Security Engineer, Agent Security at OpenAI

San Francisco, California, United States

OpenAI Logo
$325,000 – $405,000Compensation
Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Artificial Intelligence, TechnologyIndustries

Requirements

  • Strong software-engineering skills in Python or at least one systems language (Go, Rust, C/C++), plus a track record of shipping and operating secure, high-reliability services
  • Deep expertise in modern isolation techniques – experience with container security, kernel-level hardening, and other isolation methods
  • Hands-on network security experience – implementing identity-based controls, policy enforcement, and secure large-scale telemetry pipelines
  • Clear, concise communication that bridges engineering, research, and leadership audiences; comfort influencing roadmaps and driving consensus
  • Bias for action & ownership – you thrive in ambiguity, move quickly without sacrificing rigor, and elevate the security bar company-wide from day one
  • Cloud security depth on at least one major provider (Azure, AWS, GCP), including identity federation, workload IAM, and infrastructure-as-code best practices
  • Familiarity with AI/ML security challenges – experience addressing risks associated with advanced AI systems (nice-to-have but valuable)

Responsibilities

  • Architecting security controls for agentic AI – design, implement, and iterate on identity, network, and runtime-level defenses (e.g., sandboxing, policy enforcement) that integrate directly with the Agent Infrastructure stack
  • Building production-grade security tooling – ship code that hardens safety monitoring pipelines across agent executions at scale
  • Collaborating cross-functionally – work daily with Agent Infrastructure, product, research, safety, and security teams to balance security, performance, and usability
  • Influencing strategy & standards – shape the long-term Agent Security roadmap, publish best practices internally and externally, and help define industry standards for securing autonomous AI

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Threat ModelingSecurity FrameworksSecurity PoliciesSecurity ControlsIsolation StrategiesSafety MonitoringAgentic AI Security

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the salary range for the Security Engineer position?

The salary range is $325K - $405K.

Is this role remote or based in an office?

This role is based in San Francisco, CA, with a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week. OpenAI offers relocation assistance to new employees.

What skills are required for this Security Engineer role?

Strong software-engineering skills in Python or at least one systems language (Go, Rust, C/C++) are required, along with a track record of shipping and operating production systems. Expertise in securing complex systems, designing isolation strategies, threat modeling, and cross-functional collaboration is also needed.

What is the team culture like for the Agent Security team?

The team works in a fast-paced, innovative environment, thriving in ambiguity, shipping solutions quickly with high quality, and collaborating cross-functionally with Agent Infrastructure, product, research, safety, and security teams.

What makes a strong candidate for this role?

A versatile engineer who thrives in ambiguity, makes meaningful contributions from day one, ships solutions quickly with high security standards, drives innovative solutions for agent security, and has expertise in securing complex AI systems.

OpenAI

Develops safe and beneficial AI technologies

About OpenAI

OpenAI develops and deploys artificial intelligence technologies aimed at benefiting humanity. The company creates advanced AI models capable of performing various tasks, such as automating processes and enhancing creativity. OpenAI's products, like Sora, allow users to generate videos from text descriptions, showcasing the versatility of its AI applications. Unlike many competitors, OpenAI operates under a capped profit model, which limits the profits it can make and ensures that excess earnings are redistributed to maximize the social benefits of AI. This commitment to safety and ethical considerations is central to its mission of ensuring that artificial general intelligence (AGI) serves all of humanity.

San Francisco, CaliforniaHeadquarters
2015Year Founded
$18,433.2MTotal Funding
LATE_VCCompany Stage
AI & Machine LearningIndustries
1,001-5,000Employees

Benefits

Health insurance
Dental and vision insurance
Flexible spending account for healthcare and dependent care
Mental healthcare service
Fertility treatment coverage
401(k) with generous matching
20-week paid parental leave
Life insurance (complimentary)
AD&D insurance (complimentary)
Short-term/long-term disability insurance (complimentary)
Optional buy-up life insurance
Flexible work hours and unlimited paid time off (we encourage 4+ weeks per year)
Annual learning & development stipend
Regular team happy hours and outings
Daily catered lunch and dinner
Travel to domestic conferences

Risks

Elon Musk's legal battle may pose financial and reputational challenges for OpenAI.
Customizable ChatGPT personas could lead to privacy and ethical concerns.
Competitors like Anthropic raising capital may intensify market competition.

Differentiation

OpenAI's capped profit model prioritizes ethical AI development over unlimited profit.
OpenAI's AI models, like Sora, offer unique video creation from text descriptions.
OpenAI's focus on AGI aims to create AI systems smarter than humans.

Upsides

OpenAI's $6.6 billion funding boosts its AI research and computational capacity.
Customizable ChatGPT personas enhance user engagement and satisfaction.
OpenAI's 'Operator' AI agent could revolutionize workforce automation by 2025.

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