Distinguished Engineer - Cybersecurity, Cloud & Data Protection

Capital One
Full_time$240k-301k/year (USD)Chicago, United States

📍 Job Overview

  • Job Title: Distinguished Engineer - Cybersecurity, Cloud & Data Protection
  • Company: Capital One
  • Location: McLean, VA (with options for Chicago, IL, or Plano, TX)
  • Job Type: Full-Time
  • Category: Senior Technical Leadership
  • Date Posted: June 24, 2025
  • Experience Level: 10+ years
  • Remote Status: On-site (with potential for hybrid or remote work)

🚀 Role Summary

  • Lead and drive innovation in cybersecurity, cloud, and data protection across Capital One's enterprise
  • Shape the cybersecurity agenda and capability growth across the domain, focusing on data protection platforms, access services, and cloud protection
  • Collaborate with diverse teams to optimize business outcomes and promote engineering excellence
  • Mentor internal talent and actively recruit to build and strengthen Capital One's technical community

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a deep technical expert with a strong background in cloud services and security engineering, capable of influencing key stakeholders and driving innovation across multiple domains.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

  • Technical Leadership: Define and drive the cybersecurity agenda, focusing on data protection, access services, and cloud protection
  • Stakeholder Communication: Collaborate with diverse teams to optimize business outcomes and promote engineering excellence
  • Mentoring & Recruitment: Mentor internal talent and actively recruit to build and strengthen Capital One's technical community
  • Innovation & Thought Leadership: Drive innovation in cybersecurity, cloud, and data protection, and share knowledge through blog posts, code samples, and other materials
  • Strategic Planning: Develop and implement strategic plans to optimize business outcomes and drive strong technology solutions

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong balance between technical expertise and stakeholder communication, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across multiple teams.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree required, with a Master's degree preferred

Experience: At least 9 years of experience in Software Engineering or Development, with extensive experience in cloud services and security engineering

Required Skills:

  • Proven expertise in cloud services (AWS, GCP, Azure)
  • Strong background in security engineering
  • Demonstrated experience in building distributed systems and highly available services
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
  • Proven ability to drive innovation and influence key stakeholders

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience with data loss prevention and cloud protection technologies
  • Familiarity with enterprise data protection platforms and access services
  • Strong mentoring and recruitment skills
  • Experience with Agile methodologies and collaborative development practices

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a well-rounded technical expert with a strong background in cloud services and security engineering, as well as exceptional communication and leadership skills.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Technical Leadership: Demonstrate strategic planning and execution in cybersecurity, cloud, or data protection projects
  • Stakeholder Communication: Showcase effective communication and collaboration with diverse teams through case studies or testimonials
  • Mentoring & Recruitment: Highlight mentoring and recruitment efforts, including successful initiatives and outcomes

Technical Documentation:

  • Architecture & Design: Provide detailed architecture and design documents for complex cybersecurity, cloud, or data protection projects
  • Code Samples: Include code samples or snippets that demonstrate your technical expertise and problem-solving skills
  • Blog Posts & Articles: Share blog posts or articles that showcase your thought leadership and industry insights

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong portfolio that demonstrates technical expertise, leadership, and effective communication and collaboration skills.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

  • Chicago, IL: $239,900 - $273,800
  • McLean, VA: $263,900 - $301,200
  • Plano, TX: $239,900 - $273,800

Benefits:

  • Comprehensive health, financial, and other benefits, including performance-based incentives
  • Competitive salary and opportunities for career growth and development

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexible scheduling for project deadlines and maintenance windows

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range for this role is competitive and commensurate with the level of experience and expertise required. Benefits include a comprehensive package tailored to the needs of technical professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

Company Culture:

  • Industry: Financial services and technology
  • Company Size: Large (over 50,000 employees)
  • Founded: 1986

Team Structure:

  • Collaborative, cross-functional teams focused on driving innovation and optimizing business outcomes
  • Flat hierarchy with a strong emphasis on technical expertise and leadership

Development Methodology:

  • Agile/Scrum methodologies with a focus on continuous integration, delivery, and improvement
  • Strong emphasis on collaboration, code review, and quality assurance practices
  • Automated deployment and infrastructure as code (IaC) strategies

Company Website: capitalone.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Capital One's culture emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning, with a strong focus on driving business outcomes through technical expertise and leadership.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: Senior Technical Leadership (Director-level Individual Contributor)

Reporting Structure: Collaborates with senior leadership and key stakeholders across the enterprise, with the potential to manage and mentor other technical professionals

Technical Impact: Drives innovation and optimizes business outcomes in cybersecurity, cloud, and data protection, with a significant impact on Capital One's enterprise-wide security posture and customer experience

Growth Opportunities:

  • Technical Leadership: Develop and refine technical expertise in cybersecurity, cloud, and data protection, with opportunities to lead and influence key projects and initiatives
  • Mentoring & Recruitment: Build and strengthen Capital One's technical community through mentoring and recruitment efforts, with opportunities to develop leadership and management skills
  • Industry Recognition: Establish thought leadership and industry recognition through blog posts, speaking engagements, and other public-facing activities

