Security Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC
Security Engineer jobs in Washington, District of Columbia are in high and consistent demand, concentrated in the Capitol Hill corridor, Foggy Bottom, and the NoMa-Union Station area across federal contracting, defense, cybersecurity consulting, and government IT. Employers actively hiring right now include Meta, Booz Allen Hamilton, and SpaceX. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 118+ Security Engineer jobs
Windows Security protects Windows from the hardware up. We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer Manager to lead the engineering organization responsible for some of the foundational technologies that establish trust across Windows devices and cloud services.
Modern platform security depends on establishing trust across the full stack, from silicon and firmware through the operating system and into cloud services. Hardware Security builds the technologies that establish and protect that trust, including Microsoft Pluton, hardware-rooted platform security capabilities, and cloud-based device attestation services.
In this role, you will lead a broad engineering organization that develops security firmware and software shipping on Windows devices, advances Microsoft Pluton as an integrated security foundation for the Windows ecosystem, and builds and operates cloud services that allow devices and services to establish and prove their security state. The team partners across Windows, Azure, Microsoft Security, silicon and device partners, and industry standards organizations to advance platform security for billions of Windows customers.
This is a highly technical leadership role at the intersection of silicon, operating systems, security, and cloud services. We are looking for a leader who can set technical direction in complex and rapidly evolving areas, develop outstanding engineering leaders and teams, and turn emerging security threats and technologies into durable protections for customers.
Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.
Responsibilities
- Lead the engineering strategy and execution for Windows Hardware Security, spanning Microsoft Pluton, hardware and firmware security, hardware-rooted platform security capabilities, and cloud-based attestation services.
- Define and drive a cohesive chip-to-cloud security architecture that connects hardware roots of trust with Windows security capabilities and cloud services.
- Advance Microsoft Pluton as a foundation for security innovation in the Windows ecosystem, working across hardware, firmware, operating system, and service boundaries to deliver new protections for customers.
- Lead the engineering and evolution of Windows attestation services, enabling devices and services to establish identity, integrity, and trusted security state using hardware-backed security signals.
- Lead the design, development, delivery, and operation of security-critical software, firmware, and services with a focus on security, reliability, scalability, performance, quality, and operational excellence.
- Partner with silicon vendors, device manufacturers, industry standards organizations, and engineering teams across Microsoft to influence hardware security architecture and bring emerging security capabilities into the Windows ecosystem.
- Identify emerging threats and technology shifts and translate them into engineering strategy, product roadmaps, and systematic security improvements.
- Drive engineering excellence across both Windows product engineering and cloud service development, including architecture, testing, telemetry, reliability, incident response, secure development, and live-site operations.
- Create clarity across complex cross-organizational initiatives, make thoughtful engineering and business tradeoffs, and drive accountability for delivering customer outcomes.
- Build, coach, and grow a high-performing organization of engineering managers and engineers, developing technical leaders and fostering a culture of curiosity, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
- Represent Microsoft and Windows Security with senior internal and external partners on critical hardware, platform security, and attestation topics.
- Leverage emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to improve engineering effectiveness, security analysis, operational efficiency, and the team's ability to respond to an evolving threat landscape.
Qualifications
Required/Minimum Qualifications:
-
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
- OR equivalent experience.
Additional or preferred qualifications
Other Requirements: Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings:
- Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.
Preferred Qualifications:
-
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 10+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, or Python.
- OR equivalent experience.
- 6+ years of people management experience leading software engineering teams.
- Experience designing, building, shipping, or operating security-critical software, operating system components, embedded systems, firmware, hardware-integrated software, or large-scale cloud services.
- Experience leading complex engineering programs involving multiple teams, organizations, or external partners.
- Experience defining technical strategy and translating that strategy into engineering execution and measurable customer outcomes.
- Experience with operating system, platform, or hardware security architecture.
- Experience with hardware roots of trust, security processors, secure boot, firmware security, cryptography, device identity, Trusted Platform Module (TPM) technologies, confidential computing, or remote attestation.
- Experience building and operating highly available cloud services with security-sensitive workloads and demanding reliability requirements.
- Experience partnering with silicon vendors, device manufacturers, standards bodies, or other technology ecosystem partners.
- Experience leading engineering managers and senior technical leaders in a multi-team organization.
- Experience responding to security vulnerabilities or incidents and translating individual findings into systematic platform improvements.
- Experience influencing technical strategy across organizational boundaries and communicating complex engineering and security topics to senior leaders.
- Experience developing inclusive teams and growing engineers and engineering leaders across career stages.
#W+DJOBS
Software Engineering M6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $165,600 - $296,400 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $220,800 - $331,200 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process.
Windows Security protects Windows from the hardware up. We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer Manager to lead the engineering organization responsible for some of the foundational technologies that establish trust across Windows devices and cloud services.
Modern platform security depends on establishing trust across the full stack, from silicon and firmware through the operating system and into cloud services. Hardware Security builds the technologies that establish and protect that trust, including Microsoft Pluton, hardware-rooted platform security capabilities, and cloud-based device attestation services.
In this role, you will lead a broad engineering organization that develops security firmware and software shipping on Windows devices, advances Microsoft Pluton as an integrated security foundation for the Windows ecosystem, and builds and operates cloud services that allow devices and services to establish and prove their security state. The team partners across Windows, Azure, Microsoft Security, silicon and device partners, and industry standards organizations to advance platform security for billions of Windows customers.
