Senior Product Security Engineer

Senior Product Security Engineer

Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Working from home possible
Chainguard

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Design and secure CI/CD pipelines while leading cloud-native product hardening.
  • Company: Join Chainguard, a leader in open source security for top global enterprises.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible remote work, 100% health coverage, and generous parental leave.
  • Other info: Be part of a customer-obsessed team that values transparency and intentional action.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on software security and work with cutting-edge technologies.
  • Qualifications: 7+ years in software/security engineering with strong Go or Python skills.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

Chainguard is the trusted source for open source. By delivering hardened, secure, and production-ready builds of all the open source software engineers and AI agents rely on, Chainguard helps organizations build faster, stay compliant, and eliminate risk.

The role in a nutshell: You are a deeply technical engineer who gets restless when pipelines aren't locked down. You care about shipping secure software! At Chainguard, you won't be a gate at the end of the process; you'll be embedded in it. This is an individual-contributor Staff role. That means technical leadership, cross-team influence, and owning hard problems.

What you’ll do:

  • Build & Harden Secure Pipelines: Design, build, and maintain secure CI/CD pipelines with security gates that catch issues before they reach production. Systematically, consistently and automatically capture the risk exposure of Chainguard's products. Implement and enforce software supply chain security controls: signed artifacts, SBOMs, provenance attestation (SLSA, Sigstore / Cosign). Proactively identify emerging customer security needs, and build solutions to meet these.
  • Cloud-Native Product Hardening: Lead security architecture reviews and threat models for Kubernetes-based workloads running on GCP and AWS. Harden container images, Kubernetes cluster configurations, and cloud IAM postures — minimising attack surface across our product stack. Define and drive adoption of baseline security standards: pod security standards, network policies, workload identity, secrets management. Evaluate and operationalise CNAPP / CSPM tooling to maintain continuous visibility into cloud-native risk.

What we're looking for:

  • Required: 7+ years in software engineering, security engineering, or a combined role with meaningful hands-on security responsibility throughout. Strong proficiency in Go or Python, with the ability to write, review, and debug production-quality code. Deep, hands-on experience with Kubernetes in production (cluster hardening, RBAC, network policies, admission controllers). Practical expertise with GCP and/or AWS: IAM, workload identity, secrets management, security services (e.g., GCP Security Command Center, AWS Security Hub). Proven track record designing and securing CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Cloud Build, Tekton, or similar). Fluency with container security: image scanning, distroless/minimal base images, runtime security. Experience with software supply chain security tooling and frameworks (Sigstore, SLSA, SBOM generation). Solid understanding of OWASP, NIST, and cloud security frameworks and how to apply them pragmatically.
  • Nice to Have: Familiarity with Chainguard Images or other minimal/hardened container base image ecosystems. Experience with policy-as-code tools (OPA, Kyverno, Conftest). Contributions to open source security projects. Background in security research or offensive security (bug bounty, CTF, penetration testing).

About Us: We live and breathe our company values: We are customer obsessed — We focus on delivering solutions to our customers that create value and make their lives better. We have a bias for intentional action — We prioritize, plan, try things, and fail fast. We don't take ourselves too seriously (but we do serious work) — We are solving an important problem which takes focus, but we also like to enjoy the journey. We trust each other and assume good intentions — We're transparent with decisions to empower team members to make well informed decisions.

A few of the benefits we offer:

  • Flexible & Remote-First Culture: Work remotely with team meetup opportunities, bi-annual destination summits, and a monthly stipend for coworking spaces, phone and internet costs.
  • Our Approach to Equity: Receive stock options upon hire and promotion. Plus, you can participate in secondary offerings and have 10 years to exercise your options.
  • 100% Covered Health Insurance: We cover 100% of your health, vision and dental insurance premiums for you and your dependents.
  • ∞ Flexible Time Off: Take the time you need – to do our best work, we need to recharge and reset.
  • 18 Weeks Paid Parental Leave: We offer 18 weeks for birthing parents and 12 weeks for non-birthing parents, with the option to use it all at once or throughout your child's first year.