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for career growth and development, with a strong focus on technical leadership, mentoring, and industry recognition.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Modern, collaborative workspaces with a strong emphasis on technology and innovation

Office Location(s):

  • McLean, VA: 1600 Capital One Drive, McLean, VA 22102
  • Chicago, IL: 230 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60606
  • Plano, TX: 12500 Preston Rd, Plano, TX 75074

Workspace Context:

  • Collaboration: Open, collaborative workspaces that encourage cross-functional team interaction and knowledge sharing
  • Technology: Modern, high-performance workstations with multiple monitors and testing devices
  • Flexibility: Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options and flexible scheduling for project deadlines and maintenance windows

Work Schedule: 40 hours per week, with flexible scheduling for project deadlines and maintenance windows

📝 Enhancement Note: Capital One's work environment emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning, with a strong focus on driving business outcomes through technical expertise and leadership.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

  1. Phone Screen: A brief phone call to assess communication skills and cultural fit
  2. Technical Deep Dive: A comprehensive technical interview focused on cloud services, security engineering, and architecture design
  3. Stakeholder Management: A case study or role-play exercise to evaluate communication and collaboration skills with diverse teams
  4. Final Review: A final interview with senior leadership to assess cultural fit and technical expertise

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Highlight strategic planning and execution in cybersecurity, cloud, or data protection projects
  • Showcase effective communication and collaboration with diverse teams through case studies or testimonials
  • Demonstrate mentoring and recruitment efforts, including successful initiatives and outcomes

Technical Challenge Preparation:

  • Brush up on cloud services (AWS, GCP, Azure) and security engineering fundamentals
  • Prepare for architecture design and problem-solving exercises focused on cybersecurity, cloud, and data protection
  • Practice communicating complex technical concepts clearly and concisely

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role is comprehensive and rigorous, focusing on technical expertise, communication skills, and cultural fit. Preparation should include a deep understanding of cloud services, security engineering, and architecture design, as well as strong problem-solving and communication skills.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Cloud Services:

  • AWS: Extensive experience with Amazon Web Services (EC2, RDS, S3, IAM, etc.)
  • GCP: Familiarity with Google Cloud Platform (Compute Engine, Cloud SQL, Cloud Storage, IAM, etc.)
  • Azure: Familiarity with Microsoft Azure (Virtual Machines, Azure SQL Database, Azure Storage, Azure Active Directory, etc.)

Security Tools & Technologies:

  • Identity & Access Management (IAM): Experience with IAM systems and access control mechanisms
  • Intrusion Detection & Prevention: Familiarity with intrusion detection and prevention systems and strategies
  • Encryption: Strong background in encryption technologies and best practices

Collaboration & Productivity Tools:

  • Git: Proficiency with Git for version control and collaborative development
  • JIRA/Confluence: Experience with JIRA and Confluence for project management and collaboration
  • Slack/Microsoft Teams: Familiarity with Slack or Microsoft Teams for real-time communication and collaboration

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong background in cloud services, security engineering, and architecture design, with a focus on driving innovation and optimizing business outcomes in cybersecurity, cloud, and data protection.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Capital One Values:

  • Customer Obsessed: Focused on understanding and meeting customer needs and expectations
  • Empowered to Succeed: Encourages autonomy, accountability, and continuous learning and development
  • Inclusive & Collaborative: Fosters a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative work environment
  • Act with Integrity: Conducts business with honesty, transparency, and ethical decision-making

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Integration: Works closely with diverse teams, including product managers, designers, and business stakeholders
  • Code Review Culture: Encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning through code reviews and pair programming
  • Mentoring & Knowledge Sharing: Actively seeks opportunities to mentor and learn from colleagues, promoting a culture of continuous growth and development

📝 Enhancement Note: Capital One's culture emphasizes customer obsession, empowerment, inclusion, and integrity, with a strong focus on collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning and development.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

  • Cloud Security: Stay up-to-date with the latest cloud security trends, best practices, and emerging threats
  • Data Protection: Develop and implement robust data protection strategies that balance security, usability, and compliance
  • Innovation: Drive innovation in cybersecurity, cloud, and data protection, with a focus on optimizing business outcomes and improving customer experience
  • Stakeholder Management: Effectively communicate and collaborate with diverse teams, including business stakeholders, product managers, and technical colleagues

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Technical Expertise: Deepen your knowledge of cloud services, security engineering, and architecture design through training, workshops, and industry events
  • Leadership Development: Develop leadership and management skills through mentoring, coaching, and formal training programs
  • Industry Recognition: Establish thought leadership and industry recognition through blog posts, speaking engagements, and other public-facing activities

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant challenges and growth opportunities, with a strong focus on driving innovation, optimizing business outcomes, and improving customer experience in cybersecurity, cloud, and data protection.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

  • Cloud Services: In-depth questions on AWS, GCP, or Azure, focusing on architecture design, security, and best practices
  • Security Engineering: Questions on identity and access management, intrusion detection and prevention, encryption, and other security fundamentals
  • Architecture Design: Scenario-based questions focused on designing secure, scalable, and highly available cloud architectures

Company & Culture Questions:

