About the role
Secure Every Identity, from AI to Human Identity is the key to unlocking the potential of AI. Okta secures AI by building the trusted, neutral infrastructure that enables organizations to safely embrace this new era. This work requires a relentless drive to solve complex challenges with real-world stakes. We are looking for builders and owners who operate with speed and urgency and execute with excellence. This is an opportunity to do career-defining work. We're all in on this mission. If you are too, let's talk. The Staff Product Security Engineer Opportunity As a Staff Product Security Engineer, you will play a critical role in safeguarding Okta’s products by conducting comprehensive security reviews, guiding engineering teams in secure development practices, and handling externally reported vulnerabilities. You will engage in code reviews, penetration testing, and architectural security assessments to ensure the security of Okta’s platforms and features. This role is not suited for individuals who rely solely on automated vulnerability scanning. Instead, you must possess a deep technical understanding of web applications, backend services, penetration testing methodologies, and secure design principles. A successful candidate will have expertise in authentication protocols (SAML, OAuth, OIDC), threat modeling, and a strong desire to automate security processes by building tools that proactively identify vulnerabilities. You will also be responsible for communicating risks, impact, and remediation strategies to developers, leadership, and external audiences through documentation, presentations, and external publications. The ideal candidate will also demonstrate a deep technical background in assessing AI-integrated software architectures and securing Large Language Models (LLMs) against emerging threats and modern vulnerability classes. The ideal candidate will have an attacker mindset—the ability to think critically, creatively, and like an adversary when solving security challenges. We actively support public disclosure of research and findings through white papers, blog posts, and conference presentations. What You Will Do Conduct security reviews, including design reviews, threat modeling, and penetration testing of new features and major changes. Perform manual secure code reviews across multiple programming languages. Identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities, providing clear guidance to engineering teams. Lead product security incidents, assess risks, and drive remediation efforts. Develop security tools and automation to improve vulnerability detection and assessment. Mentor junior engineers and provide guidance to non-security staff on secure development practices. Represent Okta externally through security research, conference talks, and publications. What You Bring Expertise in identifying OWASP Top 10 / CWE Top 25 vulnerabilities through manual code review. Strong experience in penetration testing and secure development practices. Deep technical background in assessing Large Language Models (LLMs) and securing AI-integrated software architectures. Proficiency in multiple programming languages (e.g., Java, Go, Python, C/C++). Deep understanding of authentication & authorization protocols (OIDC, SAML, OAuth). Strong communication skills to explain risks and remediation to developers and leadership. Ability to automate security testing using LLMs and scripting (Python, Bash, etc.). Experience leading security incidents and risk assessments. Desired Skills and Abilities Experience in mobile (iOS/Android) and desktop (Windows/macOS) security testing. Familiarity with SAST, DAST, SCA, and fuzzing tools. Strong cryptographic knowledge and secure implementation practices. Experience analyzing network protocols and traffic security. Ability to develop proof-of-concept exploits to demonstrate vulnerabilities. #LI-SM1 #LI-Hybrid P25262_3462000 The annual base salary range for this position for candidates located in the San Francisco Bay area is between: $180,000 — $247,500 USD Below is the annual base salary range for candidates located in California (excluding San Francisco Bay Area), Colorado, Illinois, New York and Washington. Your actual base salary will depend on factors such as your skills,