Cyber Software Engineer Jobs
Cyber Software Engineer jobs are open from new-grad to principal across defense contractors, federal agencies, financial institutions, and cloud providers, with specializations in vulnerability research, secure software development, and reverse engineering. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 113+ Cyber Software Engineer jobs
Preparedness - San Francisco
About the Team
Models are becoming increasingly capable—moving from tools that assist humans to agents that can plan, execute, and adapt in the real world. Mitigating the frontier risks resulting from these capabilities is paramount to OpenAI’s ability to continue deploying models safely.
The Preparedness team is dedicated to addressing these critical risks. Our work includes:
Measurement. Monitoring and predicting the evolving capabilities of frontier AI systems.
Mitigation. Keeping misalignment safeguards, alignment tools, and on track to adequately address extreme threats that might arise in the future.
Coordination. Setting mitigation targets by maintaining OpenAI’s preparedness framework, and partnering with other staff to achieve these targets.
This is urgent, fast-paced work that has far-reaching implications for the company and for society.
About the Role
We’re looking for a very senior, independent Software Engineer to lead the technical work behind cyber safeguard infrastructure in Preparedness. You’ll bring production-grade engineering discipline to systems that support everything from cyber evaluations and safeguard research internally to enabling the safe deployment of capabilities externally, while working closely with researchers and security partners. The right person can move comfortably from ambiguous research needs to robust, operable systems—and can drive the work across organizational boundaries with clear communication.
In this role, you’ll:
Drive the technical direction and hands-on execution for cyber safeguard infrastructure.
Establish production-quality reliability, observability, on-call, and SLA/SLO practices.
Partner with teams across the company - securitys.
Lead cross-functional technical work, create alignment, and unblock collaborators.
Build reliable systems that support cyber evaluations and research workflows.
Improve the scalability, usability, and operational safety of cyber safeguards.
Mentor teammates and raise the engineering bar while remaining deeply hands-on.
You might thrive in this role if you have:
Extensive experience owning large-scale production systems, including reliability, on-call, incident response, SLAs/SLOs, and operational excellence.
Senior/staff-level technical leadership with a track record of driving ambiguous, cross-functional work, especially in cybersecurity.
Strong hands-on software engineering and systems-design skills; you can go deep in the code and architecture, including systems where you are unfamiliar and quickly gain context to make meaningful changes while following existing patterns.
Ability to collaborate closely with researchers and independently turn evolving research needs into robust infrastructure.
Experience thinking and communicating about cyber capability, misuse risk, access patterns, safeguards, and deployment tradeoffs in high-stakes environments.
Experience at a security company, supporting cyber evaluations, or building security/reliability infrastructure is a plus.
Experience moving from strong engineering into research support is a plus; former engineering managers are welcome if they remain deeply technical and hands-on.
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 the full spectrum of humanity.
We are an equal opportunity employeration, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.
Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable lawation technology systems and related data security obligations.
To notify OpenAI that you believe this job posting is non-compliant. No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.
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.
Compensation
$230K – $325K + Offers Equity
The base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factorsance-related bonus(es) for eligible employees, and the following benefits.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts
Pre-tax accounts for Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and commuter expenses (parking and transit)
401(k) retirement plan with employer match
Paid parental leave (up to 24 weeks for birth parents and 20 weeks for non-birthing parents), plus paid medical and caregiver leave (up to 8 weeks)
Paid time off: flexible PTO for exempt employees and up to 15 days annually for non-exempt employees
13+ paid company holidays, and multiple paid coordinated company office closures throughout the year for focus and recharge, plus paid sick or safe time (1 hour per 30 hours worked, or more, as required by applicable state or local law)
Mental health and wellness support
Employer-paid basic life and disability coverage
Annual learning and development stipend to fuel your professional growth
Daily meals in our offices, and meal delivery credits as eligible
Relocation support for eligible employees
Additional taxable fringe benefits, such as charitable donation matching and wellness stipends, may also be provided.