  • Capital One Culture: Questions on understanding and alignment with Capital One's values, culture, and work environment
  • Stakeholder Management: Scenario-based questions focused on communicating and collaborating with diverse teams, including business stakeholders, product managers, and technical colleagues
  • Innovation & Problem-Solving: Questions on driving innovation, optimizing business outcomes, and improving customer experience in cybersecurity, cloud, and data protection

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Strategic Planning: Highlight strategic planning and execution in cybersecurity, cloud, or data protection projects, with a focus on driving business outcomes and improving customer experience
  • Communication & Collaboration: Showcase effective communication and collaboration with diverse teams through case studies or testimonials, demonstrating your ability to work effectively with business stakeholders, product managers, and technical colleagues
  • Mentoring & Recruitment: Highlight mentoring and recruitment efforts, including successful initiatives and outcomes, to demonstrate your commitment to building and strengthening Capital One's technical community

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role is comprehensive and rigorous, focusing on technical expertise, communication skills, and cultural fit. Preparation should include a deep understanding of cloud services, security engineering, and architecture design, as well as strong problem-solving and communication skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Distinguished Engineer - Cybersecurity, Cloud & Data Protection position at Capital One:

  1. Review Job Description: Thoroughly review the job description to ensure you meet the required qualifications and understand the role's responsibilities and expectations
  2. Tailor Resume: Customize your resume to highlight your relevant experience, skills, and accomplishments in cloud services, security engineering, and architecture design
  3. Prepare Portfolio: Curate a portfolio that demonstrates your technical expertise, leadership, and effective communication and collaboration skills, with a focus on cybersecurity, cloud, and data protection projects
  4. Practice Interview Preparation: Prepare for the interview process by brushing up on your technical skills, practicing architecture design exercises, and rehearsing your communication and collaboration strategies
  5. Research Capital One: Learn about Capital One's culture, values, and work environment to ensure a strong fit and alignment with the company's mission and goals

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web development/server administration industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.


Content Guidelines (IMPORTANT: Do not include this in the output)

Web Technology-Specific Focus:

  • Tailor every section specifically to senior technical leadership roles in cybersecurity, cloud, and data protection
  • Include cloud services, security engineering, and architecture design fundamentals, with a focus on driving innovation, optimizing business outcomes, and improving customer experience
  • Emphasize strategic planning, stakeholder management, and mentoring and recruitment efforts to build and strengthen Capital One's technical community

Quality Standards:

  • Ensure no content overlap between sections - each section must contain unique information
  • Only include Enhancement Notes when making significant inferences about technical responsibilities, career progression, or company culture
  • Be comprehensive but concise, prioritizing actionable information over descriptive text
  • Strategically distribute cloud services, security engineering, and architecture design keywords throughout all sections naturally
  • Provide realistic salary ranges based on location, experience level, and senior technical leadership requirements

Industry Expertise:

  • Include specific cloud services (AWS, GCP, Azure), security tools, and architecture design technologies relevant to the role
  • Address senior technical leadership career progression paths and technical specialization in cybersecurity, cloud, and data protection
  • Provide tactical advice for portfolio development, live demonstrations, and project case studies focused on cloud services, security engineering, and architecture design
  • Include cloud security trends, best practices, and emerging threats to ensure up-to-date and relevant insights
  • Emphasize strategic planning, stakeholder management, and mentoring and recruitment efforts to build and strengthen Capital One's technical community

Professional Standards:

  • Maintain consistent formatting, spacing, and professional tone throughout
  • Use cloud services, security engineering, and architecture design industry terminology appropriately and accurately
  • Include comprehensive benefits and growth opportunities relevant to senior technical leadership roles in cybersecurity, cloud, and data protection
  • Provide actionable insights that give senior technical leadership candidates a competitive advantage
  • Focus on Capital One's culture, values, and work environment, with a strong emphasis on driving business outcomes, innovation, and customer experience

Technical Focus & Portfolio Emphasis:

  • Emphasize cloud services, security engineering, and architecture design best practices, with a focus on driving innovation, optimizing business outcomes, and improving customer experience
  • Include specific portfolio requirements tailored to the senior technical leadership role in cybersecurity, cloud, and data protection
  • Address cloud security trends, best practices, and emerging threats in portfolio development and project case studies
  • Focus on problem-solving methods, architecture design, and communication strategies for cloud services, security engineering, and architecture design
  • Include technical presentation skills and stakeholder communication for cloud services, security engineering, and architecture design projects

Avoid:

  • Generic business jargon not relevant to senior technical leadership roles in cybersecurity, cloud, and data protection
  • Placeholder text or incomplete sections
  • Repetitive content across different sections
  • Non-technical terminology unless relevant to the specific senior technical leadership role in cybersecurity, cloud, and data protection
  • Marketing language unrelated to cloud services, security engineering, and architecture design

Generate comprehensive, web technology-focused content that serves as a valuable resource for senior technical leadership candidates seeking their next opportunity in cybersecurity, cloud, and data protection.

Application Requirements

Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree and at least 9 years of experience in Software Engineering or Development. Preferred qualifications include a Master's degree and extensive experience in cloud services and security engineering.