Security Engineer (Detection and Response)

Security Engineer (Detection and Response)

Full-Time 70000 - 90000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Writer

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Join our security team to protect cutting-edge AI infrastructure from evolving threats.
  • Company: WRITER, a leader in AI technology with a focus on security innovation.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Dynamic role with 24/7 on-call responsibilities and collaboration across multiple teams.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by defending AI systems against sophisticated attacks.
  • Qualifications: 3-5 years in security operations and strong programming skills in Python or similar languages.

The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.

Requirements:

  • 3-5+ years in security operations, detection engineering, or incident response with a proven track record of identifying and stopping sophisticated attacks in production environments.
  • 3+ years specifically securing AI/ML infrastructure, high-performance computing environments, or other distributed systems at scale.
  • Strong programming skills in Python, KQL, SPL, or similar languages that allow you to build custom detection logic, automate response workflows, and create tools that operationalize security at scale across cloud-native and distributed computing environments.
  • Experience with SIEM platforms, detection technologies, and forensic investigation techniques with demonstrated ability to build detection for novel attack techniques that don't have established patterns yet and to conduct forensics in complex distributed environments.
  • Self-directed execution mindset with a track record of securing high-value intellectual property, automating incident response in complex environments, and identifying critical security gaps through proactive threat hunting before they become incidents.
  • Deep alignment with WRITER's values – connecting across security, infrastructure, and AI research teams to build comprehensive defenses, challenging assumptions about what's possible in AI security engineering, and owning the protection of our AI platform with unwavering accountability and a commitment to staying ahead of evolving threats.

What the job involves:

  • Join WRITER's security team as a staff detection and response engineer and help protect the AI infrastructure that's transforming how the world works.
  • Build sophisticated detection systems that identify attacks targeting our AI platform, training data, and model deployments while creating automated response capabilities that scale with our explosive growth.
  • This role combines hands-on security engineering with strategic thinking to stay ahead of novel threats that don't exist in textbooks yet.
  • Be the operational arm of our security function, translating threat intelligence into real-time detections, coordinating incident response across multiple teams, and hunting for sophisticated attacks across GPU clusters and distributed training environments.
  • Work closely with our AI Security research team, Cloud Infrastructure, Software Security Engineering, and AI researchers to build a defence-in-depth strategy that protects one of the most valuable AI platforms in the industry.
  • Design and implement detection strategies that identify AI-specific threats including prompt injection, model extraction, data poisoning, adversarial examples, and unauthorized access to training datasets or model weights across our distributed infrastructure.
  • Build automated response playbooks and orchestration workflows that contain threats without human intervention, creating self-healing security systems that reduce mean time to response from hours to minutes while automatically remediating compromised inference endpoints.
  • Lead security incident response coordination across all teams (Cloud, AppSec, Enterprise, AI Security) when AI infrastructure or models are compromised, conducting forensic investigations on training pipeline attacks and model manipulation attempts while drafting clear incident communications for engineering and executive leadership.
  • Hunt proactively for sophisticated threats across GPU clusters and training infrastructure by analysing model outputs for signs of compromise, reproducing AI-specific vulnerabilities from security research, and identifying visibility gaps in distributed training environments before adversaries exploit them.
  • Build detection-as-code frameworks with version control and automated deployment, onboard telemetry from AI training infrastructure and inference endpoints, and create dashboards that track model security metrics, GPU utilization patterns, and access to sensitive research data.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally as the operational security partner for all teams – translating AI Security's threat research into production detections, monitoring Cloud Infrastructure's GPU clusters for threats, detecting customer-impacting incidents for Software Security Engineering, and enabling responsible AI development through security guardrails.
  • Maintain 24/7 on-call rotation for critical AI security incidents, responding to real-time threats targeting our platform while continuously improving detection coverage and automation capabilities as our AI systems evolve.

Security Engineer (Detection and Response) employer: Writer

At WRITER, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of AI security, offering a dynamic work environment where innovation meets responsibility. As a Security Engineer in San Francisco, you'll not only protect cutting-edge AI infrastructure but also collaborate with top-tier professionals across various teams, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth. With competitive benefits and a commitment to employee development, WRITER is an exceptional employer for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the rapidly evolving field of AI security.

Writer

Contact Details:

Writer Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Security Engineer (Detection and Response)

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Attend industry meetups, webinars, and conferences to connect with folks in the security field. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly to hiring managers.

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those related to AI security or detection engineering. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do and sets you apart from the crowd.

Tip Number 3

Don’t just apply – engage! When you find a role that excites you, reach out to current employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and express your interest in the position. It’s a great way to get noticed!

Tip Number 4

Keep it real! During interviews, be honest about your experiences and how they relate to the job. Share specific examples of how you've tackled security challenges, especially in AI/ML environments. Authenticity goes a long way!

We think you need these skills to ace Security Engineer (Detection and Response)

Security Operations
Detection Engineering
Incident Response
AI/ML Infrastructure Security
High-Performance Computing Security
Distributed Systems Security
Python Programming

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. Highlight your 3-5+ years in security operations and any relevant projects you've worked on that align with AI/ML infrastructure.

Show Off Your Skills:Don’t just list your programming skills; give examples of how you've used Python, KQL, or SPL to build detection logic or automate workflows. We want to see your hands-on experience in action!

Be Proactive:In your application, mention any instances where you’ve identified security gaps or conducted threat hunting before incidents occurred. This shows us you have that self-directed execution mindset we’re looking for.

Connect with Our Values:Demonstrate how you connect across teams, challenge assumptions, and take ownership of security. We love candidates who align with our values and can contribute to building comprehensive defences in AI security.

How to prepare for a job interview at Writer

Know Your Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your security operations and detection engineering knowledge. Be ready to discuss your experience with AI/ML infrastructure and how you've tackled sophisticated attacks in the past. Highlight specific examples where you've identified and stopped threats.

Show Off Your Skills

Prepare to demonstrate your programming skills, especially in Python or KQL. Think of a project where you built custom detection logic or automated workflows. Being able to talk through your code and the impact it had will impress the interviewers.

Think Like an Adversary

Get into the mindset of potential attackers. Be prepared to discuss novel attack techniques and how you would defend against them. This role is all about staying ahead of evolving threats, so showing that you can think strategically will set you apart.

Collaborate and Communicate

This position requires working closely with various teams. Be ready to share examples of how you've successfully collaborated across departments in the past. Clear communication is key, especially when coordinating incident responses, so practice articulating your thoughts clearly.