Sr Manager – Infrastructure… at United Airlines · Chicago

Connecting People. Uniting the World. There’s never been a more exciting time to join United Airlines! As a global company that operates in hundreds of locations around the world — with millions of customers and tens of thousands of employees — we have a unique responsibility to uplift and provide opportunities in the places where we work, live and fly.

We’re on a path to becoming the best airline in aviation history. Join our Cybersecurity and Digital Risk (CDR) team to help lead the industry in cyber safety, security and resilience. United's CDR team plays a critical role in protecting our operations by enabling secure and resilient systems, managing threats and vulnerabilities, and ensuring swift response and recovery. Our mission is to seamlessly embed cybersecurity and digital risk management into every aspect of our business. We help drive progress and growth through trusted digital solutions, safeguarding assets and empowering our team, all while promoting a cyber-safe and secure environment that supports resilient airline operations.

United offers a competitive benefits package aimed at keeping you happy, healthy, and well-traveled. From employee-run "Business Resource Group" communities to world-class benefits like parental leave, 401(k), and privileges like space-available travel, United is truly a one-of-a-kind place to work. Are you ready to travel the world and help us keep our airline cyber safe? Apply today!

Job Overview and Responsibilities

The Senior Manager – Infrastructure Cybersecurity is a technical leader responsible for managing a team of cybersecurity architects and engineers who design, implement, and maintain the security architecture, patterns, and controls that protect United’s core infrastructure – network, compute, platform/operating systems, and cloud – along with enterprise mobile security and designated identity and access management (IAM) services. This leader sets the technical direction for infrastructure security and builds a high-performing team.

• Lead, recruit, and develop a team of infrastructure security architects and engineers, including performance and talent management
• Own the security architecture, reference patterns, and hardening baselines for network, platform/OS, cloud, mobile, and assigned IAM services
• Define and publish approved security patterns and reference architectures (secure-by-design blueprints, guardrails, and standards) that engineering teams build against
• Drive the Zero Trust network strategy, including macro- and micro-segmentation, software-defined perimeter, secure internet edge (SASE/SSE, ZTNA, secure web gateway, DNS security, DDoS protection), and secure remote access
• Advance security automation and policy as code so infrastructure controls are codified, repeatable, and continuously validated
• Coordinate remediation of infrastructure findings and non-compliant items to meet applicable compliance standards and best practices
• Monitor changes in regulations and compliance standards (e.g., NIST 800-53) and proactively update standards, patterns, and architectures
• Manage vendors and external partners that support infrastructure security tooling and services
• Assist with annual budgeting and monthly forecasting

What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):

• Bachelor's degree required, STEM field preferred
• 5 years of cybersecurity or infrastructure engineering experience, including years of leading technical teams
• Strong knowledge of infrastructure security architecture and hardening across network, platform/operating system, and cloud environments
• Proficient knowledge of modern network security: zero trust architecture, macro/micro-segmentation, SASE/SSE and ZTNA, next-generation firewalls, secure web gateway, DNS security, and DDoS protection
• Proficient knowledge of cloud security (AWS and/or Azure), including cloud-native controls, landing zone design, and secure configuration
• Working knowledge of identity and access management (authentication, authorization, MFA, privileged access, directory services) and enterprise mobile/endpoint security
• Proficient knowledge of threat modeling and risk management; working knowledge of vulnerability remediation processes
• Experience authoring security patterns, reference architectures, technical standards, and SOPs
• Proficient understanding of compliance frameworks (e.g., NIST 800-53, CIS Benchmarks)
• Ability to manage business stakeholders, vendors, and external partners
• Excellent problem solving, critical thinking, interpersonal, collaboration, written and verbal communication skills
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship
• Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualification
• Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position

What will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications):

• Master's degree
• 12 years of relevant experience
• Security leadership certifications such as CISSP, CISM, or CCSP
• Cloud and platform security certifications such as AWS Certified Security – Specialty, Microsoft AZ-500 or SC-100, or GIAC (GSEC, GCIA, GDSA)
• Identity certifications such as Microsoft SC-300 or Okta Certified Administrator
• Experience designing and rolling out enterprise segmentation and zero trust network strategies across data center, campus, and cloud, with platforms such as next-generation firewalls, NAC, and SASE/SSE
• Hands-on experience securing enterprise mobile fleets (e.g., Intune, Workspace ONE, Jamf) and mobile threat defense
• Hands-on experience with identity platforms (e.g., Active Directory / Entra ID, Okta), privileged access management, and zero trust access models
• Experience transforming traditional data center security controls into cloud-native architectures and CSPM-driven guardrails
• Proficiency with infrastructure as code, policy as code, and security automation (e.g., Terraform, PowerShell, Python)
• Proficient knowledge of PKI, certificate lifecycle management, and cryptography
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically about business, product, and technical challenges
• Experience in airlines, transportation, or other regulated and critical-infrastructure environments

Posting End Date: 11/15/2026