Security Lead Software Engineer
Mcmastercarr · Chicago, IL (Elmhurst) · Posted Jun 17, 2026
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About the job
Who We Are
McMaster‑Carr is a leading e‑commerce company that industrial customers have trusted for more than 120 years. Our products help customers restore manufacturing lines quickly, keep operations running smoothly, and prototype the next generation of innovative products.
We earn that trust by offering the right products, making them easy to find, and delivering them fast--so customers can solve problems with speed, precision, and confidence. This role is a pathway to senior engineering management and technical leadership—your growth is determined by your impact, not by tenure.
Our Culture
We intentionally cultivate a culture focused on clear execution and long‑term growth. We are responsible for securing systems that endure for decades and support the company’s long-term growth. That responsibility means engineering work starts with a deep understanding of the problem and its impact, grounded in clear ownership, open communication, and direct feedback. Our teams are trusted to make thoughtful decisions about how work gets done, balancing a high bar for quality with practical execution.
How You’ll Make an Impact
Our security engineering team protects the entirety of our IT and OT infrastructure: thousands of end-user devices across multiple facilities, automation equipment in distribution facilities, network devices and servers in company data centers, and our customer-facing eCommerce experience. You’ll identify, define and lead work to reduce the risks we face as a company.
As a Lead Security Engineer, you’ll work on projects like:
Detection, Response, and Risk Prioritization: Building and improving detection and response capabilities and assessing vulnerabilities in context-- understanding which issues pose real risk in our environment and prioritizing remediation accordingly.
Security Engineering Automation: Developing custom security tooling, automation, and response playbooks that improve response speed and reduce operational noise. Designing scalable, maintainable security workflows that integrate cleanly with existing engineering systems.
Cloud Infrastructure Security: Designing and implementing scalable cloud security controls as we migrate and modernize our infrastructure, and researching and evaluating new security solutions.
Innovation Emerging Technologies: Experimenting with LLM-driven workflows for security analysis and automation.
What You Bring
We’re looking for a hands-on security engineer who thrives in complex environments and enjoys solving challenging, ambiguous problems. Our ideal candidate will have:
Hands-on experience in security operations, including detection, response, and vulnerability management.
A thoughtful, analytical approach to prioritizing real-world risks.
Experience with both offensive and defensive security techniques
A strong foundation in network security, server administration or vulnerability management.
Scripting ability in PowerShell or Python
Technologies We Use
Security, Monitoring Vulnerability Management: Splunk, Tenable, Carbon Black, Symantec, Active Directory/Entra ID, ForeScout, Proofpoint, Checkpoint, Wireshark, tcpdump
Scripting: Python, PowerShell
Infrastructure: Azure, Linux, Kubernetes, Cisco ACI, GitLab, VMWare, Linux
LLMs: Copilot, OpenAI, Gemini, Claude
Cash Compensation
Total cash compensation is generally around $235,000 to $310,000 and includes a profit sharing based on company profitability.
You will also receive a relocation stipend (if applicable) and signing bonus.
Benefits
Growth Learning
100% tuition reimbursement
Informal and formal mentorship
Employee resource groups
Health Wellbeing
Medical, dental, pharmacy, and vision plans with no monthly premiums
Inclusive, all-gender benefits
Family Future
Paid parental leave for all new parents
Adoption and surrogacy assistance
First-time home buyer assistance
Industry-leading company-funded retirement accounts
Time Off
Paid vacation and personal time
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees a workplace with reasonable accommodations and free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. At McMaster-Carr, we do not make employment decisions based on age, ethnicity, citizenship status, military status, gender identity and expression, race, religion, disability status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected group.
This position is not eligible for work authorization sponsorship by McMaster-Carr.
Data We Collect
We may collect professional, education and employment-related data, and any assessments made throughout the recruiting process, to evaluate candidacy for employment. To communicate with job applicants, we may collect applicant names, contact information, and other personal identifiers, including those outlined in the California customer records statute. Through voluntary disclosure, we may also collect protected classificati…