Intermediate Backend Engineer, Security Risk Management: Security Policies (Ruby)
An overview of this role
Join GitLab's Security Policies team and architect the security infrastructure that protects millions of applications worldwide! As a Backend Engineer, you'll tackle one of the industry's most critical challenges: making security enforcement seamless without slowing down development. You'll lead a major technical transformation - migrating from YAML-based policy storage to first-class GitLab entities - while becoming a cross-platform integration expert connecting features across our entire platform. This role offers an exciting opportunity to design solutions that efficiently enforce security policies across thousands of projects for the world's largest organizations. You'll serve as a DRI for features from planning to release, working on cutting-edge security automation that makes policies invisible to developers while providing unprecedented control to security teams. If you're passionate about solving complex security challenges at global scale and ready to make a significant impact, we'd love to hear from you!
Examples of our projects:
Pipeline Execution Policies - Intelligent automation for security workflows
Scan Execution Policies - Adaptive security scanning across diverse tech stacks
Merge Request Approval Policies - Sophisticated approval workflows that scale with enterprise needs
External Status Checks - Seamless third-party security tool integration
What You'll Do
Lead the architectural transformation of policy storage from YAML files to first-class GitLab entities
Design and implement security policy features that enforce behaviors across thousands of projects efficiently
Serve as DRI for features, taking them from initial planning through successful release with post coverage
Connect and integrate features across GitLab's platform, working with teams from Verify to Code Review
Champion comprehensive testing and code quality improvements to ensure reliability at scale
Collaborate with Sec Section teams and cross-functional partners to deliver seamless security automation
Optimize performance and security in high-scale distributed systems
Provide technical leadership by independently solving complex requirements with minimal guidance
Contribute to on-call rotations, ensuring the stability and security of GitLab operations
What You'll Bring
Proven expertise in Ruby on Rails development (2-4 years experience)
Proficiency in SQL databases, particularly PostgreSQL
Strong understanding of software testing methodologies and test-driven development practices
API development and integration experience with complex systems
Ability to understand and work with large, interconnected codebases and abstract complex problems
Experience taking projects from concept to production independently
Effective communication skills and ability to collaborate across multiple teams and time zones
Security domain knowledge (OWASP, CVE/CWE, vulnerability lifecycle) is highly valued
Experience collaborating with AI tools is a plus
GitLab platform and CI/CD experience preferred
Highly organized, self-starter with strong self-management skills
About the team
The Security Policies team sits at the critical intersection of security and developer productivity, building intelligent automation that makes security policies invisible to developers while providing unprecedented control to security teams. Our work directly addresses the growing complexity of modern application security - from managing vulnerabilities across diverse tech stacks to orchestrating sophisticated approval workflows that scale with enterprise needs. We're not just building features; we're crafting the security infrastructure that will protect the next generation of software.
We're strategically adding an Backend Engineer to unlock our team's full potential. This creates a perfect growth opportunity - you'll have dedicated mentorship from experienced security engineers, clear progression paths, and increasing ownership of high-impact features as you grow. Our team of 11 skilled engineers (5 Backend, 2 Frontend, 1 Fullstack, plus Engineering Manager, Product Manager, and UX Designer) spans multiple time zones with 3+ years of established collaboration patterns.
Our technical roadmap is available at https://about.gitlab.com/direction/security_risk_management/security_policies/#priorities. We're expanding our policy ecosystem including enhanced Vulnerability Management Policies, advanced MR Approval Policies, and intelligent Pipeline Execution Policies, while adding more automation capabilities and tighter integrations with security tools.
More information about our team:
How GitLab will support you
All remote, asynchronous work environment
Home office support
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 to a job unless they meet every single qualification. If you're excited about this role, please apply and allow our recruiters to assess your application.
Remote-Global
The base salary range for this role’s listed level is currently for residents of listed locations only. Grade level and salary ranges are determined through interviews and a review of education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities of the applicant, equity with other team members, and alignment with market data. See more information on our benefits and equity. Sales roles are also eligible for incentive pay targeted at up to 100% of the offered base salary.
