Code Red is partnered with a well-backed and rapidly growing Series A startup in NYC to help them hire a Founding Security Engineer. In this role, you'll own & build the security foundation of a next-gen AI platform designed to protect people from real-world online threat (phishing, impersonation, identity fraud & social engineering).
Backed by top-tier investors and led by a team with multiple successful startup outcomes, they're building from first principles with security at the core of their mission. If you're someone who's unafraid to dive into complex technical challenges- often building functional v0s that evolve into scalable production systems- then keep reading
What You'll Achieve:
- Build and contribute to the foundational security program for a fast-moving, AI-powered security startup
- Design and implement secure infrastructure, product hardening, and security capabilities (detection & response, IR, etc.) from scratch
- Work closely with founders and early engineers to define and execute on the long-term vision for security engineering
- Shape the technical culture and security values of the company as it scales from first customers to widespread adoption
- Partner with customers who are some of the most socially meaningful individuals on the planet- their brands, reputations, & names move billions daily
- Grow organically with the team as it matures, evolving into a leader who embraces and helps enforce a high-impact, high-performance culture that you helped build
What You'll Bring:
- 5+ years of experience in security engineering, with hands-on work building secure systems/platforms across multiple domains (AppSec, Infra/Cloud, ProdSec, SOC, etc.)
- Experience with threat modeling new features, reviewing architecture, and proactively identifying risks before they ship (bonus if you've worked in cybersecurity research or developed fraud detection/anti-phishing systems)
- Hands-on experience with cloud security (AWS/GCP/Azure), a solid grasp of IaC best practices
- Strong software engineering fundamentals (you can ship production-grade code without relying on SWEs to read/understand code)
- Ability to wear many hats, operate autonomously, and thrive in ambiguity
- Exceptional communication skills- you can explain tradeoffs, document clearly, and influence without authority
- Pragmatic mindset: You treat technologies as tools with tradeoffs. While you may be opinionated, you're not ideological- you're curious, adaptable & open-minded to new ideas
Logistics:
- NYC-based (onsite preferred, potential flex to hybrid)
- $175-225k base salary + equity (based on leveling, interview & candidate's experience)
- Visa sponsorship is not available for this opportunity