OpenAI

Security Engineer, Application Security at OpenAI (Seattle, WA)

OpenAI· Seattle, WA· $266k–$445k·

Role details

Salary
$266k–$445k
Employment
Full-Time
Equity
Yes
Skills
Information SecurityCybersecuritySecure Coding PracticesThreat ModelingRisk AssessmentIncident ResponsePythonJavaC++Burp SuiteOWASP ZAPEncryption Methods
Benefits

Equity · Relocation Assistance

OpenAI at a glance

Builds frontier AI models and ships them as consumer, developer, and enterprise products — ChatGPT, the API platform, and Codex.

Builds frontier AI models and ships them as consumer, developer, and enterprise products (ChatGPT, the OpenAI API platform, Codex, and an agent layer).

~$180B raised · latest: $122B round at an $852B valuation (2026) · backed by Microsoft, Amazon, NVIDIA, SoftBank

Summary

The Security Engineer, Application Security identifies and mitigates vulnerabilities in software applications through code reviews, penetration testing, and security assessments. The role involves collaborating with development teams to integrate secure coding practices, conducting threat modeling, and managing vuln...

Job description

About the Team

Security is at the foundation of OpenAI’s mission to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity. The Security team protects OpenAI’s technology, people, and products. We are technical in what we build but are operational in how we do our work, and are committed to supporting all products and research at OpenAI. Our Security team tenets include: prioritizing for impact, enabling researchers, preparing for future transformative technologies, and engaging a robust security culture.

About the Role

As a Security Engineer, Application Security you will be responsible for identifying and mitigating security vulnerabilities within software applications through building security tools, code reviews, penetration testing, and security assessments.

We’re looking for people who will work closely with development teams to ensure secure coding practices are integrated throughout the software development lifecycle, preventing security risks before they emerge. You will also provide security guidance to developers and other stakeholders, fostering a culture of security awareness within the organization.

The role is preferred to be based in San Francisco, Seattle or New York City but may consider remote work. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees.

In this role, you will:

  • Perform Security Assessments: Conduct regular security assessments, code reviews, and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities in applications and software.
  • Develop and Implement Security Tools: Design, develop, and implement security tools, frameworks, and methodologies to protect applications against security threats.
  • Collaborate with Development Teams: Work closely with development teams to ensure security best practices are integrated throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC), including secure coding guidelines.
  • Threat Modeling and Risk Assessment: Conduct threat modeling and risk assessments to proactively identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies.
  • Vulnerability Management: Track, analyze, and manage vulnerabilities in applications, providing guidance and support for remediation efforts.
  • Incident Response Support: Assist in investigating, analyzing, and responding to security incidents related to applications, ensuring timely resolution and documentation of incidents.
  • Stay Current on Security Trends: Continuously stay updated on the latest security threats, vulnerabilities, and technologies to enhance security measures in applications.

You might thrive in this role if you:

  • Extensive experience in information security, cybersecurity, or a related field, with a significant portion of that experience in leadership or management roles.
  • Deep understanding of security technologies, tools, and best practices, including experience with secure coding practices, threat modeling, risk assessments, and incident response.
  • Experience in application security, software development, or related areas with a strong understanding of secure coding practices and application security frameworks.
  • Proficiency in programming languages (such as Python, Java, C++, etc.), knowledge of security tools (e.g., Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP), and familiarity with security protocols and encryption methods.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex security issues to both technical and non-technical audiences

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity. We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. For additional information, please see OpenAI’s Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement. Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US-based candidates. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations. To notify OpenAI that you believe this job posting is non-compliant, please submit a report through this form. No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link. OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

Why work at OpenAI

  • Culture & values: OpenAI’s stated values include “Humanity first,” “Act with humility,” “Feel the AGI,” and “Ship joy.” Operating principles emphasize agency, creativity, rapid iteration, and intense focus.
  • Benefits: Competitive health insurance, mental healthcare support, 24-week paid birth-parent leave (plus 20 weeks for other parents), generous PTO, annual learning & development stipend, daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), and a domestic conference budget.
  • Work environment: Hybrid/office-based (San Francisco headquarters). The company offers a residency program for researchers and engineers transitioning into AI.
  • Impact: Employees work directly on frontier AI models that shape the industry and society. The mission-driven nature attracts talent passionate about AGI’s societal implications.

Application questions