Offer summary

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or computer engineering, or equivalent military experience., 2+ years of software engineering experience in building modern, cloud-hosted applications., 2+ years of security engineering experience in penetration testing or white-box application/hardware security review., Superior written and verbal communication skills, and a strong sense of professionalism..

Key responsibilities:

Identify novel vulnerabilities in cloud and network infrastructure, proprietary software, and hardware products.

Build enumeration and attack tools for discovered vulnerabilities using modern software engineering principles.

Support clients with professionalism and constructive communication while managing engineering risks.

Simulate advanced attackers using developed attack tools to enhance offensive security effectiveness.

Job description

At Praetorian, our mission is to prevent breaches before they occur. We envision a world where cybersecurity is proactive, not reactive—where organizations shift from an "assume breach" mindset to a prevention-first strategy that keeps them ahead of evolving threats.

We deliver on that vision by hiring the top 1% of offensive security talent and empowering them to tackle the industry’s most complex security challenges. Our team of elite engineers operates at the forefront of adversary simulation, application security, cloud security, and beyond.

Through red team engagements, sophisticated attack simulations, and Chariot—our fully managed continuous threat exposure management platform—we help organizations stay in control of their dynamic attack surfaces. Our human-led, tech-enabled approach allows clients to uncover and remediate exploitable vulnerabilities before they can be leveraged by real-world threat actors.

If you’re drawn to technical excellence, continuous learning, and work that truly makes an impact, you’ll thrive at Praetorian.

A “Software Security Engineer” doesn’t mean a security engineer who only focuses on the security of software. Rather, it means a security engineer who writes software to attack any layer of the technology stack.

Praetorian is hiring highly qualified individuals to radically improve the effectiveness and efficiency of offensive security. Our engineers identify novel and unique vulnerabilities, write software that exploits and generalizes these vulnerabilities, and then use the resulting attack tools to thoroughly simulate advanced attackers.

Core Responsibilities

Use vulnerability research techniques to identify novel vulnerabilities in our customers’ cloud infrastructure, network infrastructure, proprietary software, and hardware products
Apply principles of modern software engineering to build enumeration and attack tools for novel vulnerabilities
Demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism, constructive communication, and engineering risk management to support Praetorian’s clients

Required Qualifications

You must have two or more of the following:

A bachelor’s degree in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or equivalent military experience
2+ years of software engineering experience in building modern, cloud-hosted applications
2+ years of security engineering experience in penetration testing involving stealth and evasion
2+ years of security engineering experience in security engineering involving white-box application or hardware security review.

Required Skills

You must have all of the following:

A sense of pride in your work
Superior written and verbal English communication skills
Demonstrated composure and decision making skills under time pressure
Demonstrated history of superior discipline and professionalism
A willingness to get your hands dirty and apply your knowledge to solving real world problem

Desired Qualifications

Candidates with the following qualifications are more likely to be considered for roles at Praetorian:

An advanced degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or computer engineering
A greater duration of experience than the time periods listed under “Required Qualifications”
Experience as a commissioned officer or senior noncommissioned officer
Documented major contributions to open source or closed source offensive security tools
A history of presenting at tier one security conferences
Experience using Cursor, Devin, or similar AI-enabled development tools

We believe in clarity and fairness from the start. For candidates based in California, Colorado, Washington, and New York, the estimated base salary range for this role is $105,000-$140,000. The final offer will be thoughtfully determined based on various factors, including your unique skills, experience, and location. At Praetorian, we recognize that great talent comes with diverse backgrounds—and we’re committed to ensuring each offer reflects the value you bring to our team.

At Praetorian, we don’t just hire for open roles—we seek out mission-driven security professionals who are passionate about outsmarting adversaries and preventing breaches before they happen. If you're drawn to uncovering the unknown, pushing technical boundaries, and making a real impact, you’ll be right at home here.

You’ll work alongside some of the best minds in the industry to help the world’s leading companies take control of their evolving attack surfaces. We thrive on bold thinking, technical excellence, and a shared commitment to building a more secure future.

Ready to do your best work—with the best in the field? Apply today.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

We are committed to an inclusive and diverse Praetorian. We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

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