Senior Software Engineer, Application Security

As a Senior Software Engineer in Application Security at Robinhood, you will design, build, and maintain secure applications, focusing on both proactive vulnerability identification and risk management. You will also mentor junior developers and lead complex projects, ensuring that security practices are seamlessly integrated into the development lifecycle.

Candidates applying for the Senior Software Engineer position in Application Security at Robinhood should have over 5 years of software development experience, along with at least 3 years working on low latency and large-scale distributed systems. Proficiency in languages such as Go or Python and strong communication skills are essential.

At Robinhood, collaboration is key. The Application Security team works alongside various engineering teams to drive impactful solutions and share knowledge. They promote a culture of communication, inclusiveness, and mentorship, making it easier to achieve shared goals.

Essential technical skills for this role include proficiency in Go or Python, as well as a deep understanding of building and maintaining scalable, distributed systems. Excellent problem-solving abilities and production debugging skills are also critical for success in this position.

The salary for a Senior Software Engineer in Application Security at Robinhood varies by location, with Zone 1 (Bellevue, WA; Menlo Park, CA; New York, NY) ranging from $187,000 to $220,000. Compensation discussions will also take into account factors like education, experience, and market demands.

When discussing your experience, focus on specific projects where you implemented security measures within the software development lifecycle. Highlight any frameworks or tools you've utilized to enhance application security and the impact these had on the overall product.

Explain your preference for programming languages like Go or Python in the context of building secure applications, citing their features that promote security, ease of use, or community support. Provide examples of projects where you've successfully used these languages to improve security.

Discuss your systematic approach to vulnerability identification, such as code reviews, automated testing, or using security tools. Talk about your experiences addressing vulnerabilities and how you prioritize remediation efforts to align with business needs.

Prepare to discuss current trends like DevSecOps integration, threat modeling practices, or the rise of API security vulnerabilities. Relate these trends to your experiences and how you believe they should shape the future of application security.

Share your strategies for breaking down complex security concepts into relatable terms and using analogies or visual aids. Emphasize the importance of clear communication to foster a security-focused culture across different teams.

Provide a detailed account of the mentoring process. Discuss the best practices you taught, the challenges faced, and the eventual improvements in both the junior developer's skills and the overall team's security posture.

Explain your familiarity with different testing methodologies such as Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), or Manual Code Review. Discuss how you've applied these methodologies in your work to safeguard applications.

Detail a step-by-step action plan for managing a security incident. Highlight your experience in incident response, including communication with stakeholders, immediate remedial actions, and post-incident analysis to prevent recurrence.

Discuss your approaches to cultivating secure coding practices, such as regular training sessions, code reviews, and integrating security tools in the CI/CD pipeline to foster awareness and diligence among team members.

Share a specific project where you successfully enhanced system performance alongside maintaining or improving security measures. Discuss the balance between optimization and security to illustrate your capability in this dual focus.