NIKE, Inc

Principal Engineer, Identity & Authorization

NIKE, Inc$149K — $313K *
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Security, or related field.
  • 8+ years of experience in enterprise-scale software platforms and distributed systems.
  • Deep expertise in authorization architectures, identity management, and security concepts.
  • Experience with centralized policy decision services and policy-as-code.
  • Ability to influence strategy and mentor engineers across multiple organizations.
  • Hands-on experience as a software engineer with knowledge of backend or platform languages.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the evolution of Nike's authorization strategy and platforms.
  • Define enterprise authorization architecture and establish engineering standards.
  • Transition access management from application-specific to centralized policy services.
  • Design and implement policy-based authorization solutions.
  • Partner with multidisciplinary teams to embed authorization into software development.
  • Mentor engineers on scalable authorization and identity capabilities.
  • Modernize legacy access management systems with policy-driven solutions.
  • Write production code to build and deploy core authorization services.

Benefits

  • Remote work opportunity, excluding South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia.
  • 4/1 hybrid work schedule with Mondays to Thursdays in the office and optional remote Fridays.
  • Employment based in Nike's headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.
  • Opportunity to shape future security strategies in a globally recognized brand.
Full Job Description
Open to remote work except in South Dakota, Vermont and West Virginia.

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $149,100.00 in our lowest geographic market to $313,900.00 in our highest geographic market. Actual salary will vary based on a candidate's location, qualifications, skills and experience.

Information about benefits can be found here.

Position Location & Schedule

This position is based at our incredibly beautiful worldwide campus headquarters location in Beaverton, Oregon. You'll work a "4/1 hybrid" schedule - Mondays - Thursdays are in the office and it's optional if you'd like to work Fridays from the Nike campus office or your home office.

Who You'll Work With

Nike's Enterprise Identity & Access Management team enables secure digital experiences across workforce, consumer, partner, and machine identity ecosystems. This Principal Engineer partners with Security, Enterprise Architecture, Platform Engineering, and Product Engineering leaders to shape authorization capabilities used across Nike's global technology organization.

Who We Are Looking For

We're looking for a Principal Engineer to help define the future of authorization at Nike. This role will lead the transformation from fragmented, application-specific access controls to a modern, enterprise-wide authorization platform where access decisions are defined as policy, evaluated centrally, and consistently enforced across applications, APIs, cloud platforms, data systems, and business processes. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in authorization architecture, distributed systems, and identity platforms, along with a passion for solving complex security and business challenges through scalable engineering solutions. They are recognized technical leaders who can influence enterprise strategies, establish architectural standards, and align diverse engineering organizations around a shared vision for identity and access. Success in this role requires the ability to translate business intent, security requirements, and governance controls into reusable authorization services and policy frameworks that enable agility, strengthen security, and reduce operational complexity across Nike's global technology ecosystem.

The candidate should have:
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education, experience, or training in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Security, or a related field.
  • 8+ years of experience designing and delivering enterprise-scale software platforms and distributed systems.
  • Deep expertise in authorization architectures, identity and access management, authentication, identity governance, and privileged access concepts.
  • Experience designing centralized policy decision services, policy enforcement architectures, and policy-as-code solutions.
  • Demonstrated ability to influence technical strategy, mentor engineers, and drive architectural transformation across multiple organizations.
  • Hands-on software engineer who actively writes and maintains production code - this is a build-and-deploy role, not an architecture-only. Demonstrated coding depth in a backend or platform language, with direct experience deploying distributed systems into live, high-availability, multi-region production environments.


What You'll Work On

You will lead the evolution of Nike's authorization strategy and platforms, helping transform how access decisions are defined, managed, and enforced across the enterprise. By partnering with engineering, security, and architecture teams, you will build scalable authorization capabilities that enable secure innovation while simplifying access management and governance at global scale.
  • You will define and drive the enterprise authorization architecture, establishing standards, patterns, and engineering practices that enable consistent access control across applications, APIs, cloud platforms, and business services.
  • You will lead the transition from application-specific roles, permissions, and user exceptions to centralized policy decision services and reusable authorization capabilities.
  • You will design and implement policy-based authorization solutions that allow business, security, and compliance requirements to be expressed as code, tested automatically, and deployed through modern engineering workflows.
  • You will partner with Security, Enterprise Architecture, Platform Engineering, and Product Engineering teams to embed authorization, governance, and identity controls directly into the software development lifecycle.
  • You will influence the future of Identity as Policy at Nike by developing shared services, frameworks, and platforms that support workforce, consumer, partner, and machine identities.
  • You will mentor engineers, guide architectural decisions, and help teams adopt scalable authorization and identity capabilities that reduce operational complexity while improving security and compliance outcomes.
  • You will identify opportunities to modernize legacy access management approaches and create policy-driven solutions that enable faster delivery of secure digital experiences across Nike's global technology ecosystem.
  • You will write production code and apply enterprise-level coding practices to build and deploy the core authorization services.


