Engineering Manager - Security Standards and Hardening

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps.

Our partner is looking for a Engineering Manager - Security Standards and Hardening based in Italy.

This is a high-impact engineering leadership opportunity focused on strengthening security standards across a widely used open-source technology ecosystem.

You will lead a team of engineers responsible for developing and applying rigorous security practices across operating systems, cloud infrastructure, edge environments, and modern software platforms.

The role combines people leadership with deep technical involvement in security standards, system hardening, cryptographic modules, and compliance requirements.

You will help customers and engineering teams meet demanding frameworks such as FIPS, CIS, STIG, Fed RAMP, and the Cyber Resilience Act.

Working with internal teams and external industry partners, you will influence how secure software deployments are designed, validated, and maintained.

The position offers significant scope to shape engineering practices, develop technical talent, and drive initiatives that protect millions of users worldwide.

This role is ideal for an experienced security engineering leader who combines strong technical judgment with a passion for developing people and advancing open-source security.

• Accountabilities
• Lead, develop, and support a team of engineers ranging from graduate-level to senior professionals.
• Coach team members, provide career guidance, and deliver actionable feedback to support professional growth.
• Establish and monitor team health indicators while fostering a high-performing, collaborative engineering culture.
• Implement disciplined engineering processes and promote effective organizational and technical practices.
• Represent the team and its products with internal stakeholders, customers, industry partners, and the broader open-source community.
• Plan and manage progress against engineering goals, projects, and agreed deliverables.
• Support products and customers in meeting rigorous security requirements and industry standards, including FIPS, CIS, STIG, Fed RAMP, and the Cyber Resilience Act.
• Lead and support initiatives involving cryptographic modules, FIPS 140 requirements, and system hardening.
• Collaborate with industry organizations and security partners to advance secure operating system deployments and compliance practices.
• Guide engineering teams in adopting security best practices and maintaining high standards of software quality and security.
• Identify opportunities to improve engineering workflows, collaboration, delivery practices, and organizational effectiveness.
• Ensure projects remain aligned with priorities while maintaining timely, high-quality delivery.

Requirements

• Proven experience leading and developing engineering teams, with a strong track record of coaching and growing technical talent.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, STEM, or a comparable technical discipline, or a compelling record demonstrating equivalent expertise.
• Significant professional experience working with FIPS- or Common Criteria-certified products and strong knowledge of the underlying security standards.
• Hands-on experience with DISA STIG or CIS benchmarks, including audit, remediation, and compliance tooling such as Compliance as Code.
• Strong knowledge of and passion for software security, application security, and secure engineering practices.
• Experience working in an Agile software development environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities, with a demonstrated capacity to prioritize competing initiatives and consistently deliver results.
• Professional and collaborative approach when working with colleagues, customers, partners, and the open-source community.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust, establish strong relationships, and provide confident technical and organizational leadership.
• Strong drive for continuous learning and staying current with evolving security threats, standards, and technologies.
• High level of ownership, initiative, and commitment to achieving agreed objectives.
• Ability to travel approximately twice per year for company events lasting up to two weeks.
• Knowledge of Linux cryptography libraries such as Open SSL or Gnu TLS is a plus.
• Strong academic performance and evidence of consistently exceeding expectations are valued.

Benefits

• Globally distributed work environment with opportunities for in-person team sprints twice per year.
• Performance-driven annual bonus in addition to base compensation.
• Annual compensation reviews based on factors including location, experience, and performance.
• Personal learning and development budget of

USD 2,000 per year .

• Recognition and rewards programs.
• Annual holiday leave.
• Maternity and paternity leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Opportunities to travel internationally and meet colleagues in different locations.
• Priority Pass access and travel upgrades for long-haul company events.
• Opportunity to lead security initiatives with global impact across open-source infrastructure.
• Significant influence over engineering standards, security practices, and team development.
• Exposure to evolving security frameworks, cryptography, system hardening, cloud infrastructure, and open-source technologies.
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