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Proactive Security Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior Security Engineer, Ads Security

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$134K - $184K/yr

The ideal candidate will have a broad understanding of proactive security, have past experience leading security assessments, and have the ability to work with product and engineering teams in ...

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Proactive Security information

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$14

$26

$40

How much do proactive security jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for proactive security in the United States is $26.61, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.15 and $30.53 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Proactive Security Specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Proactive Security Specialist, you need expertise in risk assessment, threat intelligence, vulnerability management, and a solid understanding of cybersecurity principles, typically supported by a degree in information security or related certifications like CISSP or CEH. Familiarity with security information and event management (SIEM) tools, network monitoring systems, and penetration testing platforms is essential. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication skills help you anticipate and address security threats before they escalate. These competencies are crucial to proactively safeguarding an organization's assets and ensuring a robust security posture against evolving cyber threats.

What is proactive security?

Proactive security refers to a set of strategies and practices focused on preventing security threats before they occur, rather than simply reacting to incidents after they happen. It involves identifying vulnerabilities, continuously monitoring systems, and implementing measures such as regular updates, security awareness training, and threat intelligence. The goal is to minimize risks by anticipating potential attacks and taking steps to stop them in advance. This approach helps organizations protect sensitive data, reduce downtime, and maintain trust with clients and stakeholders.

What are the main challenges faced by professionals working in Proactive Security roles?

Professionals in Proactive Security often encounter the challenge of staying ahead of rapidly evolving cyber threats and attack techniques. This role requires continuous learning, frequent system assessments, and close collaboration with IT and development teams to implement preventative measures. Balancing the need for robust security with business operations and user experience is another common challenge. Additionally, proactive security specialists are often tasked with educating staff and promoting a security-first culture across the organization.

What is the difference between Proactive Security vs Penetration Tester?

AspectProactive SecurityPenetration Tester
CertificationsSecurity+; CISSP; CEHOSCP; CEH; GPEN
Work EnvironmentSecurity teams, in-house or consulting firmsConsulting firms, cybersecurity firms, freelance
Employer & Industry UsageOrganizations seeking ongoing security measuresClients needing security assessments and testing

Proactive Security professionals focus on implementing ongoing security strategies, policies, and defenses to prevent cyber threats. In contrast, Penetration Testers conduct specific security assessments to identify vulnerabilities through simulated attacks. While both roles require similar certifications and work in cybersecurity environments, Proactive Security emphasizes continuous protection, whereas Penetration Testers focus on testing and identifying weaknesses.

More about Proactive Security jobs
What cities are hiring for Proactive Security jobs? Cities with the most Proactive Security job openings:
Infographic showing various Proactive Security job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $55,353 per year, or $26.6 per hour.
Lead Security Engineer - Proactive Security

Lead Security Engineer - Proactive Security

Target Brands, Inc.