About NIKE, Inc

Nike is a sporting goods company that designs, develops, and markets footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessory products. The company offers various categories of shoes including running, training, basketball, soccer, sport-inspired urban shoes, and kids' shoes. It also provides shoes for aquatic activities, baseball, football, cheerleading, golf, lacrosse, outdoor activities, skateboarding, tennis, volleyball, walking, wrestling, and various athletic and recreational uses. In addition, the company offers sports-inspired lifestyle apparel, athletic bags, and accessory items. Further, it provides a line of performance equipment including bags, socks, sports balls, eyewear, timepieces, electronic devices, bats, gloves, protective equipment, golf clubs, and various equipment designed for sports activities under the NIKE brand name, as well as markets apparel with licensed college and professional team and league logos. Additionally, it offers licenses to produce and sell NIKE brand swimwear, children's apparel, training equipment, eyewear, electronic devices, and golf accessories. The company also markets its products under the brand names of Converse, Chuck Taylor, All Star, One Star, Umbro, Jack Purcell, Cole Haan, Bragano, and Hurley. It sells its products to retail accounts through stores, independent distributors, and licensees, as well as through its Website, nikestore.com. As of May 31, 2009, Nike, Inc. operated 338 retail stores in the United States and 336 retail stores internationally. The company was founded in 1964 and is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon.

Nike Careers

Join the dynamic world of Nike, Inc., a global leader in sports apparel and innovation, where your career can flourish in an environment that fosters diversity, leadership, and growth. At Nike, we believe in bringing out the best in our team members through continuous professional development and a culture that celebrates creativity and innovation. Work You’ll Do Become a part of Nike’s mission to inspire and innovate towards a better world. Engage in work that intersects with cutting-edge technology, market-leading strategies, and sustainable practices that define the future of the sports industry. Lead with us at the forefront of the global marketplace, where your skills in leadership, teamwork, and innovation can shine. Nike offers a unique position in the industry, combining deep industry expertise with a relentless pursuit of excellence. Collaborate with a diverse team of professionals who are pioneers in their fields. Nike, Inc. employs over 75,000 passionate and talented individuals worldwide, all dedicated to moving the world of sports forward. Introducing Nike’s Professional Growth and Development Opportunities We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every team member can succeed. Nike offers a variety of job opportunities, from in-store retail positions to corporate roles in design, marketing, and technology. Do Innovative Work Join us and contribute to our mission of bringing inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world. (*If you have a body, you are an athlete.) Deliver targeted solutions and drive innovation through your unique perspective and skills. At Nike, Inc., your work directly contributes to our global impact. Be Part of a Great Team Engage in meaningful work that connects with consumers and impacts millions worldwide. Our team benefits from unparalleled capabilities, a commitment to diversity training, and a culture that encourages professional growth and networking. Future-Proof Your Career Advance your career with Nike’s comprehensive benefits and support systems. We provide extensive training, development programs, and leadership courses to help you reach your full potential. Explore Discover how Nike is leading in sustainable innovation and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the sports industry. The Nike Employment Experience Our combined efforts in innovation, culture, and leadership make Nike, Inc. not just a place to work, but a place to grow a rewarding career. Clients and employees alike look to Nike for new strategies and impactful solutions in a rapidly evolving industry. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search for open positions that match your skills and interests. We are always on the lookout for curious, driven, creative, and solution-oriented team players. SEARCH NIKE JOBS Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. READ CAREERS BLOG Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, the latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Explore the exciting and rewarding opportunities that await at Nike, Inc.
Learn more about NIKE, Inc
Size
73,300 employees
Market Cap
$184.6 billion
Industry
Net Income
$2.8 billion
Founded
1964
5 Year Trend
+6.3%
Revenue
$38.2 billion
NASDAQ

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