Full-Time

Lead Cybersecurity Engineer

Independence Pet Group

Independence Pet Group

501-1,000 employees

North American pet insurance provider

No salary listed

Chicago, IL, USA

In Person

Category
IT & Security (1)
Required Skills
Microsoft Azure
Computer Networking
SOC 2
AWS
Cryptography
DevOps
Linux/Unix
Google Cloud Platform
Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field
  • At least 10 years of experience in cybersecurity engineering, security architecture, or infrastructure protection, with primary experience in enterprise Microsoft environments, 5 of these years within financial services or insurance industry highly preferred
  • Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CEH, CISM, or GIAC is highly desirable
  • Practical knowledge of security frameworks, standards, and best practices (e.g., NIST, ISO, CIS, OWASP)
  • Hands-on experience with Microsoft security technologies such as Defender for Cloud, Defender for Endpoints, XDR, Sentinel, and Purview, with a deep understanding of Azure and Microsoft 365 security architecture
  • AWS and GCP similar expertise are a plus
  • Strong experience with common security tools and technologies, such as firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), SIEM systems, email security & data loss prevention (DLP) tools, cloud security tools, endpoint protection, encryption, and vulnerability scanners
  • Experience supporting regulatory and compliance programs such as NYDFS Part 500, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and SOC 2 through control implementation, evidence collection, and audit readiness
  • Experience with DevSecOps and understanding of security considerations in DevOps environments, including familiarity with automation tools and secure coding practices
  • Experience with IAM and CIAM configuration and best practices, particularly in Microsoft Entra ID and/or Ping Identity
  • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to adapt to changing threats and requirements
  • Advanced knowledge of the Windows operating system and a working understanding of Linux and MacOS
  • Strong communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex security concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • Ability to work independently as well as collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams
  • Detail-oriented and proactive in identifying and resolving problems
Responsibilities
  • Collaborate with the Security Engineering team to implement, configure, and enforce robust security solutions across cloud and legacy environments based on the enterprise security architectures, CIS Benchmarks, Microsoft security baselines, and internal company policy requirements
  • Manage the security of and enforce proper data governance rules across collaboration and email tools
  • Effectively manage vulnerability scans, perform security assessments of applications and systems, and collaborate with IT teams to effectively resolve vulnerability findings in a timely manner
  • Manage, configure, and optimize key cybersecurity tools and technologies such as SIEM, threat intelligence, and cloud security platforms, and develop automations and integrations between systems to improve visibility and response efficiency
  • Collaborate with DevOps and Engineering teams to integrate security measures into the CI/CD pipeline, promoting the principles of DevSecOps to ensure secure application development and deployment
  • Contribute to the development and testing of disaster recovery procedures that meet business and compliance needs
  • Support and implement the enforcement of data privacy requirements and regulations, as needed
  • Support identity and access security initiatives with conditional access, MFA, PIM, and just-in-time access across Entra ID, Active Directory, and/or Ping Identity to uphold least-privilege principles
  • Maintain professional security documentation such as diagrams, data flows, and procedures
  • Participate in audits, assessments, and continuous improvement activities to define, measure, visualize, and improve key cybersecurity metrics
  • Stay current with emerging cybersecurity trends, tools, and technologies to ensure the organization's security capabilities remain effective and up to date
Desired Qualifications
  • AWS and GCP similar expertise are a plus
  • Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CEH, CISM, or GIAC is highly desirable
Independence Pet Group

Independence Pet Group

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Independence Pet Group (IPG) is a large North American network that provides pet insurance and related services through brands like Figo, Felix, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, Pets Plus Us, and AKC Pet Insurance, covering more than 1,000,000 pets in the U.S. and Canada. Its products include insurance policies sold by its brands, plus tools such as microchip identification and an online pet registry, along with well-being resources and business solutions for the pet industry. IPG differentiates itself through its scale and breadth—multiple brand options plus industry services and technology that go beyond basic coverage. Its goal is to improve pet health and safety by making insurance accessible and offering practical tools and resources to pets, owners, and industry partners.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

Growth Equity (Non-Venture Capital)

Total Funding

$55.6M

Headquarters

Chicago, Illinois

Founded

N/A

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Vandana Venkat appointed president February 2026 with 20+ years insurance expertise.
  • Supports over 1 million pets across US and Canada via diverse portfolio.
  • Acquired Felix September 2023, only US cat-specific insurance brand.

What critics are saying

  • Vandana Venkat lacks pet insurance experience, disrupts underwriting operations.
  • New York DFS fines halt Spot and Felix expansions within 12-18 months.
  • Trupanion erodes 20-30% IPG market share in 12-24 months.

