Role Summary

JOB DESCRIPTION

American Express is seeking a highly experienced Senior Cybersecurity Engineer I to lead the design, implementation, and scaling of enterprise data security capabilities within our Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) and Data Discovery & Classification program.

This role combines deep technical expertise with team leadership, requiring a hands-on engineer who can both build and guide others in delivering scalable, integrated data security solutions. You will be responsible for advancing platform capabilities, driving integration across the enterprise, and ensuring high-quality execution across the team.

You will play a key role in shaping how American Express discovers, classifies, and protects sensitive data across both traditional and emerging data environments, including AI-driven data ecosystems.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Platform Ownership

Lead the design, implementation, and evolution of data discovery, classification, and DSPM platforms across multi-cloud and on-prem environments
Establish scalable architecture patterns and engineering standards for platform deployment and operation
Act as a senior technical authority for complex data security engineering challenges

Hands-On Engineering & Advanced Implementation

Personally contribute to the implementation, configuration, and optimization of data security platforms
Lead complex onboarding efforts for high-value or technically challenging data sources
Drive performance tuning, scalability improvements, and platform reliability

Integration Architecture & Data Flow Strategy

Own and guide integration strategies between DSPM/classification platforms and enterprise systems, including:

Data catalog platforms
ITAM / CMDB systems
SIEM / SOAR and security analytics platforms

Design and oversee API-driven and event-based architectures to enable real-time or near real-time data classification and risk propagation

Data Discovery, Classification & Emerging Data Environments

Oversee and refine classification strategies for sensitive data (PCI, PII, financial, regulated data)
Guide tuning of detection logic and classification models to improve precision and reduce noise
Lead efforts to extend discovery and classification into next-generation data creation environments, including:

LLM-driven workflows and prompt/response data flows
AI/ML pipelines and training datasets
Emerging platforms such as MCP servers and AI orchestration layers

Ensure consistent visibility, control, and risk identification across these environments

Automation, Scale & AI-Augmented Operations

Drive the design and implementation of automation frameworks for:

Data onboarding and scanning
Classification workflows
Risk detection and remediation

Champion the use of AI-assisted automation and platform-native intelligence to:

Improve operational efficiency
Reduce manual effort across the team
Enhance consistency and scalability of controls

Identify and implement opportunities to apply AI-driven techniques to improve detection quality and operational performance

Team Leadership & Mentorship

Provide day-to-day technical leadership and guidance to engineers on the team
Mentor junior and mid-level engineers, raising overall technical capability and consistency
Establish best practices, code standards, and operational excellence across the team

Cross-Functional Influence

Partner with data engineering, platform, governance, and security teams to embed data security into enterprise workflows
Act as a key technical liaison for audit, compliance, and risk stakeholders
Influence roadmaps and priorities through technical expertise and data-driven insights

Why This Role Matters

This role is critical to scaling American Express data security capabilities across the enterprise. You will help define and deliver the next generation of DSPM and data classification capabilities—ensuring sensitive data is protected across both traditional systems and emerging AI-driven environments.

Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with DSPM or data security platforms such as BigID, Securiti, Varonis, Spirion, or similar
Experience leading large-scale platform implementations or transformations
Familiarity with metadata management and data governance ecosystems
Experience in financial services or other highly regulated environments
Exposure to DevSecOps, infrastructure-as-code, and advanced automation frameworks
Experience working with or tuning ML/NLP-based classification capabilities
Exposure to securing AI/ML or GenAI-driven data environments

Leadership & Mindset Expectations

Strong technical leader who leads by example through hands-on engineering
Systems thinker with the ability to design for scale, integration, and long-term sustainability
Proven ability to mentor and elevate team capability
Practical and outcome-focused approach to leveraging AI and automation
Comfortable operating in complex, evolving environments with high expectations

About Us

At American Express, our culture is built on a 175-year history of innovation, shared values and Leadership Behaviors, and an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities, and colleagues. From delivering differentiated products to providing world-class customer service, we operate with a strong risk mindset, ensuring we continue to uphold our brand promise of trust, security, and service.

As part of Team Amex, you'll experience our powerful backing with comprehensive support for your holistic well-being and many opportunities to learn new skills, develop as a leader, and grow your career. Here, your voice and ideas matter, your work makes an impact, and together, you will help us define the future of American Express.

About The Team

We back you with benefits that support your holistic well-being so you can be and deliver your best. This means caring for you and your loved ones physical, financial, and mental health, as well as providing the flexibility you need to thrive personally and professionally:

Competitive base salaries
Bonus incentives
Support for financial-well-being and retirement
Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits (depending on location)
Flexible working model with hybrid, onsite or virtual arrangements depending on role and business need
Generous paid parental leave policies (depending on your location)
Free access to global on-site wellness centers staffed with nurses and doctors (depending on location)
Free and confidential counseling support through our Healthy Minds program
Career development and training opportunities

American Express is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, or any other status protected by law.

Offer of employment with American Express is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations.

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