Jobs › CME Group

Staff/Lead Security Engineer - PAM

CME Group · Chicago, IL · $132,100–$220,100 a year · Full time

Posted Aug 19, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 4, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a PAM outage or incident you troubleshot during an on-call shift.

What they are checking: Whether they have real hands-on troubleshooting depth and stay calm when access is broken at night.

Tell me about a project you led across infrastructure, app and audit teams. How did you keep it on track?

What they are checking: Project leadership, which the posting names along with engineering and support.

What would you do

How would you raise compliance with PAM standards across teams that see it as friction?

What they are checking: Ability to drive adoption by making the secure path the easy one.

A trading system team needs emergency admin access during market hours. What's your process?

What they are checking: Balancing security controls with business continuity at a critical exchange.

About the work

Walk me through how you'd plan a move from on-premises CyberArk to Privilege Cloud or ISPSS.

What they are checking: Whether they can migrate a critical security system without breaking access or coverage.

How do you find privileged accounts that aren't onboarded into the PAM system?

What they are checking: Discovery skill, since unmanaged privileged accounts are where breaches happen.

How do you manage service accounts and application credentials differently from human admin accounts?

What they are checking: Understanding of secrets management and rotation for non-human identities.

How does just-in-time access change the way you'd design privileged access?

What they are checking: Whether they know modern approaches that remove standing admin rights and grant access only when needed.

How do PAM, federation, MFA and identity lifecycle management fit together?

What they are checking: Whether they see the whole IAM picture beyond one tool.

How do you evaluate a new identity product before recommending it?

What they are checking: A disciplined approach to product evaluation and proof of concept.

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The full job description

As published by CME Group.

The primary responsibility of the Staff/Lead Security Engineer position will be the continued evolution and advancement of our Privileged Account Management (PAM) program. This includes improvements in both infrastructure, such as driving the adoption of CyberArk/Idira ISPSS and Privileged Cloud, and working to identify opportunities to increase compliance with our standards through better management and usage of our account inventory. This is a multifaceted position that requires engineering, support and project leadership abilities. Additionally, the position will be involved in the support of other IAM-related technologies such as directory services, federation, multifactor authentication (MFA), identity lifecycle management, and identity visibility and intelligence. As this space is constantly evolving, a passion for technology and a strong focus on continued learning will be key to success. Position Responsibilities: • Lead the design, implementation, and support of highly automated and reliable PAM solutions • Identify gaps in existing PAM coverage, design solutions and lead remediation efforts • Research emerging trends and tools and perform product evaluations • Produce and contribute to roadmaps and project plans for PAM or larger IAM efforts • Provide advanced incident troubleshooting and participate in on-call rotation and disaster recovery tests • Proactively identify and automate existing manual tasks • Develop processes, guidelines and documentation for consumption by internal teams • Assist teams in identifying, properly storing and using their credentials • Provide guidance and mentorship for junior staff Minimum Requirements: Knowledge, skills, and abilities: • 7+ years of proven experience with CyberArk/Idira • Hands-on experience designing, deploying and supporting large-scale CyberArk/Idira implementations • Strong familiarity with one or more of the following IAM areas: • Directory services • Identity lifecycle management • Federation / MFA • Identity Visibility and Intelligence • Expertise in both Windows and Linux environments • Familiarity or expertise in cloud technologies and platforms a plus • Ability to create scripts in either PowerShell or Python • Familiarity with devops, containerized workloads and associated tooling and technologies a plus • Strong familiarity with security issues surrounding Identity and Access Management and experience in implementation of security systems and controls • Thorough knowledge of information security components, principles, practices, and procedures • Demonstrated ability to work across a broad range of technologies • Ability to succinctly articulate complex technical issues to both technicians and business sponsors • Knowledge of audit controls and applicability to IAM services architecture, design, and processes • Experience working in an Agile/Scrum and the Product Operating Model Personal Attributes: • Strong analytical, problem-solving and troubleshooting skills • High level critical thinking skills • Excellent written and oral communication skills • Ability to compose and present material that communicates difficult concepts • Positive attitude, self-starter with strong communication and interpersonal skills to lead working groups, negotiate and create consensus • Comfortable working in a dynamic environment with multiple goals • Highly self-motivated and directed, with keen attention to detail • Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment • Ability to deal diplomatically and effectively at all levels of the organization including both technical and non-technical, management and senior leadership Education & Certification • A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or Information Systems or equivalent combination of education and related work experience • CyberArk/Idira certifications or equivalent experience • GCP or similar cloud certifications a plus • Security certifications: CISSP or equivalent a plus CME Group is committed to offering a competitive total rewards package for our employees that recognizes their contributions to the business and reflects our long-term investment in their future. The pay range for this role is $132,100-$220,100. Actual salary offered will be dependent on a wide array of factors including but not limited to: relevant experience, skills, education and comparison to internal employees (where relevant). Our compensation program also includes an annual target bonus opportunity for all employees, as well as the opportunity to become an owner in the company through our broad-based equity program. Through our benefits program, we strive to offer flexibility, value and choice. From comprehensive health coverage, to a retirement package that includes both a 401(k) and an active pension plan, to highly competitive education reimbursement provisions, paid time off and a mental health benefit, CME Group offers a holistic benefits package for our team and their dependents. CME Group: Where Futures are Made CME Group is the world’s leading derivatives marketplace. But who we are goes deeper than that. Here, you can impact markets worldwide. Transform industries. And build a career by shaping tomorrow. We invest in your success and you own it – all while working alongside a team of leading experts who inspire you in ways big and small. Problem solvers, difference makers, trailblazers. Those are our people. And we’re looking for more. At CME Group, we embrace our employees' unique experiences and skills to ensure that everyone’s perspectives are acknowledged and valued. As an equal-opportunity employer, we consider all potential employees without regard to any protected characteristic. Important Notice: Recruitment fraud is on the rise, with scammers using misleading promises of job offers and interviews to solicit money and personal information from job seekers. CME Group adheres to established procedures designed to maintain trust, confidence and security throughout our recruitment process. Learn more here .

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