Engineer - Email and Data Protection (Cybersecurity)

Engineer - Email and Data Protection (Cybersecurity) role at Target in Brooklyn Park, MN, focused on backend services and real-time email data for security analysis and alerting.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain backend services using Java, Spring Boot, and modern frameworks
• Work on distributed and event-driven services that ingest, process, scan, enrich, and route enterprise email data in real time
• Build and improve integrations with vended email security products, Target’s Strelka platform, Google Security Operations, and related detection and alerting capabilities
• Develop and maintain RESTful APIs, event-streaming components, data models, and service integrations using established engineering patterns
• Write clean, maintainable code and contribute to code reviews, design discussions, sprint ceremonies, and technical documentation
• Create and maintain automated unit, integration, contract, and regression tests to improve software quality and delivery confidence
• Investigate and resolve production issues related to application behavior, data processing, and system integrations; escalate complex issues as appropriate
• Monitor service health using logs, metrics, alerts, and capacity signals; contribute to reliability, performance, observability, and operational efficiency improvements
• Support database schema changes, data migrations, API updates, and backward-compatible enhancements
• Participate in CI/CD, infrastructure automation, release, change-management, incident-management, and disaster-recovery activities
• Partner with engineers, cybersecurity analysts, product partners, vendors, and other stakeholders to deliver effective solutions
• Contribute to research and proof-of-concept work, including responsible use of AI-assisted engineering tools
• Build domain knowledge in email processing, security platforms, and Target’s cybersecurity ecosystem through hands-on engineering, formal training, and self-directed learning

Requirements

• Four-year degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• 1+ years of software development experience via professional work, internships, co-ops, substantial academic projects, or equivalent hands-on experience
• Proficiency in at least one modern programming language; experience or interest in developing Java applications
• Familiarity with object-oriented programming, common data structures and algorithms, APIs, and software design fundamentals
• Understanding of distributed programming concepts, with the ability to apply them with guidance
• Experience writing automated tests and debugging using logs, development tools, and structured problem-solving techniques
• Familiarity with relational databases, SQL, and basic data modeling concepts
• Ability to learn an existing codebase, follow established engineering patterns, and deliver maintainable software components
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with curiosity about complex system behavior
• Clear written and verbal communication skills; ability to collaborate with technical and non-technical partners
• Commitment to software quality, security, operational excellence, and continuous learning
• Familiarity with current and emerging technologies, with demonstrated ability to build domain knowledge through training and self-directed education

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Java and Spring Boot through professional work, internships, coursework, or personal projects
• Exposure to messaging or event-streaming technologies such as Kafka, Pub/Sub, RabbitMQ, or JMS
• Familiarity with cloud-native development in Google Cloud Platform, AWS, or Azure
• Exposure to Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, or infrastructure automation
• Experience developing RESTful APIs or backend services
• Familiarity with observability concepts, including logs, metrics, tracing, alerting, and service health monitoring
• Interest in cybersecurity, email security, or highly available production systems
• Familiarity with email or enterprise messaging concepts such as SMTP, MIME, message routing, or email authentication controls
• Experience using AI-assisted software engineering tools responsibly to support learning, development, testing, or documentation

Technologies

• Java, Spring Boot
• RESTful APIs
• Event-streaming components
• Kafka, Pub/Sub, RabbitMQ, JMS
• Google Cloud Platform, AWS, Azure
• Docker, Kubernetes
• CI/CD pipelines
• SQL
• AI-assisted software engineering tools
• Google Security Operations

About the Role

• Serve as a technical specialist delivering engineering that powers the product
• Develop insight into technical architecture and build robust, scalable, and secure software components
• Solve engineering problems while balancing new capability delivery with software quality and reliability
• Learn platform design and architecture, participate in team ceremonies and technical discussions, and grow ability to influence how services are built and operated
• Provide input on new technologies and contribute to service design, lifecycle management, and total cost of ownership
• Participate in research and proof-of-concept initiatives and help deliver high-performing, repeatable, and secure solutions
• With guidance from senior engineers, help with construction, automation, debugging, testing, implementation, incident response, and operational support

About This Team

• Builds and operates critical capabilities that protect Target team members, guests, applications, and information from malicious email content and data-related threats
• Owns and advances a layered email security platform using vended security products, internally developed services, and cybersecurity ecosystem integrations
• Maintains a real-time email data platform that ingests, processes, scans, enriches, and routes enterprise email telemetry for security analysis
• Integrates with Target’s Strelka file-scanning platform and Google Security Operations for streaming data, detections, alerts, and investigative context
• Helps keep backend services, data pipelines, APIs, automated tests, and operational capabilities reliable and effective
• Cybersecurity is fast-changing; the work supports adaptable systems for improved detection speed and creative response to emerging risks
• Prior cybersecurity or email security experience is not required
• Software engineering role within the Cybersecurity organization with growth focused on distributed systems curiosity and development fundamentals

Work Arrangement

• Hybrid/Flex for Your Day based on Target needs
• Core role performed both onsite at Target HQ in MN (per assigned location) and virtually depending on day-to-day needs
• Work duties cannot be performed outside the country of the primary work location unless otherwise prescribed by Target

Salary

• USD 75,400 - 135,700 per year

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits, which may include medical, vision, dental, life insurance and more
• 401(k)
• Employee discount
• Short term disability
• Long term disability
• Paid sick leave
• Paid national holidays
• Paid vacation

ADA

• Target provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities in compliance with state and federal laws
• For accommodations related to the application or interview process: [email protected]
• Non-accommodation requests (application follow-ups or technical issues) will not be addressed via this channel