GitLab is an open-core software company that develops the most comprehensive AI-powered DevSecOps Platform, used by more than 100,000 organizations. Our mission is to enable everyone to contribute to and co-create the software that powers our world. When everyone can contribute, consumers become contributors, significantly accelerating human progress. Our platform unites teams and organizations, breaking down barriers and redefining what's possible in software development. Thanks to products like Duo Enterprise and Duo Agent Platform, customers get AI benefits at every stage of the SDLC.

The same principles built into our products are reflected in how our team works: we embrace AI as a core productivity multiplier, with all team members expected to incorporate AI into their daily workflows to drive efficiency, innovation, and impact. GitLab is where careers accelerate, innovation flourishes, and every voice is valued. Our high-performance culture is driven by our values and continuous knowledge exchange, enabling our team members to reach their full potential while collaborating with industry leaders to solve complex problems. Co-create the future with us as we build technology that transforms how the world develops software.

An overview of this role

The Application Security + Response (ASR) subdepartment works with GitLab engineers and product teams to anticipate and prevent the introduction of vulnerabilities during design and development, ensuring delivery of high quality software GitLab customers can trust. We also identify, assess, and respond to security vulnerabilities discovered in GitLab products and services that are reported through Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure practices.

The Principal Application Security Engineer reports to the Senior Director of Application Security + Response and drives complex, strategic security engineering solutions.

What you'll do

Drive the resolution of systemic vulnerability classes and mitigations across the GitLab platform and perform difficult and highly complex application security reviews and threat modeling.
Perform vulnerability research by exploring the full impact of security issues, demonstrating proof-of-concept exploitation in a controlled environment.
Demonstrate technical security leadership, defining and establishing secure development practices, Paved Roads and security standards that will support Product and Engineering teams to deliver secured features at a high velocity.
Provide technical leadership in security crisis situations and major incident response
Contribute to long-term security architecture and strategic product design through technical expertise

What you’ll bring:

Ability to use GitLab effectively
Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Computer Science or equivalent practical education (including technical bootcamp training programs) and experience.
8+ years professional experience in Application Security or Vulnerability Research
Expert level understanding of computer code and how to detect and remediate classes of security defects, race condition based logic vulnerabilities etc
Programming experience in one or more coding languages, with a preference for Ruby, Ruby on Rails, Go, TypeScript languages and being familiar with GraphQL APIs. Professional developer code quality is not required but being able to build code and understand it for developing PoC exploits and performing security review or fix validation work is a requirement.
Expert level knowledge of application security concepts such as OWASP Top 10 bug types, the STRIDE model, CVSS scoring, and Threat Modeling assessments
Experience with application security practices including code review, threat modeling, static and dynamic analysis (SAST, DAST), and attack surface analysis or performing Application Penetration Testing or Vulnerability Research / Bug Bounty Hunting.
Strong knowledge of security challenges, risks and threads related to CI/CD Pipeline security, supply chain security and API security
Ability to discover and identify fixes for SQLi, XSS, CSRF, SSRF, authentication and authorization flaws, and other web-based security vulnerabilities is strongly preferred.
Ability to provide subject matter expertise on software architecture design and system security
Flexible, effective, and inclusive communication skills that create clarity; you will collaborate with technical and nontechnical audiences across multiple teams on security bug types and how to mitigate or remediate security issues. Proficiency in the English language, both written and verbal, sufficient for success in a remote and largely asynchronous work environment
Demonstrated critical and creative thinking, while also being an effective member of a team, with a flexible and constructive approach to problem solving that helps you navigate ambiguity and drive results.
Demonstrated ability to influence security decisions at executive and senior leadership levels.
Experience coaching and supporting the development of more junior engineers

Please note that we welcome interest from candidates with varying levels of experience; many successful candidates do not meet every single requirement. Additionally, studies have shown that people from underrepresented groups are less likely to apply to a job unless they meet every single qualification.

How GitLab will support you

Country Hiring Guidelines: GitLab hires new team members in countries around the world. All of our roles are remote, however some roles may carry specific location-based eligibility requirements. Our Talent Acquisition team can help answer any questions about location after starting the recruiting process.

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GitLab is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. GitLab’s policies and practices relating to recruitment, employment, career development and advancement, promotion, and retirement are based solely on merit, regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression), national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information (including family medical history), discharge status from the military, protected veteran status (which includes disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active duty wartime or campaign badge veterans, and Armed Forces service medal veterans), or any other basis protected by law. GitLab will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. See also GitLab’s EEO Policy and EEO is the Law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know during the recruiting process.

Principal Security Engineer, Application Security