At a Glance
- Tasks: Architect and lead the development of a cutting-edge cybersecurity policy platform.
- Company: Join Menlo Security, a leader in secure communication and collaboration.
- Benefits: Enjoy a collaborative culture, competitive salary, and opportunities for growth.
- Other info: Be part of a fun, inclusive team that values creativity and initiative.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in cybersecurity while working with innovative technologies.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in backend development; expertise in Python, Node.js, or Go required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Menlo Security's mission is enabling the world to connect, communicate and collaborate securely without compromise. COVID-19 has made our mission all the more real. We support customers across various enterprises including Fortune 500 companies, 9/10 of the largest global banks and the Department of Defense. The world has fundamentally changed. We are growing from 400 employees into the next phase of our journey, and we need passionate talent filled with empathy and agility. The right candidate for the job is ethical, hyper-organized, fanatical about seeing things through to completion, service-oriented, and humble enough to take feedback and coaching yet confident enough to provide feedback and coaching.
Menlo Security is seeking a Principal Software Engineer I for the R&D Policy Team. This team owns the full lifecycle of Menlo’s cybersecurity policy platform — the engine that defines how the product protects enterprise customers from web-based threats. That spans policy storage and management (authoring, versioning, and serving the rules that govern customer security posture), policy distribution (propagating policy changes reliably and at scale to enforcement points globally), and real-time enforcement (applying policies at traffic inspection time to block, isolate, or allow web activity). You will architect critical services across this stack, lead cross-functional initiatives, and help shape how the team builds software in an era where AI is a first-class engineering tool.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Architect, design, and own services across the policy platform — from policy storage and versioning APIs, to the distribution pipeline that propagates rule changes to enforcement nodes, to the enforcement layer that applies policies at inspection time with low latency and high availability.
- Evaluate the current state of policy management, distribution, and enforcement; design and lead a seamless modernization of the architecture that eliminates technical debt and scales for the future — without impacting customers or altering enforcement behavior.
- Lead design reviews and gain consensus on architectural decisions within the Policy Team; keep module designs current and sign off on significant code and design changes.
- Champion AI-assisted development practices (LLM-based coding assistants, automated test generation) and identify opportunities to embed ML/AI into policy features such as intelligent policy recommendations or anomaly-based threat detection.
- Own complex projects end-to-end — requirements through deployment and monitoring — breaking work into well-scoped tasks for junior engineers and unblocking teammates to maintain velocity.
- Partner with Product Management, Security, and Operations to align on requirements and schedules; produce accurate estimates and surface risks early.
- Mentor engineers through code reviews and design discussions; contribute to documentation and knowledge transfer across teams.
WHAT YOU NEED
- 8+ years of hands-on backend development in Python, Node.js, or Go; 5+ years with cloud platforms (AWS or GCP), including managed Kubernetes (EKS/GKE).
- Proven experience architecting distributed systems with strong reliability, scalability, and low-latency requirements — ideally in a security, networking, or high-throughput data path context.
- Hands-on experience developing, debugging, and troubleshooting backend services in Linux environments; working knowledge of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, TLS, HTTP/2, DNS, proxying) relevant to policy enforcement work.
- Experience with policy or rules engines, configuration distribution systems, or real-time traffic inspection is a strong plus.
- Demonstrated experience designing and executing large-scale data or schema migrations in live production systems — ideally with multi-tenant, zero-downtime, and behavioral-equivalence requirements.
- Proficiency with data storage and analytics technologies such as Redis, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Apache Druid or similar OLAP systems.
- Hands-on experience with AI-assisted development tools (GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code, Gemini, or similar) and familiarity with LLM APIs and responsible AI practices in production.
- Strong knowledge of HTTP security; experience with web security — URL classification, content filtering, or threat intelligence — is highly desirable.
- Experience with FedRAMP, SOC 2, or FIPS 140-2/140-3 compliance frameworks is a plus.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; proactive, self-directed, and rigorous with documentation and detail.
- B.S. in Computer Science or related field required; M.S. preferred.
Our culture is collaborative, inclusive, and fun! We have five core values: Stay Aligned, Get It Done, Customer Empathy, Think Creatively and Help Each Other Out. We believe in open communication, supporting new ideas, and sharing a mutual mindset of what we’re aiming to achieve together. There are tremendous opportunities to take initiative, implement new ideas, and have a hand in building a legacy.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or on the basis of disability.
Principal Engineer I in Bracknell employer: Menlo Security
Menlo Security is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and inclusive work culture, where employees are encouraged to take initiative and contribute to meaningful projects in the cybersecurity space. With a strong focus on employee growth, our team members benefit from mentorship opportunities and the chance to work with cutting-edge technologies, including AI-assisted development tools. Located in a dynamic environment, Menlo offers a unique opportunity to be part of a rapidly growing company that values creativity, customer empathy, and teamwork.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Engineer I in Bracknell
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at meetups. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repo showcasing your projects. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do and how you think.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practicing common questions and coding challenges. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using platforms that simulate real interview scenarios.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Engineer I in Bracknell
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Principal Engineer I role. Highlight your experience with backend development, cloud platforms, and any relevant projects that showcase your skills in cybersecurity and policy management.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific achievements that demonstrate your impact in previous roles. Use metrics where possible to show how you’ve improved systems or processes, especially in areas like reliability and scalability.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon unless it’s relevant to the role. This will help us quickly understand your qualifications and fit for the position.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This ensures your application is seen by the right people and helps us streamline the process. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Menlo Security
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially Python, Node.js, or Go. Brush up on your cloud platform knowledge, particularly AWS or GCP, and be ready to discuss how you've architected distributed systems in the past.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to discuss specific examples where you've tackled complex projects from start to finish. Highlight how you broke down tasks for junior engineers and unblocked teammates, demonstrating your leadership and mentoring abilities.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Menlo values teamwork, so be ready to talk about how you've partnered with product management, security, and operations in previous roles. Share experiences where you aligned on requirements and schedules, and how you communicated risks effectively.
✨Be Ready for AI Discussions
Since the role involves championing AI-assisted development practices, come prepared to discuss your experience with AI tools like GitHub Copilot. Think of ways you could integrate AI into policy features and be ready to share your thoughts on responsible AI practices.
