What is a Security Engineer at Avery Dennison?

As a Security Engineer at Avery Dennison, you are the primary line of defense for a global leader in materials science and digital identification solutions. Your work directly protects the integrity of our enterprise IT environments, complex global supply chains, and advanced manufacturing operations. Because we pioneer technologies like RFID and intelligent labels that connect billions of physical items to the digital world, the security infrastructure you help build and maintain is critical to maintaining the trust of our enterprise partners and consumers worldwide.

Your impact in this role extends far beyond standard corporate IT. You will be instrumental in bridging the gap between traditional enterprise security and Operational Technology (OT) environments on our manufacturing floors. By safeguarding our intellectual property, customer data, and physical manufacturing processes, you ensure that our global operations run smoothly, securely, and without interruption.

Expect a highly collaborative environment where security is viewed as a business enabler rather than a roadblock. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, from product engineers developing the next generation of digital ID platforms to operational leaders managing large-scale manufacturing facilities. This role requires a strategic mindset, a strong foundation in core security principles, and the ability to adapt to the unique challenges of a globally distributed, hardware-and-software-driven enterprise.

Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Thorough preparation requires understanding not just the technical elements of security, but how those elements apply to our specific business model and corporate culture.

Core Security Fundamentals – This evaluates your foundational knowledge of information security, network defense, and vulnerability management. Interviewers will assess your understanding of basic security principles, how you apply them to enterprise environments, and your ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly. You can demonstrate strength here by showing a solid grasp of fundamental concepts rather than just memorizing advanced buzzwords.

Motivational and Cultural Alignment – This focuses on your intrinsic drive and why you specifically want to join Avery Dennison. Interviewers want to understand your career trajectory, your reasons for seeking a new opportunity, and what you expect from us as an employer. You will excel in this area by providing thoughtful, authentic answers that connect your personal career goals with our company's mission and values.

Problem-Solving and Adaptability – This measures how you approach ambiguous situations, assess risks, and design practical security solutions. We evaluate your logical progression when faced with a potential threat or infrastructure challenge. Strong candidates will talk through their thought process out loud, demonstrating a balanced approach that weighs security needs against operational realities.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process for a Security Engineer at Avery Dennison is designed to be straightforward, respectful of your time, and highly conversational. Candidates consistently report a positive, transparent experience with an average level of difficulty. Rather than putting you through grueling, multi-day technical gauntlets, our teams focus on assessing your core competencies, your practical experience, and your alignment with our culture.

You should expect the discussions to balance standard technical vetting with a strong emphasis on behavioral and motivational questions. Our hiring managers want to know who you are as a professional, why you are looking to make a move, and how you will integrate into our existing security organization. The process typically moves at a steady pace, prioritizing clear communication and mutual discovery.

This visual timeline outlines the typical stages you will progress through, from the initial recruiter screen to the final team interviews. You should use this to pace your preparation, focusing first on your core narrative and foundational security concepts, and then shifting toward deeper, scenario-based discussions as you approach the final rounds. Keep in mind that specific stages may vary slightly depending on the region and the exact scope of the team you are interviewing with.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

Foundational Security Knowledge

At Avery Dennison, we believe that advanced security strategies are only as strong as their foundational principles. This area matters because you will be trusted to maintain and improve the baseline security posture of our global operations. Interviewers will evaluate your grasp of fundamental concepts, expecting you to communicate them clearly and apply them to standard enterprise scenarios. Strong performance looks like answering direct technical questions with confidence and precision, without overcomplicating the solution.

Be ready to go over:

• Network Security – Understanding firewalls, VPNs, routing, and segmentation, especially in a hybrid enterprise environment.
• Identity and Access Management (IAM) – Principles of least privilege, role-based access control, and multi-factor authentication.
• Vulnerability Management – How to identify, prioritize, and remediate security flaws in systems and applications.
• Advanced concepts (less common) –
  • OT/ICS (Industrial Control Systems) security protocols.
  • Cryptography and key management for digital identity products (like RFID).
  • Cloud security architecture (AWS/Azure).

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Explain the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption."
• "How would you secure a newly deployed web application connected to an internal database?"
• "Walk me through the steps you take when a critical zero-day vulnerability is announced."

