Staff Software Engineer - Security

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.

Okta’s Workforce Identity Cloud Security Engineering group is looking for an experienced and passionate software security engineer to join a team focused on designing and developing Security solutions to harden our frameworks & infrastructure. We embrace innovation and pave the way to transform bright ideas into excellent security software solutions that help run large-scale, mission-critical software. We encourage you to prescribe defense-in-depth measures, industry security standards, enforce the principle of least privilege to  help take our Security posture to the next level. Our Security engineering team has a niche skill-set that combines Security domain expertise with  the ability to design, implement and rollout security features and functionalities without adding friction to product functionality or performance. We are responsible for the ever-growing need to improve our customer safety and privacy by providing security services that are coupled with the core Okta product.

This is a high-impact role in a security-centric, fast-paced organization that is poised for massive growth and success. You will act as a liaison between the Security org and the engineering org to build technical leverage and influence the security roadmap and direction. You will focus on engineering security and privacy aspects of the systems used across our services while working on a weekly release cadence. You will be empowered to propose  stimulating new projects for our roadmap and rewarded with projects using  emerging technologies.

Bring all the passion and dedication along and there’s no telling what you could accomplish!

Preferred qualification and abilities:

• 8+ years of development experience in designing and implementing software systems in Java, building highly reliable and mission-critical software.
• 4+ years of work experience in designing and implementing security solutions for applications and distributed systems.
• Work experience and excellent understanding in Application Security, Cryptography, Authentication, Authorization, Certificates and Secrets Management.
• Work experience in using Cloud Service Providers such as AWS and GCP.
• Work experience in using RDBMS like MySQL, good grasp of concepts such as  replication and clustering along with familiarity in data stores such as Redis and Elasticsearch.
• Developing and maintaining technical documentation such as cookbooks, design and architecture docs.
• Good understanding in Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) solutions, including quantum-resistant algorithms, cryptographic migration strategies, and secure integration into enterprise systems.
• Good understanding in designing, developing, and securing production-grade agentic AI systems, including autonomous and multi-agent architectures.
• Troubleshooting and fixing production issues to ensure reliability, security and performance.
• Demonstrate strong leadership skills in security and engineering by leading from the front and excellent grasp of software engineering principles coupled with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strategic problem solving abilities to assist in planning, scoping and refining requirements of large and complex initiatives that are ambiguous.
• B.S or M.S in Computer Science or related fields.

Responsibilities :

• Act as a liaison between the engineering, security and product orgs to develop innovative requirements for the security roadmap.
• Evangelize security best practices across the engineering org.
• Research, design, implement and own security oriented frameworks and features with the common goal of protecting Okta’s customers.
• Routinely participate in cross-vertical code reviews with emphasis on Security.
• Break down complex problems into sub-tasks while prototyping rapidly and iteratively contributing to security initiatives using agile practices.
• Coach and mentor junior engineers in the team.

Additional requirements:

• U.S. soil status - the employee must be on U.S. soil, which means the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or outlying areas of the United States, as defined in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 2.101, and be a U.S. person.
• U.S. person status - the employee must be either a U.S. citizen as defined in 42 U.S. Code § 9102; a natural person who is a lawful permanent resident as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20) or who is a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3); or a U.S. national (i.e. includes citizens and non-citizens born in outlying possessions such as American Samoa and Swains Island), green card holders, refugees, and asylees. Working on a U.S. visa does NOT qualify as a U.S. person.

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Okta is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, or status as a protected veteran. We also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and convictions records, consistent with applicable laws.

If reasonable accommodation is needed to complete any part of the job application, interview process, or onboarding please use this Form to request an accommodation.

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