---
title: 'Member of Technical Staff (Offensive Security Engineer) at Perplexity'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/member-of-technical-staff-offensive-security-engineer-perplexity-san-francisco-s7fzvs7ynyn8'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-20'
---

# Member of Technical Staff (Offensive Security Engineer) at Perplexity

- **Company:** [Perplexity](https://feeny.ai/companies/perplexity)
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Compensation:** $220k–$405k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-04-02
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-20
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/Perplexity/69fd6a56-0050-44f7-9ed2-2c3a7320908d/application

**Skills:** Cloud Security, AWS, GCP, Azure, Web Application Security, API Security, Kubernetes, Container Security, macOS, Linux, Network Penetration Testing, CI/CD Pipeline Security, Python, Go, Burp Suite, Cobalt Strike, Metasploit, BloodHound, Threat Modelr Modeling, AI/ML Systems

> Perplexity is seeking an experienced Offensive Security Engineer to plan and execute red team operations, penetration tests, and attack simulations across cloud infrastructure, web apps, and AI/ML systems. The role involves developing custom exploit tools, driving threat modeling with engineering teams, and deliveri...

## Job description

Perplexity is seeking a highly skilled, experienced and hands-on Offensive Security Engineer to join our dynamic security team, taking an adversarial approach to hardening Perplexity's infrastructure, applications, and AI systems. You'll plan and execute red team operations, penetration tests, and attack simulations across our cloud infrastructure, web and mobile applications, AI/ML pipeline, and corporate environment—finding real vulnerabilities before adversaries do and working directly with engineering teams to drive remediation.

## Responsibilities

- Plan and execute red team and purple team engagements simulating advanced threat actors across cloud infrastructure (AWS, Kubernetes), endpoints, and application surfaces
- Conduct continuous penetration testing of web applications, APIs, mobile clients, browser extensions, cloud infrastructure, and internal services
- Assess AI/ML-specific attack surfaces including prompt injection, model exfiltration, agent abuse, tool-use exploitation, and MCP security boundaries
- Develop and maintain custom offensive tooling, exploits, and automation to improve the efficiency and coverage of security testing
- Perform open-scope adversary simulations that test detection and response capabilities end to end, collaborating closely with the defensive security team
- Drive threat modeling sessions with engineering teams to identify and prioritize attack vectors in new features and architectures
- Deliver clear, actionable findings to both technical and executive audiences; partner with engineering to validate remediations
- Contribute to the security of CI/CD pipelines, supply chain integrity, and secrets management through offensive assessment
- Stay current on emerging attack techniques, vulnerability research, and adversary tradecraft; bring external perspective into Perplexity's security strategy

## Qualifications

- 5+ years of hands-on experience in offensive security, red teaming, or penetration testing
- Deep technical expertise in at least two of: cloud security (AWS/GCP/Azure), web/API application security, Kubernetes and container security, macOS/Linux endpoint security, network penetration testing, or CI/CD pipeline security
- Track record of discovering impactful vulnerabilities or developing novel attack techniques in production environments
- Strong programming and scripting skills in Python, Go, or similar languages; comfortable writing custom tooling and exploits
- Experience with industry-standard offensive tools (Burp Suite, Cobalt Strike / Sliver / Mythic, Metasploit, BloodHound, nuclei, etc.) and ability to operate beyond them
- Excellent written and verbal communication; able to translate complex technical findings into clear risk narratives
- Experience assessing AI/ML systems, LLM applications, or agentic workflows for security vulnerabilities
- Bonus: Published security research, conference talks (DEF CON, Black Hat, BSides), CVE credits, or meaningful bug bounty contributions

## About Perplexity

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Perplexity builds an AI-powered answer engine that delivers accurate, real-time answers to any question, serving curious minds and professionals who demand precision and speed.
- **Entity Type**: Private (total funding $1.7B across 16 rounds)
- **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2022
- **Founders**: Aravind Srinivas, Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho, Andy Konwinski

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: AI-powered search and knowledge retrieval, Software Development
- **Target customers**: B2C (general users), B2B (enterprise API customers), and power users seeking reliable information
- **Mission**: “AI for people who expect more – more accuracy, more agency, more signal, less noise.”

