Senior Cloud and Application Security Engineer

Ryan Specialty is looking for a Senior Cloud and Application Security Engineer to join our Chicago, IL team. We are a fast paced, energetic and rapidly growing organization that offers a great opportunity for someone interested in further developing their career. Ryan Specialty has been named one of America’s Most Loved Workplaces by Newsweek, and has been named 2023 Top Insurance Employer by Insurance Business America.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a proactive and collaborative Senior Cloud and Application Security Engineer to integrate security measures into every phase of our cloud and application development lifecycle. The ideal candidate will champion security best practices and foster a culture of security awareness within the organization. Responsibilities include developing automated security solutions to enhance efficiency and response capabilities, designing and managing security protocols for cloud infrastructure, and enforcing security guidelines for Infrastructure as Code (IaC). The role requires securing containerized environments, partnering with DevOps for CI/CD pipeline security, and leading security initiatives alongside the Senior Application Security Engineer. The Senior Cloud and Application Security Engineer will also maintain application security standards, stay updated on emerging security threats, and proactively investigate potential risks. An action-oriented mindset and strong relationship-building skills are essential to drive information security forward effectively.

Essential Functions:

• Collaborate with IT, development, and operations teams to embed security into every aspect of the cloud and application security lifecycle
• Advocate for security best practices, raising awareness and driving a security-first culture across the organization
• Develop and implement automated security solutions to streamline security processes, improve efficiency, and enhance response capabilities
• Collaborate with architecture and IT to design, implement, and manage security measures for our cloud environments
• Develop and enforce security best practices for Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to ensure secure deployment and configuration management
• Secure containerized environments, including Docker and Kubernetes, and ensure compliance with security benchmarks
• Partner with DevOps teams to integrate security into the CI/CD pipeline for container deployment and management
• Along with the Senior Application Security Engineer, lead application security initiatives, including secure code reviews, vulnerability assessments, and web application penetration testing
• Develop and maintain application security standards and guidelines, ensuring they are integrated into the software development lifecycle
• Stay abreast of the latest security threats, trends, and technologies, especially in cloud, IaC, and container environments
• Proactively identify and investigate security threats by analyzing security logs, conducting threat hunting exercises, and implementing advanced detection mechanisms
• Continuously evaluate and improve security tools and processes to address evolving security
• Be action oriented, demonstrating high energy and an action-oriented approach to challenging work tasks, with a willingness to act swiftly and with minimal planning when opportunities arise.
• Build strong peer relationships by finding common ground and fostering problem-solving for mutual benefit, advocating for information security interests while remaining equitable to other groups, promoting teamwork and cooperation, and maintaining open and honest communication with colleagues.

Education/Experience/Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science/Engineering/Information Security preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in Information Security within cloud-native or SaaS technology environments
• Proficiency in cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and GCP, container orchestration tools (Kubernetes, Docker), and Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible)
• Experience in application security practices and tools, including static/dynamic analysis and familiarity with OWASP standards
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic environment
• 3-5 years of hands-on experience securing Infrastructure as Code, Application Security, and Policy as Code (PaC) using coding languages such as Python, Go, JavaScript, or YAML
• Minimum two years of experience automating and scaling CIS benchmarks or equivalent standards
• Extensive experience writing technical and business-friendly security documentation
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
• Professional certifications such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) are highly desirable

Disclaimer

Ryan Specialty is an Equal Opportunity Employer.We are committed to building, growing, and sustaining a diverse workforce that is reflective of society throughout the entirety of the organization and throughout the insurance industry.We aspire to cultivate a company that is both inclusive and equitable, where every employee is recognized and assessed based on their performance and contributions.We strive to harness our differences and commonalities to better serve our clients, trading partners, workforce, and communities.