[Remote] Confluent - Staff Security Engineer

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. IBM Software develops AI-powered, cloud-native products, including Confluent’s data streaming platform. The Staff Application Security Engineer will shape application security strategy and architecture across on-premises products and cloud services, partnering with Engineering and Product leadership to mitigate risks. The role will lead security automation, threat modeling, design reviews, vulnerability research, and secure-by-design practices across the product lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Partner closely with Engineering, Product, and Platform teams to identify security risks early, influence architectural decisions, and drive adoption of secure-by-design practices across the organization
• Define and standardize threat modeling frameworks and security design standards, and lead security design reviews for complex, distributed systems, providing actionable architectural guidance to engineers and product managers
• Serve as the subject matter expert (SME) for product security implementation reviews, overseeing security code reviews and API security testing while providing definitive remediation guidance
• Architect and drive the roadmap for security automation, building scalable software security tooling to transform product security operations and vulnerability management practices
• Design and lead the deployment of automation and orchestration frameworks that integrate security seamlessly into the cloud-native deployment pipeline
• Proactively identify new vulnerability classes, lead research initiatives and orchestrate complex table-top exercises to keep the organization ahead of the evolving threat landscape
• Strategically identify and deploy advanced technology controls to maximize observability and harden key attack surfaces across the ecosystem

Skills

• Bachelor's Degree
• 10+ years of hands-on application security experience, who can drive measurable security improvements across large-scale, distributed systems and global engineering organizations
• Comprehensive knowledge of security fundamentals as applied to modern web applications and cloud-native platforms including secure software design and architecture, secure coding practices, common vulnerability classes
• Ability to partner as a trusted peer with Engineering and Product leadership to embed security into the core architecture of the organization
• Ability to lead technical investigation and response to application security incidents while driving preventive improvements through architecture and automation
• Proven experience evolving the software development lifecycle to embed security by default, from securing CI/CD pipelines and build systems to implementing automated security guardrails in cloud-native deployment workflows
• Passionate about applying AI and LLMs to automate complex security workflows, reduce manual toil, and drive measurable improvements in security outcomes
• Experience in Go, Python, or Java, with the ability to design and build scalable security  automation frameworks
• Experience in leading cross-functional initiatives in distributed environments, translating security requirements into clear, executable technical roadmaps
• A data-driven decision-maker who can balance security requirements with business velocity and engineering trade-offs to deliver outcomes
• Ability to raise the organization's security bar through architectural reviews, advanced technical guidance, and the development of engineers across all levels
• Master's Degree
• 12+ years of hands-on application security experience

Benefits

• Healthcare benefits including medical & prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and mental health & well being
• Financial programs such as 401(k), cash balance pension plan, the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan, financial counseling, life insurance, short & long- term disability coverage, and opportunities for performance based salary incentive programs
• Generous paid time off including 12 holidays, minimum 56 hours sick time, 120 hours vacation, 12 weeks parental bonding leave in accordance with IBM Policy, and other Paid Care Leave programs
• IBM also offers paid family leave benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law
• Training and educational resources on our personalized, AI-driven learning platform where IBMers can grow skills and obtain industry-recognized certifications to achieve their career goals
• Diverse and inclusive employee resource groups, giving & volunteer opportunities, and discounts on retail products, services & experiences
• Work arrangement: Remote

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