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Director Security Engineering Jobs in Reston, VA

Reston, VA - Hybrid (2 days onsite) Employment: Full-Time, Direct Hire Compensation: Up to $180K ... This is a hands-on engineering position for someone who enjoys building, integrating and automating ...

Cloud Security Engineer

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

... directed. * Develop and maintain scripts, queries, automation, and repeatable procedures to improve security operations and engineering response efficiency. * Participate in after-action reviews and ...

... * 3+ years of security engineering experience, including cloud (AWS) * Experience with ... Familiarity with AI-assisted security tooling NO THIRD PARTY PLEASE- DIRECT CANDIDATES ONLY.

... engineering staff as needed. - Coordinate and oversee level of effort, planning, and support for ... Prioritize and direct execution of program elements based on risk, business objectives, and ...

Showing results 21-40

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.

Security Tools Engineer

Reston, VA • On-site

$180K/yr

Other

Posted 21 days ago


Job description


Location: Reston, VA - Hybrid (2 days onsite)
Employment: Full-Time, Direct Hire
Compensation: Up to $180K base
Level: Senior Individual Contributor


The Opportunity

We are partnering with a highly established technology organization seeking a Senior Information Security Tools Engineer to join a small, experienced security engineering team.


This is a hands-on engineering position for someone who enjoys building, integrating and automating security platforms, rather than simply operating them. You will take technical ownership of enterprise security tooling and the infrastructure supporting it, helping ensure platforms are secure, highly available, scalable and effectively integrated across the organization.


The environment includes a broad estate of security technologies spanning areas such as SIEM, vulnerability management, endpoint security, cloud security and security automation.


What You'll Do

  • Engineer, deploy, configure and maintain enterprise security platforms and their supporting infrastructure.

  • Build integrations between security tools and other enterprise systems using Python, APIs and automation.

  • Improve the reliability, scalability, security and performance of existing security platforms.

  • Administer and troubleshoot security applications running across Linux and Windows environments.

  • Develop scripts and automation to eliminate manual processes and improve platform efficiency.

  • Support platform upgrades, migrations, integrations and new security technology deployments.

  • Work across technologies including SIEM, EDR, vulnerability management, cloud security and SOAR.

  • Partner with security and infrastructure teams to design solutions that integrate effectively into the wider enterprise environment.

  • Serve as a senior technical contributor and help establish engineering best practices across the security tooling environment.


What We're Looking For

We're particularly interested in builders rather than just users of security tools.


You don't need experience with every security product. Deep engineering expertise with one or more enterprise security platforms can be more valuable than surface-level exposure across a large toolset.


Strong candidates will bring:



  • Several years of hands-on security engineering experience.

  • Experience deploying, administering, integrating or engineering enterprise security platforms.

  • Strong Python scripting and automation skills.

  • Experience building integrations using REST APIs or similar technologies.

  • Working knowledge of both Linux and Windows Server environments.

  • Security infrastructure and network security fundamentals.

  • Experience with technologies such as Splunk, Tenable/Nessus, SIEM, EDR, vulnerability management, cloud security or SOAR.

  • Ability to troubleshoot complex platform, infrastructure and integration issues.

  • A genuine engineering mindset - comfortable getting under the hood of a platform rather than only working through its user interface.


Why Consider It?

You'll join a small, highly experienced security engineering team responsible for a substantial enterprise security technology estate.


Rather than being limited to dashboards, alerting or day-to-day security operations, you'll have the opportunity to work on the architecture, infrastructure, integrations and automation behind the tools themselves.


It's a strong opportunity for an experienced security engineer who wants broad technical ownership while remaining on the individual contributor track, or for a strong engineer ready to step into a more senior security tooling position.


Oscar Associates Limited (US) is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.