Cyber Security Associate

Job Description

Cyber Security Development Program Associate – 2027 | Capital One

The Tone:
This is a full-time associate position within an 18-month rotational program at Capital One, located in the continental United States with in-person attendance at your assigned location (e.g., McLean, VA or Plano, TX) in accordance with Capital One’s hybrid working model. Capital One considers itself the bank a technology company would build, delivering best-in-class innovation for its 65 million customers. This role is designed as a career accelerator to foster the next generation of leading cyber talent, making a direct impact on securing the company’s digital environment. Associates will play a critical role in evaluating cyber risks and strengthening the overall security posture.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: Hybrid, Plano, TX
• Pay: $127000–$140000 yearly
• Team: Within an 18-month rotational program, collaborating with Cyber, Technology, business lines, and risk management offices.
• Mission: Secure Capital One’s digital environment and evaluate cyber risks through diverse rotational assignments.
• Tech Stack: Java, Python, C#, C/C++, JSON, SQL, PL/SQL, Shell scripts

What You’ll Actually Do
• Security Compliance: Support compliance initiatives and shape security policies that govern enterprise-wide protection.
• System Hardening: Conduct penetration tests, assess vulnerabilities, or design defenses to harden Capital One’s systems.
• Data Analysis: Analyze cyber data to understand weaknesses in defenses and identify opportunities to improve the security posture of the environment.
• Threat Defense: Defend systems against evolving threats, assessing network security configurations, or monitoring for intrusions.
• Domain Exploration: Engage in a variety of other key rotational assignments, allowing exploration of the full breadth of the Cyber Security domain.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently has, or is in the process of obtaining, a Bachelor’s degree or higher, with an expectation to complete the most recent full-time degree program by August 2027 or earlier. This is an early career position.
• Experience: Basic understanding of cybersecurity principles, network concepts, digital forensics, and operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux). Knowledge of the basics of network security and protocols (e.g., encryption, firewalls, authentication, perimeter protection). Hands-on experience or coursework in digital forensics, malware analysis, or incident response.
• Skills: Strong analytical, quantitative, problem-solving, and conceptual skills. Strong interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills. Basic programming skills or experience in one or more specified areas.
• Bonus: Bachelor’s degree or higher in a technical and/or quantitative discipline (e.g., computer science, cybersecurity). Strong interest in cybersecurity and a desire to explore multiple domains. Coursework in IT fundamentals, cloud security, cryptography, network security, and/or data security. Knowledge of industry-standard cybersecurity frameworks (NIST Cybersecurity Framework, MITRE ATT&CK). Experience leveraging interactive AI tooling to accelerate productivity beyond basic code completion.