Staff Security Assurance Engineer

P-1528 As a Staff Security Assurance Engineer within the Security Assurance Team, you will help lead high-visibility security compliance implementation initiatives. Reporting directly to the Senior Director, you will serve as a strategic catalyst for these programs, ensuring seamless execution and alignment with Databricks’ global security objectives. You will navigate a complex, cloud-native landscape, collaborating with Security, IT, Engineering, Internal Audit, Corporate Operations, and other teams, to assure successful completion of highly cross-functional projects that enable the growth of our business and safeguard our customers. This role requires an active Top Secret Clearance, the ability to access and work within a SCIF environment, and residence within the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The impact you will have: Drive Project Outcomes: Adopt an ownership mindset to manage the end-to-end delivery of work required for new security certifications, federal authorizations, and compliance initiatives that expand Databricks’ reach across regulated and government markets. Accelerate Execution: Act as a force multiplier by proactively identifying and neutralizing project blockers, reducing friction, and maintaining high velocity in a cloud-native environment. Orchestrate Cross-Functional Decision Making: Navigate complex technical and compliance trade-offs, driving consensus across Engineering, IT, Product, and Security teams to reach timely resolutions. Optimize Delivery Methodologies: Continuously refine project frameworks to maximize effectiveness, ensuring that security initiatives are both rigorous and agile. Precision Program Management: Masterfully oversee project lifecycles—including milestones, dependencies, and risk mitigation—while providing executive-level transparency through accurate status reporting. Build Strategic Partnerships: Forge deep, collaborative relationships with Security Assurance Team subject matter experts and technical stakeholders to ensure seamless alignment on security goals. What we look for: We are looking for a professional with the following skills and practical experience in: Active Top Secret (TS) Clearance with the ability to access and work within a SCIF environment. Location Requirement: Must be located in, or willing to relocate to, the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Proven Expertise: 7+ years of experience (with Bachelor’s degree or 5+ years with advanced degree) in security and technical program/project management. Ideally, at a fast-paced, cloud-native organization. Strategic Ownership: Demonstrated success in leading high-stakes security compliance initiatives (e.g., FedRAMP, DoD IL5/IL6, NIST 800-53, CMMC, PCI, HIPAA) from inception to authorization or market. Complexity Management: Experience navigating projects with intricate technical dependencies, multiple stakeholders, and competing constraints with geo-distributed teams. Executive Presence: Ability to influence and communicate effectively across the spectrum, from deep-dive technical discussions with engineers to high-level briefings for senior leadership and government stakeholders. Agility & Continuous Learning: A proven track record of rapidly mastering new processes, methodologies, technologies, and security frameworks to meet evolving business needs. Communication Excellence: Superb verbal and written skills, with a knack for translating complex project data into clear, actionable insights and documentation. Educational Foundation: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related technical field (or equivalent practical experience). Federal Experience Preferred: Experience supporting U.S. Government, Defense, Intelligence Community, or other highly regulated environments is strongly preferred. About Databricks Databricks is the Data and AI company. More than 20,000 organizations worldwide — including adidas, AT&T, Bayer, Block, Mastercard, Rivian, Unilever, and 70% of the Fortune 500 —…