More details about our benefits are available to candidates during the hiring process.
This role is at-will and OpenAI reserves the right to modify base pay and other compensation components at any time based on individual performance, team or company results, or market conditions.
Preparedness - San Francisco
About the Team
Models are becoming increasingly capable—moving from tools that assist humans to agents that can plan, execute, and adapt in the real world. Mitigating the frontier risks resulting from these capabilities is paramount to OpenAI’s ability to continue deploying models safely.
The Preparedness team is dedicated to addressing these critical risks. Our work includes:
Measurement. Monitoring and predicting the evolving capabilities of frontier AI systems.
Mitigation. Keeping misalignment safeguards, alignment tools, and on track to adequately address extreme threats that might arise in the future.
Coordination. Setting mitigation targets by maintaining OpenAI’s preparedness framework, and partnering with other staff to achieve these targets.
This is urgent, fast-paced work that has far-reaching implications for the company and for society.
About the Role
We’re looking for a very senior, independent Software Engineer to lead the technical work behind cyber safeguard infrastructure in Preparedness. You’ll bring production-grade engineering discipline to systems that support everything from cyber evaluations and safeguard research internally to enabling the safe deployment of capabilities externally, while working closely with researchers and security partners. The right person can move comfortably from ambiguous research needs to robust, operable systems—and can drive the work across organizational boundaries with clear communication.
In this role, you’ll:
Drive the technical direction and hands-on execution for cyber safeguard infrastructure.
Establish production-quality reliability, observability, on-call, and SLA/SLO practices.
Partner with teams across the company - securitys.
Lead cross-functional technical work, create alignment, and unblock collaborators.
Build reliable systems that support cyber evaluations and research workflows.
Improve the scalability, usability, and operational safety of cyber safeguards.
Mentor teammates and raise the engineering bar while remaining deeply hands-on.
You might thrive in this role if you have:
Extensive experience owning large-scale production systems, including reliability, on-call, incident response, SLAs/SLOs, and operational excellence.
Senior/staff-level technical leadership with a track record of driving ambiguous, cross-functional work, especially in cybersecurity.
Strong hands-on software engineering and systems-design skills; you can go deep in the code and architecture, including systems where you are unfamiliar and quickly gain context to make meaningful changes while following existing patterns.
Ability to collaborate closely with researchers and independently turn evolving research needs into robust infrastructure.
Experience thinking and communicating about cyber capability, misuse risk, access patterns, safeguards, and deployment tradeoffs in high-stakes environments.
Experience at a security company, supporting cyber evaluations, or building security/reliability infrastructure is a plus.
Experience moving from strong engineering into research support is a plus; former engineering managers are welcome if they remain deeply technical and hands-on.
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 the full spectrum of humanity.
We are an equal opportunity employeration, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.
Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable lawation technology systems and related data security obligations.
To notify OpenAI that you believe this job posting is non-compliant. No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.
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.
Compensation
$230K – $325K + Offers Equity
The base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factorsance-related bonus(es) for eligible employees, and the following benefits.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts
Pre-tax accounts for Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and commuter expenses (parking and transit)
401(k) retirement plan with employer match
Paid parental leave (up to 24 weeks for birth parents and 20 weeks for non-birthing parents), plus paid medical and caregiver leave (up to 8 weeks)
Paid time off: flexible PTO for exempt employees and up to 15 days annually for non-exempt employees
13+ paid company holidays, and multiple paid coordinated company office closures throughout the year for focus and recharge, plus paid sick or safe time (1 hour per 30 hours worked, or more, as required by applicable state or local law)
Mental health and wellness support
Employer-paid basic life and disability coverage
Annual learning and development stipend to fuel your professional growth
Daily meals in our offices, and meal delivery credits as eligible
Relocation support for eligible employees
Additional taxable fringe benefits, such as charitable donation matching and wellness stipends, may also be provided.
