Assoc. Dir , Cybersecurity Engineering

Merck • Upper Gwynedd Township, PA

22h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director for Product Security Platform Engineering will lead, build, and mature the security tooling ecosystem supporting application security, cloud security guardrails, SDLC security automation, vulnerability intelligence, and enterprise‑wide developer enablement.
This role serves as a technical and strategic leader working closely with Product Security leadership and platform engineering teams to ensure security capabilities are scalable, measurable, developer‑friendly, and aligned to enterprise security strategy.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in cybersecurity engineering, DevSecOps, platform engineering, cloud security, or application security.
• Deep experience with at least two of: SAST, SCA, DAST, cloud security platforms, Containers, vulnerability management tooling, logging/telemetry, or CI/CD integration.
• Strong engineering background (Python, Java, automation frameworks, cloud-native architectures).
• Experience deploying enterprise‑scale security platforms and integrating them into engineering ecosystems.
• Proven leadership experience managing teams or large cross‑functional initiatives.
• Accountability
• API Platforms
• Application Security
• Backlog Management
• Cloud Security
• Computer Science
• Cybersecurity
• Cybersecurity Operations
• Data Protection
• Delivery of Security Applications
• Design Applications
• DevOps Coaching
• Distributed Systems
• Event Driven Architecture (EDA)
• Influence
• Information Security
• Information Systems Management
• Mentorship
• Security Governance
• Security Reviews
• SLA Management
• Supply Change Management
• System Designs
• Technical Advice

Nice To Haves

• Experience embedded security controls in the developer workflow.
• Experience with AWS/Azure/GCP/Alibaba cloud guardrails.
• Background in distributed systems, API platforms, and event-driven architectures.
• Experience collaborating with globally distributed engineering teams.
• Bachelor's or Advanced degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or related field.
• Relevant certifications (CISSP, CCSK, GIAC, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Platform Engineering & Security Tooling
• Lead design, development, and scaling of product security platforms, including integrating application scanners and cloud-native security guardrails.
• Integrate security controls into CI/CD pipelines, provisioning workflows, and developer platforms
• Drive automation/AI and orchestration to reduce manual security review overhead.
• Security Governance & Architecture
• Translate enterprise security policies and standards into enforceable platform capabilities.
• Partner with architecture, Cloud, DevOps, and product teams to integrate secure‑by‑design principles into engineering workflows.
• Operational Management & Metrics
• Establish platform KPIs, KRIs, and adoption metrics; enable reporting for risk reviews, leadership updates, and regulatory needs.
• Oversee platform operations, including performance, availability, team processes, backlog management, vendor management, and escalations.
• Team Leadership & Talent Development
• Lead a team of platform engineers and security specialists.
• Provide mentorship, career development, and continuous learning opportunities
• Cultivate a culture of engineering excellence, automation, and measurable security outcomes.
• Cross‑Functional Engagement
• Work closely with product lines, cloud engineering, DevOps, and enterprise security teams to drive adoption of platform capabilities.
• Act as a trusted technical advisor to internal teams.

Benefits

• The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director