Senior Security Engineer, Application Security

Who We Are

Founded in 2012 by 3 expert hackers with no investment capital, 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.

Role

Trail of Bits seeks a Senior Security Engineer, Application Security within our growing Software Assurance team. You will conduct comprehensive security assessments of client applications with a particular focus on MacOS environments, examining everything from low-level system internals to application architecture, security boundaries, and hardware interfaces. On any given day, you might analyze vulnerabilities in system components, automate bug finding, exploit privilege escalation vulnerabilities in kernel drivers, or review security boundaries and isolation mechanisms.

Working alongside other application security engineers, you’ll contribute to client projects while building impactful tools. You will have opportunities to collaborate with our Research & Engineering team to help secure funding from government agencies for software security research that advances the state of the art, both within our team and the industry at large.

What You’ll Achieve

• Security Assessment: Conduct comprehensive security assessments across various platforms with deep expertise in MacOS applications, examining vulnerabilities in system components, kernel extensions, and application sandboxing while developing mitigation strategies.
• Security Tool Development: Design and implement custom security tools for automated vulnerability detection, focusing on both platform-specific and general application security testing needs.
• Architecture Review: Perform detailed architecture reviews and threat modeling of complex systems and applications, identifying potential security weaknesses and providing remediation guidance across different platforms and architectures. 
• Client Engagement: Work directly with industry-leading teams to review their code and architecture, helping secure their products through deep technical analysis and recommendations. 
• Research & Innovation: Contribute to the advancement of application security, developing new methodologies and tools while staying up to date with the latest security developments across the industry.

What You’ll Bring

• MacOS Security Expertise: Extensive experience in MacOS security, with demonstrated ability to identify and mitigate system-level vulnerabilities across complex applications.
• Assessment Experience: Track record of conducting technical security assessments of MacOS applications and implementing effective security measures.
• Technical Capabilities: Strong debugging and reverse engineering skills, experience with fuzzing and static analysis tools, and cloud-native technologies. 
• Programming Proficiency: Strong knowledge of Objective-C and Swift, with additional proficiency in languages such as Python, C++, Rust, and Go.
• Communication Skills: Ability to effectively communicate complex security concepts to diverse stakeholders and deliver clear, actionable recommendations.

The base salary for this full-time position ranges from $170,000 to $230,000 excluding benefits and potential bonuses. Various factors influence our salary ranges, including the specific role, level of seniority, geographic location, and the nature of the employment contract. An individual's specific work location, unique skills, experience, and relevant educational background will determine the final offer within this range. The presented salary range encompasses the starting salaries for all U.S. locations. For a precise salary estimate tailored to your preferred location, please discuss it with your recruiter during the hiring process.

Trail of Bits, Inc. participates in E-Verify, the US federal electronic employment eligibility verification program. Learn more. 

Benefits

Benefits, Perks & Wellness

Trail of Bits is our people, not a place. With over 100+ employees working from every time zone across the globe, our remote-first culture is built on autonomy and trust (and backed by smile-worthy benefits) for full-time employees:

Empowered Living:

• Competitive salary complemented by performance-based bonuses.
• Fully company-paid insurance packages, including health, dental, vision, disability, and life.
• A solid 401(k) plan with a 5% match of your base salary.
• 20 days of paid vacation with flexibility for more, adhering to jurisdictional regulations.

Nurturing New Beginnings:

• 4 months of parental leave to cherish the arrival of new family members.
• Our team is global and remote-first. However, if you are interested in moving to NYC, we offer $5,000 in relocation assistance to support your transition.

Work & Life Enrichment:

• $1,000 Working-from-Home stipend to create a comfortable and productive home office.
• Annual $750 Learning & Development stipend for continuous personal and professional growth.
• Company-sponsored all-team celebrations, including travel and accommodation, to foster community and recognize achievements.

Community Impact:

• Philanthropic contribution matching up to $2,000 annually.

Dedication to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB)

Trail of Bits is a community of innovators, risk-takers, and trailblazers who celebrate individual differences and recognize that unique perspectives make us stronger, smarter, and more successful. We actively seeks applicants who can bring a variety of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds to the team. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sex, pregnancy, pregnancy-related condition, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, qualified handicap, gender identity, results of genetic testing, military status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Our team values diversity in experience and backgrounds—we do our best work when we create space for different voices and perspectives. Whatever unique experiences or skill sets you bring, we look forward to learning from each other.