Director of Data Protection Engineering

Job#: 3058271

Job Description:

Director of Data Protection Engineering

Location: Jersey City, New Jersey OR Tampa, FL OR Coppell, TX (Hybrid)

Role Overview

Our organization is seeking a Director of Data Protection Engineering to deliver technical leadership for the engineering and evolution of enterprise-wide data protection capabilities. This individual will steer the architecture, engineering, and integration of technical controls that secure sensitive data across endpoints, email, cloud, SaaS, applications, APIs, and emerging artificial intelligence environments. Operating as a player-coach, this leader must combine deep security engineering expertise with hands-on technical acumen to manage team engineers and design standardized, consistent policies across all egress channels.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and strategic direction to establish data protection as a robust engineering capability.
• Define and evolve the target-state architecture for protecting sensitive data across enterprise, cloud, and artificial intelligence environments.
• Lead the hands-on engineering, integration, and automation of core capabilities, including data classification, labeling, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), and Data Security Posture Management (DSPM).
• Set consistent DLP design standards across email, cloud, web, and SaaS, translating those designs into functional, keyboard-level detection rules for secrets and cryptographic keys.
• Direct Microsoft Purview Information Protection configurations, prioritizing sensitive data taxonomy and automated labeling implementations.
• Engineer policy-based enforcements and integrations using API gateways, security services, and automation to reduce reliance on manual configuration.
• Collaborate with Enterprise Architecture, Cybersecurity, and platform teams to embed data protection controls seamlessly into modern technology solutions.
• Manage, develop, and mentor internal security engineers, fostering a strong engineering discipline and reducing vendor-specific dependencies.
• Document and defend every configuration change, architecture decision, and initiative priority within a highly regulated environment.
• Evaluate security technologies and vendors (such as Zscaler, Proofpoint, and DSPM tools like BigID or Varonis) based on scalability, effectiveness, and architectural fit.

Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Cyber Security, Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Five to eight or more years of experience in security engineering, platform engineering, software engineering, or security architecture. Experience in financial services or another highly regulated industry is required, including a proven background in establishing engineering rigor and defensible documentation. Experience building, leading, and developing engineering teams is necessary.

Technical Skills: Deep expertise in Microsoft Purview, particularly Information Protection, data taxonomy, and automated data labeling. Demonstrated experience configuring DLP policies across multiple egress channels, including email, cloud, and web. Strong knowledge of modern engineering practices, including infrastructure as code, CI/CD, APIs, and cloud-native environments. Understanding of security risks and controls related to artificial intelligence and large language models.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with data masking, tokenization, secure browser controls, or email security technologies.
• Knowledge of complementary security architectures, including malware protection, network security, and compensating controls.
• Relevant security certifications such as OSP, OSWE, OSWA, or related credentials.
• Experience managing internal data protection capabilities alongside external advisory or consulting partners.

Everforth Apex is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Everforth Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRateds Best of Staffing in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work in the United Kingdom and Mexico.

Everforth Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click here for more details. By applying for this job, you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages, or emails from Everforth Apex and its affiliates, and contracted partners. Frequency varies for text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You can reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. You can access our privacy policy at https://www.apexsystems.com/privacy-policy

Everforth Apex Benefits Overview: Everforth Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Everforth Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Everforth Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Everforth Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our 'Welcome Packet' as well, which an Everforth Apex team member can provide.

Everforth Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Everforth Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law.

If you require an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act to participate in an interview with a virtual recruiter or to use our website for a search or application, please contact our Benefits Department at [email protected] or 804-523-8228. Please note that this contact information is strictly to be used for medical ADA accommodations and that no other inquiries will be answered.

UnitedHealthcare creates and publishes the Transparency in Coverage Machine-Readable Files on behalf of Everforth Apex Systems.

Employee Type:

Contract

Location:

Jersey City, NJ, US

Job Type:

Date Posted:

November 4, 2026

Pay Range:

$85 - $105 per hour

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