California/Colorado/Hawaii/New Jersey/New York/Washington/DC/Illinois/Minnesota pay range
$98,000—$210,000 USD
About the job
Apply for this position
Intermediate Backend Engineer, Security Risk Management: Security Policies (Ruby)
An overview of this role
Join GitLab's Security Policies team and architect the security infrastructure that protects millions of applications worldwide! As a Backend Engineer, you'll tackle one of the industry's most critical challenges: making security enforcement seamless without slowing down development. You'll lead a major technical transformation - migrating from YAML-based policy storage to first-class GitLab entities - while becoming a cross-platform integration expert connecting features across our entire platform. This role offers an exciting opportunity to design solutions that efficiently enforce security policies across thousands of projects for the world's largest organizations. You'll serve as a DRI for features from planning to release, working on cutting-edge security automation that makes policies invisible to developers while providing unprecedented control to security teams. If you're passionate about solving complex security challenges at global scale and ready to make a significant impact, we'd love to hear from you!
Examples of our projects:
Pipeline Execution Policies - Intelligent automation for security workflows
Scan Execution Policies - Adaptive security scanning across diverse tech stacks
Merge Request Approval Policies - Sophisticated approval workflows that scale with enterprise needs
External Status Checks - Seamless third-party security tool integration
What You'll Do
Lead the architectural transformation of policy storage from YAML files to first-class GitLab entities
Design and implement security policy features that enforce behaviors across thousands of projects efficiently
Serve as DRI for features, taking them from initial planning through successful release with post coverage
Connect and integrate features across GitLab's platform, working with teams from Verify to Code Review
Champion comprehensive testing and code quality improvements to ensure reliability at scale
Collaborate with Sec Section teams and cross-functional partners to deliver seamless security automation
Optimize performance and security in high-scale distributed systems
Provide technical leadership by independently solving complex requirements with minimal guidance
Contribute to on-call rotations, ensuring the stability and security of GitLab operations
What You'll Bring
Proven expertise in Ruby on Rails development (2-4 years experience)
Proficiency in SQL databases, particularly PostgreSQL
Strong understanding of software testing methodologies and test-driven development practices
API development and integration experience with complex systems
Ability to understand and work with large, interconnected codebases and abstract complex problems
Experience taking projects from concept to production independently
Effective communication skills and ability to collaborate across multiple teams and time zones
Security domain knowledge (OWASP, CVE/CWE, vulnerability lifecycle) is highly valued
Experience collaborating with AI tools is a plus
GitLab platform and CI/CD experience preferred
Highly organized, self-starter with strong self-management skills
About the team
The Security Policies team sits at the critical intersection of security and developer productivity, building intelligent automation that makes security policies invisible to developers while providing unprecedented control to security teams. Our work directly addresses the growing complexity of modern application security - from managing vulnerabilities across diverse tech stacks to orchestrating sophisticated approval workflows that scale with enterprise needs. We're not just building features; we're crafting the security infrastructure that will protect the next generation of software.
We're strategically adding an Backend Engineer to unlock our team's full potential. This creates a perfect growth opportunity - you'll have dedicated mentorship from experienced security engineers, clear progression paths, and increasing ownership of high-impact features as you grow. Our team of 11 skilled engineers (5 Backend, 2 Frontend, 1 Fullstack, plus Engineering Manager, Product Manager, and UX Designer) spans multiple time zones with 3+ years of established collaboration patterns.
Our technical roadmap is available at https://about.gitlab.com/direction/security_risk_management/security_policies/#priorities. We're expanding our policy ecosystem including enhanced Vulnerability Management Policies, advanced MR Approval Policies, and intelligent Pipeline Execution Policies, while adding more automation capabilities and tighter integrations with security tools.
More information about our team:
How GitLab will support you
All remote, asynchronous work environment
Home office support
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 to a job unless they meet every single qualification. If you're excited about this role, please apply and allow our recruiters to assess your application.
Remote-Global
The base salary range for this role’s listed level is currently for residents of listed locations only. Grade level and salary ranges are determined through interviews and a review of education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities of the applicant, equity with other team members, and alignment with market data. See more information on our benefits and equity. Sales roles are also eligible for incentive pay targeted at up to 100% of the offered base salary.
California/Colorado/Hawaii/New Jersey/New York/Washington/DC/Illinois/Minnesota pay range
$98,000—$210,000 USD