Lead Software Engineer, Data Protection

About the role

The Lead Software Engineer, Data Protection role at Capital One is dedicated to building and pioneering in the technology space, solving complex security and data protection problems in a fast-paced, collaborative, inclusive, and iterative delivery environment. This role involves leading the design and build of platform services that centralize data protection policies, findings routing and scoring, and enforcement across the DLP program.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and build of platform services that centralize how data protection policies are authored, how findings are routed and scored, and how enforcement is applied across the DLP program, working in vertical slices that span schema, API, deployment automation, and production validation to create solutions that help meet regulatory needs for the company
• Share your passion for staying on top of tech trends, experimenting with and learning new technologies, participating in internal and external technology communities, mentoring other members of the engineering community, and contributing to architectural decisions on data modeling, service boundaries, event design, and operational strategy
• Collaborate with digital product managers, security partners, and DLP policy experts, and deliver robust cloud-based platform services that produce consistent, auditable outputs across vendors and channels and satisfy regulatory examination
• Utilize programming languages like Go, Python, TypeScript, and SQL, schema validation systems including CUE and JSON Schema, Open Source RDBMS and NoSQL databases (PostgreSQL/Aurora), Container Orchestration services including Docker and ECS Fargate, and a variety of AWS tools and services including Lambda, Step Functions, EventBridge, and CDK

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree
• At least 4 years of experience in software engineering (Internship experience does not apply)
• At least 1 year experience with cloud computing (AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud)
• Master's Degree
• 7+ years of experience in at least one of the following: Python, Java, TypeScript, JavaScript, or SQL
• 3+ years of experience with AWS, GCP, Microsoft Azure, or another cloud service
• 4+ years of experience in open source frameworks
• 2+ years of experience in Agile practices
• 2+ years of experience building production systems in cybersecurity, data protection, data engineering, or platform engineering in a regulated or security-sensitive environment
• 1+ years of experience with schema validation systems (CUE, JSON Schema, or equivalent constraint languages)
• 1+ years of experience designing and building event-driven architectures or pipeline systems
• 1+ years of experience with infrastructure as code (CDK, Terraform, or CloudFormation)
• 1+ years of experience programmatically implementing data protection or security controls: detection logic, classification systems, enforcement automation, or false positive reduction through code
• 1+ years of experience with shipping new platforms from inception to production
• 1+ years of experience accelerating development using AI coding agents (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Claude Code) and modern developer workflows
• AWS or security certifications

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• At least 4 years of experience in software engineering (Internship experience does not apply)
• At least 1 year experience with cloud computing (AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud)
• Master's Degree
• 7+ years of experience in at least one of the following: Python, Java, TypeScript, JavaScript, or SQL
• 3+ years of experience with AWS, GCP, Microsoft Azure, or another cloud service
• 4+ years of experience in open source frameworks
• 2+ years of experience in Agile practices
• 2+ years of experience building production systems in cybersecurity, data protection, data engineering, or platform engineering in a regulated or security-sensitive environment
• 1+ years of experience with schema validation systems (CUE, JSON Schema, or equivalent constraint languages)
• 1+ years of experience designing and building event-driven architectures or pipeline systems
• 1+ years of experience with infrastructure as code (CDK, Terraform, or CloudFormation)
• 1+ years of experience programmatically implementing data protection or security controls: detection logic, classification systems, enforcement automation, or false positive reduction through code
• 1+ years of experience with shipping new platforms from inception to production
• 1+ years of experience accelerating development using AI coding agents (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Claude Code) and modern developer workflows
• AWS or security certifications

Skills

• Programming languages like Go, Python, TypeScript, and SQL
• Schemas validation systems including CUE and JSON Schema
• Open Source RDBMS and NoSQL databases (PostgreSQL/Aurora)
• Container Orchestration services including Docker and ECS Fargate
• AWS tools and services including Lambda, Step Functions, EventBridge, and CDK

Benefits

Capital One offers a comprehensive, competitive, and inclusive set of health, financial, and other benefits that support your total well-being.

Pay

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount Capital One is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.

McLean, VA: $197,300 - $225,100 for Lead Software Engineer

Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.

This role is also eligible to earn performance based incentive compensation, which may include cash bonus(es) and/or long term incentives (LTI). Incentives could be discretionary or non-discretionary depending on the plan.

Schedule

Full-time

Location

McLean, Virginia