This is a highly technical leadership role at the intersection of silicon, operating systems, security, and cloud services. We are looking for a leader who can set technical direction in complex and rapidly evolving areas, develop outstanding engineering leaders and teams, and turn emerging security threats and technologies into durable protections for customers.
Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.
Responsibilities
- Lead the engineering strategy and execution for Windows Hardware Security, spanning Microsoft Pluton, hardware and firmware security, hardware-rooted platform security capabilities, and cloud-based attestation services.
- Define and drive a cohesive chip-to-cloud security architecture that connects hardware roots of trust with Windows security capabilities and cloud services.
- Advance Microsoft Pluton as a foundation for security innovation in the Windows ecosystem, working across hardware, firmware, operating system, and service boundaries to deliver new protections for customers.
- Lead the engineering and evolution of Windows attestation services, enabling devices and services to establish identity, integrity, and trusted security state using hardware-backed security signals.
- Lead the design, development, delivery, and operation of security-critical software, firmware, and services with a focus on security, reliability, scalability, performance, quality, and operational excellence.
- Partner with silicon vendors, device manufacturers, industry standards organizations, and engineering teams across Microsoft to influence hardware security architecture and bring emerging security capabilities into the Windows ecosystem.
- Identify emerging threats and technology shifts and translate them into engineering strategy, product roadmaps, and systematic security improvements.
- Drive engineering excellence across both Windows product engineering and cloud service development, including architecture, testing, telemetry, reliability, incident response, secure development, and live-site operations.
- Create clarity across complex cross-organizational initiatives, make thoughtful engineering and business tradeoffs, and drive accountability for delivering customer outcomes.
- Build, coach, and grow a high-performing organization of engineering managers and engineers, developing technical leaders and fostering a culture of curiosity, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
- Represent Microsoft and Windows Security with senior internal and external partners on critical hardware, platform security, and attestation topics.
- Leverage emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to improve engineering effectiveness, security analysis, operational efficiency, and the team's ability to respond to an evolving threat landscape.
Qualifications
Required/Minimum Qualifications:
-
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
- OR equivalent experience.
Additional or preferred qualifications
Other Requirements: Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings:
- Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.
Preferred Qualifications:
-
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 10+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, or Python.
- OR equivalent experience.
- 6+ years of people management experience leading software engineering teams.
- Experience designing, building, shipping, or operating security-critical software, operating system components, embedded systems, firmware, hardware-integrated software, or large-scale cloud services.
- Experience leading complex engineering programs involving multiple teams, organizations, or external partners.
- Experience defining technical strategy and translating that strategy into engineering execution and measurable customer outcomes.
- Experience with operating system, platform, or hardware security architecture.
- Experience with hardware roots of trust, security processors, secure boot, firmware security, cryptography, device identity, Trusted Platform Module (TPM) technologies, confidential computing, or remote attestation.
- Experience building and operating highly available cloud services with security-sensitive workloads and demanding reliability requirements.
- Experience partnering with silicon vendors, device manufacturers, standards bodies, or other technology ecosystem partners.
- Experience leading engineering managers and senior technical leaders in a multi-team organization.
- Experience responding to security vulnerabilities or incidents and translating individual findings into systematic platform improvements.
- Experience influencing technical strategy across organizational boundaries and communicating complex engineering and security topics to senior leaders.
- Experience developing inclusive teams and growing engineers and engineering leaders across career stages.
#W+DJOBS
Software Engineering M6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $165,600 - $296,400 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $220,800 - $331,200 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process.
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Find Security Engineer JobsSecurity Engineer Job Market in Washington
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- Technology & Software
Security Engineer Jobs in Washington: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a security engineer job in Washington?
Washington's security engineer market is heavily shaped by federal contracting and defense, so holding an active security clearance, even at the Secret level, puts you ahead of most candidates immediately. Target the dense cluster of contractors and agencies concentrated around the Capitol Hill corridor, Foggy Bottom, and the Pentagon-adjacent Virginia fringe. Certifications like CISSP, CEH, or CompTIA Security+ carry real weight with federal prime contractors and civilian agency IT shops hiring here.
Which companies hire security engineers in Washington?
Employers hiring security engineers in Washington right now include Meta, Booz Allen Hamilton, and SpaceX, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Washington's hiring pool is dominated by federal prime contractors, defense integrators, civilian agency IT offices, and a growing cluster of cybersecurity-focused consultancies that serve both government and private-sector clients in the region.
Are there remote security engineer jobs in Washington?
Yes, though availability depends heavily on the role: desk-based work like threat analysis, security architecture review, and SOC monitoring is far more remote-friendly than hands-on network hardening or cleared government positions, which almost always require on-site presence. About 83% of security engineer openings tied to Washington are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with hybrid schedules most common among commercial-sector employers and consultancies in the NoMa and Downtown DC corridors.
How can I get a security engineer job in Washington with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Washington is targeting junior analyst or associate security engineer roles at mid-tier federal contractors, which often have formal development pipelines and will sponsor candidates through clearance adjudication. Local employers tied to agencies like DHS and DoD frequently hire entry-level candidates with CompTIA Security+ and a relevant degree, using those roles as a feeder into higher-clearance positions. Internship programs at Washington-area contractors are also a practical on-ramp.
Which industries hire the most security engineers in Washington?
The sectors hiring the most security engineers in Washington are Technology & Software, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Washington's unique concentration of federal agencies, defense contractors, and policy-adjacent technology firms creates sustained demand that is largely insulated from the private-sector hiring cycles that affect other major markets.
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