Brooklyn Park, MN • On-site

$132K - $238K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 7 days ago


Target rating

6.6

Company rating: 6.6 out of 10

Based on 6,815 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

14th of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

The pay range is $132,000.00 - $238,000.00
Pay is based on several factors which vary based on position. These include labor markets and in some instances may include education, work experience and certifications. In addition to your pay, Target cares about and invests in you as a team member, so that you can take care of yourself and your family. Target offers eligible team members and their dependents comprehensive health benefits and programs, which may include medical, vision, dental, life insurance and more, to help you and your family take care of your whole selves. Other benefits for eligible team members include 401(k), employee discount, short term disability, long term disability, paid sick leave, paid national holidays, and paid vacation. Find competitive benefits from financial and education to well-being and beyond at https://corporate.target.com/careers/benefits.
About Us:
Target is an iconic brand, a Fortune 50 company, and one of America's leading retailers. Behind the brand our guests love is a framework that relies on the latest tools and technologies, as well as the brightest people, to deliver incredible value to guests online and in stores. Cybersecurity at Target is on a mission to secure the systems, tools, and processes that team members and guests interact with every day. We drive industry-leading technologies in support of every angle of the business, and help ensure that Target operates smoothly, securely, and reliably from the inside out. Working at Target means helping all families discover the joy of everyday life. We bring that vision to life through our values and culture. Learn more about Target here.
If you're excited by the opportunity to demonstrate strong ownership and deep technical expertise while solving complex security challenges at scale, we invite you to join us as a Lead Security Engineer within the Target Proactive Security organization!
As a Lead Security Engineer within Target Proactive Security, you will take ownership in designing, building, and scaling security solutions to secure Target technologies. Leveraging your security and risk management experience, you will work across Target technology and business teams define security requirements, assess risk, and develop mitigation strategies. You will leverage your deep engineering and technical expertise to force-multiply your impact by building new security solutions and influencing across your peers and partner teams. Finally, you will act as a leader within our organization, constantly working to uplevel our team by mentoring your team members in security concepts and engineering best practices.
Core responsibilities of this job are described within this job description. Job duties may change at any time due to business needs.
About You:
• Bachelor's degree in information security, computer science, or related field; or related experience
• 5+ years of engineering experience in one or more information security domains (e.g., vulnerability management, threat intelligence, application security, incident response, risk management, etc.)
• Experience defining security requirements, managing findings, and mitigating risk across dozens of unique business lines, hundreds of distinct applications, and thousands of stakeholders
Preferred:
• Master's degree in information security, computer science, or related field; or related experience
• 10+ years of engineering experience in one or more information security domains (e.g., vulnerability management, threat intelligence, application security, incident response, risk management, etc.)
• Experience designing, developing, and scaling security solutions that enable developers and technology solutions to be "secure-by-default" (e.g., auto-patching, credential rotation, etc.)
• Demonstrated experience harmonizing and aligning business needs with security requirements to ensure security threats and risks are properly identified and managed
• Executive-level communication skills, both verbal and written, capable of effectively articulating technical topics to a wide range of stakeholders to drive understanding and alignment
• Proven ability to own enterprise-wide security projects or programs (e.g. Patch Management, Risk Management, etc.), including building project plans, identifying stakeholders, communicating progress, and addressing roadblocks
• Experience with both on-prem (e.g., bare metal servers, firewalls, etc.) and cloud-based (e.g., GCP, AWS, Azure, etc.) infrastructure
• Experience leveraging AI tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT, etc.) to measurably improve the effectiveness or operations of a security tool or mechanism
• Experience with common security tooling (e.g., SIEM, DLP, IDS, IPS, etc.)
• Experience with common security frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO/IEC 27001, PCI-DSS, etc.)
• Relevant security industry certifications (e.g., CISSP, CISM, OSCP, etc.)
This position will operate as a Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement based on Target's needs. A Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement means the team member's core role will need to be performed both onsite at the Target HQ MN location the role is assigned to and virtually, depending upon what your role, team and tasks require for that day. Work duties cannot be performed outside of the country of the primary work location, unless otherwise prescribed by Target. Click here if you are curious to learn more about Minnesota.
Benefits Eligibility
Please paste this url into your preferred browser to learn about benefits eligibility for this role: https://tgt.biz/BenefitsForYou_E
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
In compliance with state and federal laws, Target will make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please reach out to candidate.accommodations@HRHelp.Target.com. Non-accommodation-related requests, such as application follow-ups or technical issues, will not be addressed through this channel.

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About Target

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

We're here to help all families discover the joy of everyday life. Target is a general merchandise retailer with stores in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. 75% of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a Target store. We employ 400,000+ Our tagline is "Expect More. Pay Less." We've been using it since 1994! The Target Corporation also owns Shipt and Roundel. More to love! Target is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, its hometown since the first Target store opened in 1962 under The Dayton Company.

Industry

Retail and scientific research and development services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Minneapolis, MN, US