Staff Software Engineer, Security Foundations

Responsibilities

You will lead the design and development of backend systems for vulnerability and dependency management while driving the transition toward modular services. This involves collaborating with cross-functional partners to shape technical roadmaps and ensuring the delivery of high-performance, scalable security solutions.

Requirements

The role requires extensive experience in backend engineering, specifically with Ruby on Rails and PostgreSQL, along with a proven track record of leading complex technical projects. Candidates should possess strong communication skills and the ability to guide technical decisions while maintaining a hands-on approach to development.

Skills

• Ruby on Rails
• PostgreSQL
• Go
• Rust
• Backend development
• Vulnerability management
• Dependency management
• System architecture
• Scalable design
• Technical leadership
• API integration
• Data indexing
• Security engineering
• Cloud services
• Software development lifecycle

Benefits

• Flexible Paid Time Off
• Team Member Resource Groups
• Equity Compensation
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Growth and Development Fund
• Parental Leave

About this role

GitLab is the intelligent orchestration platform for DevSecOps. GitLab enables organizations to increase developer productivity, improve operational efficiency, reduce security and compliance risk, and accelerate digital transformation. More than 50 million registered users and more than 50% of the Fortune 100* trust GitLab to ship better, more secure software faster.
The same principles built into our products are reflected in how our team works: we embrace AI as a core productivity multiplier, with all team members expected to incorporate AI into their daily workflows to drive efficiency, innovation, and impact. GitLab is where careers accelerate, innovation flourishes, and every voice is valued. Our high-performance culture is driven by our values and continuous knowledge exchange, enabling our team members to reach their full potential while collaborating with industry leaders to solve complex problems. Co-create the future with us as we build technology that transforms how the world develops software.
*Fortune 500® is a registered trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, used under license. Claim based on GitLab data. Fortune 100 refers to the top 20% ranked companies in the 2025 Fortune 500 list, published in June 2025. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of GitLab.
An overview of this role
As a Staff Software Engineer, you'll help lead two important areas for GitLab Security: the data layer behind our vulnerability and dependency management capabilities, and our move toward services outside the GitLab monolith. You'll design and develop systems that ingest, store, index, and query security report data, including integrations with key third-party systems. With a strong focus on PostgreSQL and scalable backend design, your work will support security features delivered by teams across GitLab.
You'll take ownership of large deliverables from early ideas through implementation, working directly with product, design, frontend, and engineering partners to shape the technical and product roadmap. You'll stay hands-on across GitLab's Ruby on Rails application and newer services, including greenfield projects, while helping the team build its expertise in modular service design.
What you’ll do
Lead large technical deliverables from initial problem definition through delivery, often across multiple months or quarters.
Design and develop backend systems for vulnerability and dependency management, including security report ingestion, storage, indexing, querying, and integrations with key third-party systems.
Build and improve systems using Ruby on Rails and PostgreSQL, and contribute to newer services using technologies such as Go or Rust where appropriate.
Shape technical plans, break down complex work, and help other engineers deliver effectively.
Work directly with product, design, frontend, and engineering partners to make clear decisions, resolve constraints, and deliver measurable progress.
Influence the team's product and technical roadmap through hands-on investigation, clear proposals, and iterative delivery that demonstrates progress in each monthly release cycle.
Apply a security mindset when designing systems, including considering how GitLab identifies and handles malicious or vulnerable software packages.
Define patterns for modular services, provide technical leadership when vulnerability management work spans multiple GitLab areas, and share that expertise across GitLab Security.
What you’ll bring
Experience leading complex backend projects from idea through delivery while remaining hands-on with design and development.
Strong PostgreSQL experience, including evidence of query optimization, table optimization, and write-ahead log management in data-intensive systems.
Strong professional experience with Ruby on Rails or Go and comfort working in Ruby on Rails day to day. Experience with large monoliths is helpful, along with an interest in working across languages and services.
Experience shaping delivery plans, guiding technical decisions, and supporting the work of other engineers.
The ability to collaborate with a range of partners and explain technical trade-offs clearly.
Experience communicating with leaders, leading peers through complex delivery, identifying constraints, and moving work forward.
Experience using security tooling for activities such as vulnerability triage and remediation, or professional experience building vulnerability management, dependency management, or related security products.
Experience with large-scale data systems or established software products. We welcome transferable experience from outside the security domain.
Fluency in using artificial intelligence tools to improve delivery while applying sound engineering judgment.
About the team
The Vulnerability Management team contributes to GitLab's move toward modular services and will help other Security teams adopt these patterns over time. Today, we include two Staff Software Engineers, two Senior Software Engineers, and one Intermediate Software Engineer across the United Kingdom, Poland, the Netherlands, and India. You'll work closely with us, product partners, and engineering leaders across GitLab.
We work with clear goals and shared priorities. You'll receive clear context and outcomes, then have the space to own delivery, communicate decisions and progress, ask for help early, and work directly with the partners needed to get the job done.
How GitLab Supports Full-Time Employees
Benefits to support your health, finances, and well-being
Flexible Paid Time Off
Team Member Resource Groups
Equity Compensation & Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Growth and Development Fund
Parental Leave
Please note that we welcome interest from candidates with varying levels of experience; many successful candidates do not meet every single requirement. Additionally, studies have shown that people from underrepresented groups are less likely to apply...

About GitLab

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