What makes Independence Pet Group unique

  • IPG manages AKC, Figo, ASPCA, and Felix cat insurance brands.
  • Acquired majority Spot Pet Insurance in 2024 from 2022 partnership.
  • Partners with Fear Free since January 2024 for pet emotional wellbeing.

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Your Connections

People at Independence Pet Group who can refer or advise you

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Parental Leave

Commuter Benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-10%

1 year growth

-10%

2 year growth

-10%
PR Newswire
Feb 24th, 2026
Independence Pet Holdings appoints Vandana Venkat as president of Independence Pet Group

Independence Pet Holdings has appointed Vandana Venkat as President of Independence Pet Group. Venkat brings over 20 years of experience in insurance and financial services, having held senior positions at Argo Group, Clearcover and PURE Insurance, where she led underwriting, operations strategy and AI innovation. Earlier in her career, Venkat worked in product, pricing and risk management roles at Progressive, Kemper and Allianz/Fireman's Fund. She holds dual master's degrees in Industrial Engineering & Operations Research and Applied Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Independence Pet Group oversees brands including AKC Pet Insurance, OnePack Plan by PetPartners, Figo and ASPCA Pet Health Insurance. Independence Pet Holdings, established in 2021, manages pet insurance services supporting over one million pets across the US and Canada.

Coverager
Jun 3rd, 2024
Independence Pet Holdings acquires Spot Pet Insurance

Independence Pet holdings acquires Spot Pet Insurance.

Coverager
Jun 3rd, 2024
Independence Pet acquires Spot Insurance

Independence Pet Group (IPH) has acquired a majority interest in Spot Pet Insurance, a company founded in 2019 and launched in 2020, headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida. This acquisition builds on a partnership that began in 2022 with IPH’s initial investment in Spot. IPH, founded in 2021 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, has $55.59 million in total funding. IPH currently handles Spot’s underwriting, customer service, claims activities, and other administrative services.

PR Newswire
Jan 17th, 2024
Independence Pet Group® And Fear Free, Llc, Team Up To Improve Emotional Wellbeing Care For Pets

Pet health and wellbeing advancements drive partnership to increase awareness across the industrySCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Independence Pet Group® (IPG), a leader in pet insurance and services, and Fear Free®, LLC, a revolutionary animal health and welfare online education company, announced today a new strategic relationship to increase the accessibility and education of Fear Free practices and pet insurance in an effort to further pets' emotional and physical wellbeing.Since 2016, Fear Free has educated 265,000+ pet industry professionals, volunteers, and pet parents on how to help relieve fear, anxiety, and stress in pets. As Fear Free's latest Corporate Program Member, IPG's pet insurance brands will be Fear Free's pet insurance providers of choice. IPG's brands include Figo Pet Insurance, Felix Cat Insurance, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, and AKC Pet Insurance in the US and Pets Plus Us in Canada."Independence Pet Group recognizes pet health is holistic and it's critical to address both a pet's physical and emotional wellbeing. Through this relationship, our brands will provide pet parents with best-in-class content on how to address and support their pet's behavioral and emotional wellbeing, further strengthening the bond they share with their pet," said Nilpa Srivastava, Chief Marketing Officer, Independence Pet Group.Fear, anxiety, and stress in pets has been linked to inaccurate diagnostics, aggression at the vet, and other issues.1 Because of this, many pet owners, such as cat owners, steer clear of the vet, further inhibiting their felines from receiving routine care for both physical and emotional needs. To further support feline health, the Felix Cat Insurance program and Fear Free will create informational content for both industry professionals and pet parents to help reduce fear and alleviate stress and anxiety for pets when it comes to getting the care they need."We are passionate about listening to the needs of animal health professionals and the new generation of pet owners and providing information and resources to fit those needs," said Randy Valpy, Chief Executive Officer, Fear Free

WRAL TechWire
Nov 17th, 2023
Pet Insurance Firm Based In Raleigh Raises $55M, Business Nc Reports

Insurance Pet Holdings raised the money from 27 investors and sold stock, options and warrants.The company recently acquired cat insurance company Felix for an undisclosed amount. In addition to providing insurance for more than 800,000 pets, Insurance Pet also offers microchip identification and an online pet registry.Dogs make up the majority of insured pets in the United States, with 80.1% of insured dogs compared to 19.9% of insured cats, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association State of the Industry Report. The total number of pets insured in 2022 reached 5.36 million, up from 4.4 million in 2021, according to the report.The pet insurance market size was valued at $9.4 billion in 2022 and is estimated to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 17.04% from 2023 to 2030, according to Grand View Research.Its CEO is Lane Kent, who had served as chief operating officer since the company’s formation in 2021. He became CEO at the beginning of 2023 and has more than 30 years of industry experience, including holding executive positions at Mutual of Omaha, New York Life, Univita/LTCG, and Southern Guaranty Insurance.For more details, read the full story at Business North Carolina