Security Operation Engineer

The Security Operations Engineer at our company will be primarily responsible for developing and managing a comprehensive vulnerability management program. This includes creating threat models for GCP and on-prem Linux systems, coordinating penetration testing engagements with external vendors, and managing a bug bounty program. Additionally, the Engineer will support security compliance efforts and track security metrics.

To qualify for the Security Operations Engineer position, you should have at least 3 years of experience in security operations or vulnerability management. You need to demonstrate a strong understanding of threat modeling methodologies and experience with vulnerability scanning tools. Understanding security frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO 27001 is also beneficial.

Yes, having familiarity with cloud security platforms like AWS, GCP, and Azure is considered a preferred qualification for the Security Operations Engineer role. Given the growing reliance on cloud infrastructure, understanding cloud security will be important for this position.

The Security Operations Engineer will work in our Mountain View office, as this position requires in-office presence 5 days a week. This collaborative environment encourages interaction with various teams to address security findings and support the development of robust security measures.

While not strictly required, holding a CISSP certification or other relevant security certifications is highly preferred for the Security Operations Engineer role. This indicates to us that you possess a solid understanding of security practices and principles, which can significantly enhance our security posture.

When answering, discuss how a vulnerability management program involves identifying, classifying, prioritising, remediating, and mitigating vulnerabilities in software and systems. Emphasize the program's iterative nature, highlighting how continuous assessment and improvement are essential in maintaining security.

In your response, outline that threat modeling combines identifying assets, potential threats, vulnerabilities, and determining the possible impact to create a structured approach for prioritising security measures. Mention specific methodologies you are familiar with, which might include STRIDE or PASTA.

Share specific tools you’ve used, such as Nessus, Qualys, or other relevant software. Explain how these tools help automate the identification of vulnerabilities and how they integrate into your overall security processes.

Detail your involvement in scheduling and overseeing penetration tests, including how you select third-party vendors. Discuss the importance of this process in identifying weaknesses before they can be exploited and how you follow up on the findings.

Discuss your systematic approach to incident management, emphasizing the importance of documenting incidents, conducting root cause analysis, and mitigating risks efficiently. Talk about how you work with teams to remediate vulnerabilities based on severity.

If you’ve managed a bug bounty program before, explain how you set it up, coordinated submissions, and triaged findings. If not, reference your understanding of how such programs harness crowd-sourced security testing.

Explain your proactive approach to maintaining compliance, which might include regular audits, security assessments, and staying updated on framework changes. Discuss the ongoing documentation and collaboration needed with various departments.

Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) that you believe are essential, such as incidence response times, vulnerability closure rates, or compliance scores. Discuss how you leverage these metrics to improve your programs.

Prepare a specific example that shows your problem-solving skills, technical knowledge, and teamwork. Be sure to outline the issue, your approach to resolving it, and the positive outcomes achieved.

Provide a personalized answer that relates your skills and career goals to the role and company culture. Highlight your enthusiasm for contributing to their mission and how your experiences align with their objectives.