Security & Compliance Engineer Quantum

Introduction

IBM Quantum is an industry-first initiative to build universal quantum computers for business, engineering, and science. This effort includes advancing the entire quantum computing technology stack and exploring applications to make quantum broadly usable and accessible. With a worldwide network of Fortune 500 companies, academic institutions, researchers, educators, and enthusiasts, we are committed to driving innovation for our clients in the IBM Quantum Network and the Qiskit Community.

As IBM Quantum continues to expand its software, cloud, and infrastructure footprint, maintaining a strong security and compliance posture is critical to enabling trust, scalability, and regulatory readiness. We are seeking a Compliance Security Engineer (SOC 2 Compliance Focal) to help drive and automate our compliance program across Quantum software, cloud services, and infrastructure environments.

Your role and responsibilities

IBM is seeking a Compliance Focal to join the IBM Quantum security team in the US, reporting to T. J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, NY. This role will focus on driving and automating the organization's compliance program for a high-tech and sensitive environment like quantum computing, ensuring that security controls, evidence collection, and audit processes are efficient, repeatable, and scalable. The candidate will own the design and automation of compliance workflows, reducing manual effort in control monitoring, evidence gathering, and audit readiness across the software and infrastructure stack.

This position is critical in maintaining the organization's compliance posture against frameworks such as SOC 2, and supporting the pursuit of additional certifications such as FedRAMP, by proactively identifying control gaps, building automated compliance tooling, and working closely with teams such as IBM's CISO, security engineering, and development groups to embed compliance requirements throughout the product lifecycle.

Good communication skills and the ability to handle fast-paced, complex work are essential. A self-motivated and driven individual who can work independently as well as in multi-team settings.

4+ years of experience in compliance, security engineering, audit, or related roles, with direct experience in SOC 2 compliance programs.

Required education

Bachelor's Degree

Preferred education

Master's Degree

Required technical and professional expertise

• Degree in Computer Science, Information Security, or equivalent work experience.
• Hands-on experience with SOC 2 compliance, including control design, evidence collection, readiness assessments, and supporting external audits.
• Experience building or operating compliance automation tooling to continuously monitor controls, collect evidence, and flag drift or gaps, reducing reliance on manual, point-in-time audit processes.
• Solid understanding of core security principles, including identity and access management (IAM), data encryption, vulnerability management, and security incident response, and how these map to compliance controls.
• Experience working with cloud infrastructure (IBM Cloud), containerization (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes), and cloud-based identity management systems in the context of compliance monitoring.
• Experience working in DevSecOps or secure software development lifecycle (SDLC) environments, partnering with engineering teams to integrate compliance checks into CI/CD pipelines and everyday development practices.
• Collaboration and Communication Skills: the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including product development, operations, and the CISO team, is essential. Strong communication skills are required to articulate compliance requirements, risks, and remediation plans to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Understanding of networking concepts and security best practices.
• Ability to independently manage compliance initiatives and coordinate activities across multiple stakeholders.

Preferred technical and professional experience

• Experience supporting FedRAMP, including familiarity with NIST SP 800-53 controls, system security plans (SSPs), continuous monitoring, and authorization processes.
• Experience or familiarity with the security and compliance needs of quantum computing environments, especially given the sensitivity and complexity of quantum software and infrastructure.
• Expertise in using security and compliance tooling, particularly governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) automation platforms.
• Understanding of additional regulatory frameworks such as GDPR, HIPAA, and other industry-specific regulations, and the ability to navigate multi-framework compliance audits.
• Experience developing automation solutions using scripting or programming languages such as Python, Bash, or similar technologies.
• Experience working in highly regulated, research-focused, or advanced technology environments.
• Familiarity with cloud security and compliance practices within IBM Cloud, AWS, Azure, or other enterprise cloud platforms.
• Experience implementing compliance controls within CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) environments.

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

IBM Research is the organic growth engine of IBM and an innovation engine for our customers and partners. As part of this mission, IBM Research anticipates and examines 'What's Next in Computing' to ultimately create and integrate the technologies the world relies upon to solve big challenges and unlock new opportunities. We create and pioneer new markets for IBM, our partners and customers as exemplified in our ongoing quest to reach practical and large-scale quantum computing. Across IBM Research, we realize the power and potential to accelerate discovery with our partners and clients by combining the power of high performance computing, AI, and Quantum, all integrated through the hybrid cloud.

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you'll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you'll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

ABOUT IBM

IBM's greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we're also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it's time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

IBM offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program. Eligible employees may have access to:

• Healthcare benefits including medical & prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and mental health & well being
• Financial programs such as 401(k), cash balance pension plan, the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan, financial counseling, life insurance, short & long- term disability coverage, and opportunities for performance based salary incentive programs
• Generous paid time off including 12 holidays, minimum 56 hours sick time, 120 hours vacation, 12 weeks parental bonding leave in accordance with IBM Policy, and other Paid Care Leave programs. IBM also offers paid family leave benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law
• Training and educational resources on our personalized, AI-driven learning platform where IBMers can grow skills and obtain industry-recognized certifications to achieve their career goals
• Diverse and inclusive employee resource groups, giving & volunteer opportunities, and discounts on retail products, services & experiences

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

This position was posted on the date cited in the key job details section and is anticipated to remain posted for 21 days from this date or less if not needed to fill the role.

IBM will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Therefore, in order to be considered for this position, you must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job-related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.