Behavioral and Motivational Fit

Because security requires extensive cross-functional collaboration, your ability to communicate and your motivation for joining the team are critical. This area is heavily evaluated through direct, conversational questions about your career choices and expectations. Strong performance means having a clear, concise narrative about your professional journey, demonstrating genuine interest in Avery Dennison, and showing that your work style aligns with a collaborative, global enterprise.

Be ready to go over:

• Career Transitions – Your reasons for leaving your current or previous roles and what you are seeking in your next position.
• Expectation Management – What you hope to achieve, learn, and contribute during your first year on the team.
• Company Knowledge – Your understanding of what Avery Dennison does and why our specific industry appeals to you.
• Advanced concepts (less common) –
  • Navigating conflicts with non-technical stakeholders regarding security policies.
  • Leading security awareness initiatives within a broader organization.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Why would you like to switch from your current company?"
• "What are your expectations from Avery Dennison as an employer?"
• "Why did you choose to apply to us specifically?"

Risk Assessment and Incident Response

Security Engineers must be prepared to handle active threats and evaluate ongoing risks to the business. This area is evaluated by discussing your past experiences with security incidents or by presenting hypothetical risk scenarios. A strong candidate will demonstrate a calm, methodical approach to incident triage, containment, and post-incident analysis, always keeping business continuity in mind.

Be ready to go over:

• Threat Detection – Identifying anomalies, monitoring logs, and understanding common attack vectors (e.g., phishing, ransomware).
• Incident Handling – The step-by-step process of responding to a security breach, from identification to recovery.
• Risk Mitigation – Balancing the severity of a vulnerability against the operational impact of patching it immediately.
• Advanced concepts (less common) –
  • Digital forensics and chain of custody.
  • Automating incident response playbooks.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Describe a time you handled a security incident. What was your specific role?"
• "If you detect unusual outbound traffic from a manufacturing facility server, what are your first three steps?"
• "How do you prioritize which vulnerabilities to patch first when dealing with hundreds of alerts?"

Key Responsibilities

As a Security Engineer at Avery Dennison, your day-to-day work will be a dynamic mix of proactive defense, system monitoring, and cross-team collaboration. You will be responsible for implementing and maintaining security controls across our global infrastructure, ensuring that both our corporate IT environments and our manufacturing facilities remain secure against evolving threats. This involves configuring security tools, reviewing system logs, and fine-tuning alerts to minimize false positives while catching genuine anomalies.

You will frequently collaborate with IT operations, network engineering, and product development teams. When a new digital identification product or internal application is being developed, you will act as a consultant to ensure security best practices are integrated from the ground up. You will also play a key role in vulnerability management, running regular scans, analyzing the results, and working with system owners to apply necessary patches without disrupting critical business operations.

In the event of a security alert, you will be on the front lines of incident response. You will investigate suspicious activities, contain potential threats, and document your findings to improve our future defenses. Additionally, you will contribute to the continuous improvement of our security posture by researching emerging threats and recommending new technologies or processes that align with Avery Dennison's strategic goals.

Role Requirements & Qualifications

To be successful in this role, you need a blend of foundational technical skills and the communication abilities required to navigate a large, global organization. We look for candidates who can execute technical tasks efficiently while understanding the broader business context of their work.

• Must-have skills – A strong grasp of network security fundamentals, experience with vulnerability management tools, and a solid understanding of operating system internals (Windows and Linux). You must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills to articulate risks to non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience level – Typically, candidates have 2 to 5 years of hands-on experience in information security, IT infrastructure, or network engineering roles. A background in enterprise IT environments is highly valued.
• Soft skills – High emotional intelligence, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to remain calm and methodical under pressure. You must be comfortable working with diverse, globally distributed teams.
• Nice-to-have skills – Experience with Operational Technology (OT) or Industrial Control Systems (ICS) security. Familiarity with cloud security principles (AWS, Azure) and relevant industry certifications (e.g., Security+, CISSP, or GSEC) will make your profile stand out.

Common Interview Questions

The following questions are representative of what candidates typically face during the Avery Dennison interview process for this role. They highlight our focus on foundational knowledge and strong behavioral alignment. Use these to identify patterns in how we evaluate candidates, rather than treating them as a strict memorization list.

Basic Security Concepts

This category tests your fundamental understanding of information security principles. Interviewers want to ensure you have the technical baseline required to protect our infrastructure.

• What is the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption?
• How does a firewall work, and what is the difference between a stateful and stateless firewall?
• Can you explain the concept of Least Privilege?
• What happens, from a security perspective, when you type a URL into a browser and press enter?
• How do you differentiate between a vulnerability, a risk, and a threat?

