[Hiring] Senior/Staff/Principal Security Engineer @Skylight

Role Description

At Skylight, a security engineer stays up to date with the cutting edge of security and helps Skylight implement new processes, tools, and remediations. They’re familiar with modern software development and work in cross-functional teams to inform and guide security best practices at all stages of the software development life cycle.

In this role, you’ll partner with a mission-critical organization within the U.S. Air Force Special Operations community to secure and modernize complex digital environments that underpin highly specialized operations. Leveraging your expertise in DoD Security Ops, NIST RMF, and Kubernetes, you’ll ensure the delivery of secure, scalable solutions that maintain ATO compliance and mission readiness. You will be responsible for the security posture of a software portfolio for the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) through our BESPIN partnership, with a primary focus on implementing innovative and flexible security frameworks for mobile applications and CI/CD pipelines.

What you’ll do

• Protect sensitive data by applying security and privacy best practices
• Conduct security audits and risk analyses
• Plan and implement remediations
• Conduct ongoing research to keep up with industry practices and new attack vectors
• Select and use the right tools, frameworks, languages, and technologies for the job, with a preference for open-source solutions

Qualifications

• Experience with DoD Security Ops, ATO (Authority to Operate) processes, NIST RMF, and CI/CD
• Experience with cloud infrastructure and Kubernetes
• High level of innovation and flexibility
• Ability to detect risks by continually reviewing all aspects of the application for vulnerabilities and enumerating them
• Ability to review software security vulnerabilities and enumerate them
• Possess an understanding of various kinds of security assessments, such as white-hat hacking and penetration testing
• Can mitigate security risks at each stage of the software development life cycle with an understanding of how to prevent these risks in the first place
• Ability to interpret and translate non-technical material, such as regulations, into business and technical requirements
• Understand common security pitfalls and can help the team avoid them
• Can select and use the right tools for the job, particularly open-source solutions
• Ability to work successfully within a professional services environment (e.g., can communicate effectively with clients)
• Passionate about creating better public outcomes through great government services
• A mindset and work approach that align with Skylight’s core values
• Ability to travel for work from time to time

Nice-to-have qualifications

• Experience with AWS
• Coding experience
• DOD 8570 IAT Level II or III certifications
• Experience with tactical edge deployments or air-gapped solutions
• Experience designing, multi-step forms with thoughtful validation patterns and clear error handling to support seamless user input experiences
• Lead and facilitate collaborative workshops to align stakeholders, gather insights, and drive decision-making
• Experience owning design work by leading projects or serving as the sole designer, balancing strategy, execution, and cross-functional collaboration
• Prior experience working in the civic tech space
• Experience working in a remote-team environment

Other requirements

• All work must be conducted within the U.S., excluding U.S. territories.
• This role requires U.S. citizenship to be eligible for employment.
• As a government contractor, you may be required to obtain a public trust or security clearance, up to Top Secret.
• You may be required to complete a company background check successfully.
• Some of our available roles are on federal contracts that require a degree or additional years of experience as a substitute.

Position type

This is a full-time, exempt position.

Location

This is a fully remote position.

Care package

• Salary ranges for Security Engineer positions:
  • Associate Security Engineer: $90,000–$125,000
  • Security Engineer I: $120,000–$140,000
  • Security Engineer II: $135,000–$160,000
  • Senior Security Engineer: $150,000–$185,000
  • Staff Security Engineer: $170,000–$203,000
  • Principal Security Engineer: $180,000–$230,000

Benefits

• Medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Life and AD&D insurance
• Dependent care FSA, healthcare FSA, health savings account
• Dollar-for-dollar 401(k) match up to 10% of your salary with no vesting period
• Flexible paid time off policy (generally around 25 days per year), plus 11 paid federal holidays
• Up to 12 weeks paid time off for all eligible new birth, adoption, or foster parents
• Performance rewards, including annual salary increase, annual performance bonus, spot bonuses, and stock options
• Business development / sales bonuses
• Referral bonuses
• Annual $2,000 allowance for professional development
• Annual $750 allowance for tech-related purchases
• Annual swag budget of $100 to display your Skylight pride with some merchandise (hoodies, hats, and more)
• Dollar-for-dollar charity donation matching, up to $500 per year
• Flexible, remote-friendly work environment
• An environment that empowers you to unleash your superpowers for public good