Staff Security Engineer (Application Security)

TL;DR

Staff Security Engineer (Application Security): Design and build application security systems that help engineers identify and address security risks earlier in the development lifecycle, with an accent on security guardrails, threat modeling, and production-grade automated checks. Focus on leading technical initiatives across teams, including AI security governance and secure design reviews, while shaping long-term application security strategy.

Company

Robinhood builds security systems that help engineers develop and ship products with practical safeguards embedded into the software development lifecycle.

What you will do

• Design and build systems that help engineers identify and address security risks earlier in the development lifecycle
• Partner with product and engineering teams to review system designs, conduct threat modeling, and guide secure implementation
• Develop and maintain security guardrails, including shared libraries, frameworks, and automated checks used in production systems
• Lead initiatives such as AI security governance and automated secure design reviews
• Set standards and improve adoption of secure development patterns across teams

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in application security, product security, or a related field
• Strong experience identifying and addressing security risks earlier in the software development lifecycle
• Experience building production-grade systems in Python or Go that other teams rely on
• Ability to lead technical initiatives across teams without direct authority
• Experience working in environments that prioritize reliability and structured incident response practices
• In-person attendance expected at least 3 days per week in Menlo Park, CA

Culture & Benefits

• Performance-driven compensation with multipliers, bonus programs, and equity ownership
• 401(k) matching and 100% paid health insurance for employees (90% coverage for dependents)
• Flexible “lifestyle wallet” for wellness, learning, and more
• Employer-paid life & disability insurance, fertility benefits, and mental health benefits
• Paid time off, sick time, parental leave, and company holidays
• In-office experience with catered meals, events, and comfortable workspaces

Hiring process

• Interviews to evaluate experience, security approach, and technical leadership
• Compensation and total rewards discussed during the interview process based on location and job-related factors

Location: Menlo Park, CA (in-person at least 3 days per week)

Salary: $217,000 - $255,000 USD (base pay range for Menlo Park, CA / Bellevue, WA / New York, NY / Washington, DC zone)