Behavioral and Motivational

These questions are a core part of our process. They help us understand your career goals, your self-awareness, and whether you will thrive in our corporate culture.

• Why would you like to switch from your current role or company?
• What are your expectations from Avery Dennison as an employer?
• Why did you choose to apply to us specifically?
• Tell me about a time you had to explain a complex technical issue to a non-technical colleague.
• Describe a situation where you had to adapt to a significant change at work.

Scenario and Problem-Solving

These questions assess how you apply your knowledge to realistic situations. We are looking for a logical, step-by-step approach to resolving issues.

• If you receive an alert that an employee clicked on a phishing link, what is your immediate response?
• How would you secure a server that must remain exposed to the public internet?
• Walk me through how you would conduct a basic risk assessment for a new piece of software.
• What steps would you take if a critical business system could not be patched due to operational constraints?
• How do you stay updated on the latest security threats and trends?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How difficult is the interview process for a Security Engineer? The process is generally considered to be of average difficulty. It is not designed to trick you with obscure technical puzzles. Instead, it focuses heavily on ensuring you have a solid grasp of core security fundamentals and that your motivations align well with the company's culture.

Q: How much time should I spend preparing? A few days of focused preparation is usually sufficient. Spend time reviewing basic security concepts, but dedicate an equal amount of time to refining your personal narrative. Being able to clearly articulate why you want to join Avery Dennison is just as important as your technical review.

Q: What differentiates a successful candidate from the rest? Successful candidates demonstrate a clear understanding of our business context. They don't just talk about security in a vacuum; they understand how security enables a global manufacturing and materials science company to operate safely. They also provide genuine, thoughtful answers to motivational questions.

Q: What is the typical timeline from the initial screen to an offer? The timeline is generally efficient, often wrapping up within three to four weeks. Because the process is relatively simple and straightforward, you will usually receive prompt feedback and next steps after each conversation.

Q: Are these roles fully remote, hybrid, or onsite? This depends heavily on the specific team and location. Many enterprise security roles offer hybrid flexibility, but roles closely tied to our manufacturing facilities or OT security may require more frequent onsite presence. Be sure to clarify the specific expectations with your recruiter early in the process.

Other General Tips

• Nail the "Why Avery Dennison" Pitch: Our interviewers explicitly ask why you chose us. Do your homework on our business—understand our leadership in RFID, digital identification, and materials science. Connect your skills to our mission of bridging the physical and digital worlds securely.
• Focus on the Fundamentals: Do not overcomplicate your technical answers. The data shows that we ask basic, foundational questions about security. Ensure you can explain core concepts clearly and confidently before worrying about highly advanced edge cases.

• Be Honest About Your Expectations: When asked what you expect from us, be transparent. Whether you are looking for mentorship, exposure to global enterprise architecture, or a collaborative team culture, stating this clearly helps us ensure the role is the right match for you.
• Structure Your Behavioral Answers: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when discussing past experiences. This keeps your answers concise and ensures you clearly highlight your specific contributions to a project or incident.

• Ask Insightful Questions: Use the end of the interview to ask about the team's current challenges, the maturity of the security program, or how the team interacts with our global manufacturing sites. This demonstrates proactive thinking and genuine interest.

Summary & Next Steps

Joining Avery Dennison as a Security Engineer puts you at the intersection of enterprise IT, global supply chains, and cutting-edge digital identification technology. It is a role where your foundational technical skills and your ability to collaborate across a massive global footprint will make a tangible difference every day. By protecting our infrastructure, you directly enable the innovation that defines our company.

To succeed in your interviews, focus equally on your technical baseline and your personal narrative. Review your core security concepts, practice explaining them simply, and spend time reflecting on your career goals. Most importantly, be ready to articulate exactly why you want to bring your talents to our team. The process is designed to be straightforward and positive, so step into your interviews with confidence and authenticity.

This compensation data provides a baseline expectation for the role, though actual offers will vary based on your specific experience level, geographical location, and internal equity. Use this information to ensure your salary expectations are aligned with market realities as you enter the final stages of the process.

You have the skills and the drive to excel in this process. For even more detailed insights, peer experiences, and preparation tools, continue exploring the resources available on Dataford. Good luck with your preparation—we look forward to speaking with you soon!