Security Engineer, Offensive Security

As a Security Engineer at OpenAI, you'll engage in open-scope red and purple team operations, conducting realistic attack simulations that strengthen our defenses. You'll collaborate with defensive security teams to enhance detection, response, and mitigation capabilities, and perform thorough penetration testing on our various products. Your role also involves leveraging automation to optimize offensive techniques and shaping our security strategy with invaluable attacker perspectives.

To excel in the Security Engineer role at OpenAI, candidates should possess at least 7 years of hands-on red team experience or equivalent expertise. Ideal applicants will have in-depth knowledge of offensive security operations within modern tech companies. Experience in conducting security assessments in cloud environments, particularly Azure, and from diverse technology stacks like Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, and several programming environments is essential.

Yes, the Security Engineer position at OpenAI is open to remote employees. Additionally, if you prefer an office environment, we offer relocation assistance to our offices located in San Francisco, Seattle, or New York City, providing flexible options to suit your working preferences.

Candidates for the Security Engineer role at OpenAI should demonstrate strong coding abilities that enable them to write robust tools and automation scripts for offensive operations. Experience in automating security assessments and using advanced tools to streamline processes is crucial to optimize your effectiveness in this position.

The Security Engineer team culture at OpenAI emphasizes collaboration and innovation. You'll find yourself working in a supportive environment focused on continuous improvement and knowledge sharing. The team prioritizes engagement in a robust security culture, encouraging each member to contribute unique insights and drive strategic advancements in our security posture.

In answering this question, be sure to focus on the methodology you used, the tools involved, and any significant findings you discovered. Highlight how these findings were communicated to stakeholders and what actions were taken as a result. This demonstrates not just your technical skill, but also your ability to drive change within an organization.

When prioritizing vulnerabilities, consider factors such as the severity of the vulnerability, potential impact, exploitability, and the assets affected. Highlight your approach for both immediate remediation and longer-term strategy, explaining how this prioritization aligns with business operations.

Address this scenario by emphasizing the importance of a well-defined escalation protocol. Discuss your immediate steps, which might include documenting the finding, communicating with the appropriate teams, and ensuring that remediation efforts are initiated swiftly, all while maintaining operational integrity.

Discuss the importance of collaboration and communication. Explain how you work closely with defensive teams to share insights about potential threats and vulnerabilities, facilitating a proactive rather than reactive security posture that strengthens overall security infrastructure.

Share a specific instance where your automation led to the discovery of a significant vulnerability or threat. Outline your thought process, the subsequent actions taken, and lessons learned, demonstrating your ability to adapt and improve security practices.

Identify programming languages you are proficient in, such as Python or Bash, and explain why you choose them for automation. Discuss the libraries or frameworks you utilize, and describe how they enhance your efficiency and effectiveness in offensive security.

Talk about the resources you leverage, such as industry blogs, security forums, conferences, or communities. Highlight any specific thought leaders or entities whose work you follow to learn about emerging threats and best practices for mitigation.

Discuss your familiarity with cloud security best practices, specifically in Azure. Mention any specific projects or assessments you've completed, and describe the challenges faced in securing cloud-based environments while sharing insights into solutions implemented.

Explain your approach to assessing the security posture of CI/CD pipelines, focusing on integrating security testing throughout the development lifecycle. Include examples of security checks you implement and how they help identify vulnerabilities early in the deployment process.

Express your enthusiasm for OpenAI's mission to ensure AI benefits humanity. Discuss how the company's innovative approach to technology resonates with your career goals and aligns with your values regarding ethical AI and security practices.