Senior Security Engineer, Research & Engineering

Who We Are

Trail of Bits is the premier place for security experts to boldly advance security and address technology’s newest and most challenging risks. It has helped secure some of the world's most targeted organizations and devices. Our combination of novel research with practical solutions reduces the security risks that our clients face from emerging technologies. Our work helps drive the security industry and the public understanding of the technology underlying our world.

Cybersecurity preparedness is a moving target. Companies like ours are the tip of the spear in the fight against attackers. Our research-based and custom-engineering approach ensures that our client’s capabilities are at the forefront of what’s available. For companies and technologies that live and die by their security, a proactive, tailored approach is required to keep one step ahead of attackers.

Democratizing security information is essential. As part of our business, we provide ongoing informational support through blogs, whitepapers, newsletters, meetups, and open-source tools. The more the community understands security, the more they’ll understand why a company like ours is so unique and valuable.

This role is for a security-focused software engineer who will design, build, and enhance security tools and frameworks across various contexts. You ll work on projects ranging from compiler-based security tools to AI/ML security frameworks, contributing to software that makes a real difference in the security landscape.

You ll work on diverse projects and technologies, developing your expertise across multiple domains while building practical tools to solve security problems. You ll collaborate with researchers, security experts, and clients to understand complex security challenges and implement effective solutions.

Software development will primarily involve Rust, C++, and Python, with occasional work in Go and Java. The role involves maintaining existing projects and creating novel solutions to emerging security challenges.

You will typically work in teams of 2–4 people, all from remote locations. Technical leads guide the team’s work, collaborating with you and other members to define responsibilities based on project needs, individual strengths, and team input. Frequent communication with team members and clients is essential to success, and writing about your work publicly is encouraged and incentivized.

We welcome applications from experienced professionals and talented recent graduates with relevant skills and interests.

Security Tool Development: Design and implement security-focused software tools and frameworks

Open Source Contribution: Contribute to open-source security projects and develop internal tools

Security Solution Architecture: Analyze complex security challenges and develop practical, deployable solutions

Full-Stack Security Understanding: Understand security implications across the stack, from low-level systems to application frameworks

Secure Implementation: Implement secure CI/CD pipelines and integration with Git Hub Actions

AI/ML Security Research: Contribute to AI/ML security research and tooling

Security Code Review: Evaluate and improve the security of existing software through code review and enhancement

Technical Communication: Communicate technical concepts effectively to team members, clients, and the broader security community

Technical Troubleshooting: Root-cause analysis and debugging on low-level technical issues

Project Management: Interpret requirements, decompose tasks, and make engineering estimates

• Strong software development skills with experience in:
  Rust, C++, and/or Python. Occasionally, Go or Java knowledge is necessary
• Knowledge of AI/ML systems and associated security challenges
• Familiarity with AI development tools like Claude Code, Cursor, and others
• Experience with secure development practices and building secure software
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn new programming languages, frameworks, and technologies
• Understanding of computer security principles and common vulnerability classes
• Ability to work independently and as part of a remote…