If your experience is close but doesn't fulfill all requirements, please apply. We're building the best team in technology and are focused on hiring "Chainguardians" with unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Chainguard is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Chainguard will process your personal data in accordance with Chainguard's Global Candidate Privacy Notice.

Senior Product Security Engineer employer: Chainguard

At Chainguard, we pride ourselves on being a remote-first employer that champions flexibility and work-life balance, allowing our Senior Product Security Engineers to thrive in a supportive environment. With 100% covered health insurance, generous parental leave, and stock options, we ensure our team members are well taken care of while they tackle meaningful challenges in securing open source software. Our culture fosters collaboration and innovation, empowering employees to take intentional action and grow their careers alongside industry leaders.

Chainguard

Contact Details:

Chainguard Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Product Security Engineer

Get Involved in the Cybersecurity Community

Diving into the cybersecurity community is key for landing that full-time gig. Join forums like Reddit's r/cybersecurity or attend local meetups to connect with industry veterans and other job seekers. Networking is everything in this field—don’t just be a passive lurker!

Show Off Your Skills with Capture the Flag Competitions

Participate in Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions; these are not just a fun way to boost your skills but also a chance to showcase your talent to potential employers. Many companies, including Chainguard, love seeing candidates who actively engage in these challenges.

Tailor Your Online Presence

Make sure your LinkedIn and any professional profiles reflect your cybersecurity expertise. Share your projects, whether they’re personal or from a previous role, to catch the eye of hiring managers. This is how they’ll find your passion and commitment to the field!

Apply Directly Through Chainguard

Don’t forget to head straight to our website and check out any openings for cybersecurity roles at Chainguard. Applying directly can sometimes give you an edge, especially if you can mention that you've been following our work or engaging in the community.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Product Security Engineer

Go
Python
Kubernetes
GCP
AWS
CI/CD Pipelines
Container Security

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show off your technical skills:In cybersecurity, it's crucial to highlight your technical prowess. Make sure your CV showcases specific skills like network security, penetration testing, or threat analysis. If you have relevant certifications (like CEH or CISSP), pop those on the front page to grab attention!

Tailor your portfolio for the role:Even for a full-time role, a portfolio can set you apart. If you've worked on any cybersecurity projects—be it CTF challenges, security assessments, or research papers—include these in your application. This demonstrates not just your skills, but also your hands-on experience!

Use real-world examples:When writing your cover letter, don’t just stick to your qualifications. Share real-world examples of how you’ve tackled security issues or vulnerabilities. This gives the hiring team at Chainguard insight into your practical problem-solving abilities and makes your application memorable.

Demonstrate your passion for cybersecurity:Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, so show us that you’re always learning! Mention any recent courses, webinars, or industry events you’ve attended. This not only exhibits your enthusiasm but also signals to Chainguard that you’re committed to staying ahead in the game.

How to prepare for a job interview at Chainguard

Sharpen Your Technical Skills

For a role in cybersecurity, it’s essential to be up-to-date with the latest tools and techniques. Brush up on your knowledge of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and vulnerability assessment tools. Be ready to discuss specific scenarios where you’ve applied these skills, as hands-on experience can really set us apart in interviews.

Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions

Expect the interviewers at Chainguard to throw in some hypothetical situations to see how you’d handle them. Think about common security breaches or incidents and be prepared to explain how you would respond. This not only shows your problem-solving skills but also your understanding of real-world cybersecurity challenges.

Highlight Your Certifications

Certifications like CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or CEH can give you a significant edge in a full-time role in cybersecurity. Make sure to mention these during your interview and be prepared to discuss what you learned through those certifications and how they relate to the position at Chainguard.

Show Your Passion for Cybersecurity

Since you’re going for a full-time gig, showing genuine enthusiasm for the field can make all the difference. Share any personal projects, blogs, or communities you’re part of that relate to cybersecurity. This not only showcases your passion but also your commitment to staying engaged in this ever-evolving field.