More details about our benefits are available to candidates during the hiring process.
This role is at-will and OpenAI reserves the right to modify base pay and other compensation components at any time based on individual performance, team or company results, or market conditions.
Cyber Software Engineer Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Cyber Software Engineer JobsCyber Software Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Northrop Grumman34
- Lockheed Martin22
- Booz Allen Hamilton8
- Nightwing4
- Leidos3
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Science & Research
- Aerospace & Defense
- Technology & Software
- Government & Public Sector
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in cyber software engineer jobs.
- Active or eligibility for a DoD security clearance, often Secret or Top Secret
- Proficiency in C, C++, Python, or Java for security-focused software development
- Experience with static and dynamic analysis tools and vulnerability assessment methodologies
- Knowledge of secure coding practices, NIST frameworks, and software supply chain security
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical field
- Certifications such as CISSP, CEH, OSCP, or CompTIA Security+ preferred or required
Tips for Your Cyber Software Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to clearance requirements
Many cyber software engineer postings specify a clearance level before listing technical skills. Lead your resume with your clearance status and eligibility so hiring managers and automated screeners don't filter you out before reading your technical qualifications.
Highlight language and toolchain specifics
Generic 'programming experience' won't stand out. Name the exact languages you've used for security tooling, such as Python for scripting exploits, C for kernel work, or Rust for memory-safe systems, and match them directly to the job's listed stack.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists cyber software engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by contract vehicle type
Federal cyber roles often specify an IDIQ contract, a specific program office, or a prime contractor. Filtering openings by contract type helps you focus on roles where your clearance, tools, and prior program experience are the strongest match.
Prepare a technical portfolio with sanitized samples
If your work is classified or proprietary, create sanitized versions of tools or write-ups that demonstrate your methodology without exposing sensitive details. Hiring managers in this field understand classification constraints and appreciate candidates who think through disclosure carefully.
Ask specific questions in the interview debrief
At the offer stage, ask about the classification level of the work, on-site versus remote requirements driven by facility security, and the typical timeline from offer to start given clearance processing. These questions signal experience and help you evaluate the role accurately.
Cyber Software Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most cyber software engineers?
Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Booz Allen Hamilton are hiring the most cyber software engineers right now, with openings concentrated in Maryland, Virginia, and Ohio, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is especially high among defense primes and cloud security teams building federal programs.
How many cyber software engineer jobs are remote?
About 18% of cyber software engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though this varies significantly by role type. Positions tied to classified programs or specific facility clearances typically require on-site work, while commercial security software development roles and threat research positions are more likely to offer remote flexibility.
How do you become a cyber software engineer?
Start with a foundation in software development, then layer in security fundamentals through coursework, self-study, or certifications like CompTIA Security+ or OSCP. Build hands-on experience through capture-the-flag competitions, open-source security tooling contributions, or internships. For roles in the defense sector, begin the clearance eligibility process early, as it runs concurrently with technical skill development and can take time to complete.
Can you get a cyber software engineer job with little experience?
Entry-level cyber software engineer roles exist, particularly at defense contractors and federal agencies that run structured new-grad programs tied to clearance pipelines. Demonstrating hands-on work, through CTF results, a GitHub repository of security tools, or a writeup of a vulnerability you discovered and responsibly disclosed, matters more than years of experience when your resume is otherwise thin.
What does the cyber software engineer interview process look like?
Most processes include an initial screen focused on your background and clearance status, followed by a technical round covering secure coding, vulnerability identification, and sometimes a live coding or tool-analysis exercise. Final rounds often involve a panel with engineers and a program or security lead who assess how you reason about threat models and architectural trade-offs rather than just whether your syntax is correct.
Where can I find and apply to cyber software engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to cyber software engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Find roles that match your clearance level, technical stack, and experience, and apply directly to each listing without being redirected to a third-party site or recruiter queue.
See All 113+ Cyber Software Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Cyber Software Engineer Jobs