Ripple, we’re building a world where value moves like information does today. It’s big, it’s bold, and we’re already doing it. Through our crypto solutions for financial institutions, businesses, governments and developers, we are improving the global financial system and creating greater economic fairness and opportunity for more people, in more places around the world. And we get to do the best work of our career and grow our skills surrounded by colleagues who have our backs.

If you’re ready to see your impact and unlock incredible career growth opportunities, join us, and build real world value.

THE WORK:

As the Senior Director of Security Engineering, you will be responsible for building and leading a dedicated, humble, and paranoid team of Security Engineers to secure Ripple's products, infrastructure, and corporate IT systems. You will play a substantial role in defining the security strategy and encouraging a culture of security across the entire company. Your leadership will be crucial in protecting our business and our customers by embedding security into every layer of our technology stack.

This is a hands-on role and requires a deep understanding of technology. AI is fundamentally reshaping how we build software and how our tools and systems operate, and this role sits at the center of that challenge. You will ensure our use of AI tooling and agentic workflows is secure, controlled, and auditable.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:
  • Set the strategic vision and roadmap for the Security Engineering team, focusing on product security, infrastructure security, and IT security, with a particular focus on AI security, including agentic guardrails and AI-assisted development risk.
  • Serve as a security domain expert, providing guidance and communicating security risks and concepts to senior leadership, engineering teams, and other partners.
  • Define guardrails around AI agents and tools operating within Ripple's environment, including scope boundaries, blast radius limits, and rollback mechanisms.
  • Implement and enforce agentic SDLC guardrails, testing gates, and human oversight of AI-assisted development workflows.
  • Lead, mentor, and strengthen a team of security engineers, cultivating an atmosphere that values technical excellence, continual learning, and innovation.
  • Drive the implementation of security guidelines across the engineering organization, ensuring security is integrated into day-to-day development processes.
  • Lead security architecture reviews for new products, infrastructure changes, and major engineering initiatives, serving as a formal checkpoint before systems go to production.
  • Own the vulnerability management program, including coordinating penetration testing, prioritizing remediation, and partnering with engineering teams to close risk at pace.
  • Collaborate with engineering, product, and IT leadership to ensure alignment on security priorities and to champion security outcomes on behalf of our customers.
WHAT YOU'LL BRING:
  • 15+ years of experience in security engineering, with at least 5+ years in a leadership or management role, preferably in the crypto, blockchain, or FinTech space.
  • Hands-on expertise in AI security: a clear understanding of the risk surface introduced by LLMs, AI agents, and AI-assisted development workflows, and how to build guardrails around them.
  • Expert-level knowledge of security architecture, including cloud environments (AWS, GCP, Azure), modern application stacks, and network security.
  • Strong understanding of cryptographic principles, secure coding practices, and common web and blockchain vulnerabilities (e.g., OWASP Top 10).
  • Experience with authentication and authorization standards (OAuth, SAML, OIDC) and their security implications.
  • Demonstrated expertise in IT security, including endpoint protection, network security, identity and access management (IAM), and corporate security policy enforcement.
  • Hands-on experience with threat modeling methodologies and risk identification techniques.
  • Ability to communicate complex technical concepts and security risks to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • A track record of fostering a positive security culture within an organization and proven experience leading and building a high-performing security team.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to effectively and creatively manage complex security challenges.
WHO WE ARE:

Do Your Best Work

  • The opportunity to build in a fast-paced start-up environment with experienced industry leaders
  • A learning environment where you can dive deep into the latest technologies and make an impact. A professional development budget to support other modes of learning.
  • Thrive in an environment where no matter what race, ethnicity, gender, origin, or culture they identify with, every employee is a respected, valued, and empowered part of the team.
  • In-office collaboration for moments that matter is important to our culture, and we give managers and teams the flexibility to decide which 10+ days a month they come in.
  • Bi-weekly all-company meeting - business updates and ask me anything style discussion with our Leadership Team
  • We come together for moments that matter which include team offsites, team bonding activities, happy hours and more!

Take Control of Your Finances

  • Competitive salary, bonuses, and equity
  • Competitive benefits that cover physical and mental healthcare, retirement, family forming, and family support
  • Employee giving match
  • Mobile phone stipend

Take Care of Yourself

  • R&R days so you can rest and recharge
  • Generous wellness reimbursement and weekly onsite & virtual programming
  • Generous vacation policy - work with your manager to take time off when you need it
  • Industry-leading parental leave policies. Family planning benefits.
  • Catered lunches, fully-stocked kitchens with premium snacks/beverages, and plenty of fun events

Benefits listed above are for full-time employees.

Ripple is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We do not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants because of race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, sexual identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military status, or any other characteristic protected by local law or ordinance.

Please find our UK/EU Applicant Privacy Notice and our California Applicant Privacy Notice for reference.

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