## Products & Services
- **Perplexity AI (Free Tier)**: Real-time conversational search engine that synthesizes web results with citations, accessible via web and mobile app. *Type*: SaaS
- **Perplexity Pro**: Subscription offering enhanced features such as advanced AI models, multimodal search, and increased usage limits. *Type*: SaaS (subscription)
- **Perplexity API Platform**: Enables developers to integrate Perplexity’s search and reasoning capabilities into their own applications. *Type*: API
- **Perplexity Browser Extension**: Brings AI-powered search directly into the browser for quick answers without leaving the page. *Type*: Browser extension

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available in provided sources (prior reports indicate ~$9B valuation as of 2024, but not confirmed in this data set)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding $1.7B (16 rounds); annual revenue ~$50M (LinkedIn estimate)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not explicitly listed in provided search results; widely known investors include IVP, NEA, Jeff Bezos, and others (not sourced here)
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 11.3% YoY to 1,152 employees; operates in 54 countries; LinkedIn followers grew 131.8% yearly to >1.6M; active hiring across 48+ open roles including AI Research, Engineering, and Go-to-Market teams

## Competitive Advantages
- **Real-time, cited answers**: Unlike traditional chatbots, Perplexity grounds answers in live web results with transparent sources, building trust and accuracy.
- **Multimodal and agentic capabilities**: Continuously pushes frontier research (e.g., query-aware context compression, agents for knowledge work) that differentiates from generic LLM interfaces.
- **Vertical integration from research to product**: In-house AI research team tackles open problems unique to Perplexity’s scale, enabling fast iteration on novel methods.
- **Strong brand and user base**: Rapid consumer adoption with millions of monthly active users and high engagement.

## Strategic Focus
- **Pushing the frontier of search**: Evolving from retrieval services to code generation, agents, and full autonomy in knowledge work.
- **Expanding enterprise and API revenue**: Growing B2B footprint with API platform and enterprise solutions.
- **Global hiring and office expansion**: Offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto, New York, Austin, Washington D.C., London, Berlin, and Belgrade, with “4 days in office” hybrid model.
- **Investing in AI research**: Dedicated research division (Perplexity Research) exploring reasoning, agents, and systems to redefine how people navigate the internet.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture & Environment**: “Thoughtful support” culture with emphasis on craftsmanship, ownership, entrepreneurship, scholarship, and partnership. Hybrid schedule (4 days in-office) based on location.
- **Perks**: Daily catered meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner in office), office snacks, ride home program, commuter benefits, home office reimbursement, fitness classes, gym memberships.
- **Compensation & Benefits**: Competitive salary and equity packages; retirement plans with company match; flexible PTO; holiday shutdown between Christmas and New Year; 12 weeks paid bonding leave; comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
- **Relocation & Visa Support**: Relocation assistance and visa/green card sponsorship for eligible roles. Partners with immigration firm to support the process.
- **Engineering Excellence**: “Technical assessment for relevant roles”; values hands-on contribution, broad skill sets, and merit-based evaluation. Frequent Tech Talks and exposure to greenfield AI research problems.

## Sources
1. [perplexity.ai/hub/careers](https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/careers)
2. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/perplexity](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/perplexity)
3. [perplexity.ai](https://www.perplexity.ai/)
4. [linkedin.com/company/perplexity-ai](https://www.linkedin.com/company/perplexity-ai)
5. [research.perplexity.ai](https://research.perplexity.ai/)

## Other roles at Perplexity

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- [Perplexity Research Fellowship](https://feeny.ai/job/perplexity-research-fellowship-perplexity-san-francisco-0es9v2neb95e) — San Francisco, CA
- [Consumer Support Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/consumer-support-specialist-perplexity-united-states-0hqy6w22e87q) — United States
- [Sales Leader, Sales Development, Enterprise](https://feeny.ai/job/sales-leader-sales-development-enterprise-perplexity-san-francisco-d50x3nstzfmz) — San Francisco, CA
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- [Engineering Manager (API Platform)](https://feeny.ai/job/engineering-manager-api-platform-perplexity-san-francisco-m5zabzwvyg4n) — San Francisco, CA
- [Commercial Counsel/Senior Counsel](https://feeny.ai/job/commercial-counsel-senior-counsel-perplexity-san-francisco-k380fepz6jj9) — San Francisco, CA
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