Security Engineer Job Description Template
Design, implement, and maintain security infrastructure that protects company systems, data, and customer information. You'll own vulnerability assessments, incident response, and security compliance across cloud and on-premise environments.
No signup, no card. The tool fills the rest in for you.
Why hire a Security Engineer?
As SMBs scale, they face real security threats, regulatory requirements, and customer demands for proof of secure practices. You're hired to reduce breach risk, pass audits, and build security into product development.
Security Engineer salary ranges
Approximate annual gross salary bands (Q2 2026). Always adjust for your city, seniority, and the candidate’s experience.
United States
$120,000 – $180,000
United Kingdom
£85,000 – £135,000
Eurozone
€100,000 – €155,000
Security Engineer responsibilities
- Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and document vulnerabilities before attackers do
- Implement and manage authentication, encryption, and access control systems across production infrastructure
- Develop and enforce security policies, code review processes, and secure development training for engineering teams
- Respond to and investigate security incidents, documenting root causes and preventing recurrence
- Manage security compliance requirements (SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA where relevant) and coordinate with external auditors
- Maintain security tooling: SIEM, vulnerability scanners, endpoint protection, and secrets management platforms
Skills & requirements
Required
- 5+ years building or defending production systems, with at least 2 years in a dedicated security role
- Strong foundation in network security, firewalls, VPNs, and secure cloud architecture (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
- Hands-on experience with vulnerability scanning tools, penetration testing frameworks, and security auditing
- Solid understanding of common attack vectors (SQL injection, XSS, privilege escalation, lateral movement) and mitigations
- Experience writing or reviewing secure code, preferably across 2+ languages (Python, Go, JavaScript, or Java)
- Working knowledge of at least one compliance framework (SOC 2, ISO 27001, CIS Controls, or OWASP Top 10)
Nice to have
- Security certifications (OSCP, CEH, CISSP, or GIAC) or equivalent demonstrated expertise
- Prior startup or scale-up experience where you've built security practices from near-zero
- Familiarity with container security, Kubernetes, or Infrastructure-as-Code security scanning
Copy-ready Security Engineer job description
Security Engineer [Company name] · [City], [Country] · [On-site / Hybrid / Remote] $120,000 – $180,000 (US) · £85,000 – £135,000 (UK) · €100,000 – €155,000 (EU) — gross/year
Design, implement, and maintain security infrastructure that protects company systems, data, and customer information. You'll own vulnerability assessments, incident response, and security compliance across cloud and on-premise environments.
Why this role exists As SMBs scale, they face real security threats, regulatory requirements, and customer demands for proof of secure practices. You're hired to reduce breach risk, pass audits, and build security into product development.
What you'll do
- Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and document vulnerabilities before attackers do
- Implement and manage authentication, encryption, and access control systems across production infrastructure
- Develop and enforce security policies, code review processes, and secure development training for engineering teams
- Respond to and investigate security incidents, documenting root causes and preventing recurrence
- Manage security compliance requirements (SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA where relevant) and coordinate with external auditors
- Maintain security tooling: SIEM, vulnerability scanners, endpoint protection, and secrets management platforms
What you'll need
- 5+ years building or defending production systems, with at least 2 years in a dedicated security role
- Strong foundation in network security, firewalls, VPNs, and secure cloud architecture (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
- Hands-on experience with vulnerability scanning tools, penetration testing frameworks, and security auditing
- Solid understanding of common attack vectors (SQL injection, XSS, privilege escalation, lateral movement) and mitigations
- Experience writing or reviewing secure code, preferably across 2+ languages (Python, Go, JavaScript, or Java)
- Working knowledge of at least one compliance framework (SOC 2, ISO 27001, CIS Controls, or OWASP Top 10)
Nice to have
- Security certifications (OSCP, CEH, CISSP, or GIAC) or equivalent demonstrated expertise
- Prior startup or scale-up experience where you've built security practices from near-zero
- Familiarity with container security, Kubernetes, or Infrastructure-as-Code security scanning
What we offer
- Salary: [range, gross, with currency and time unit]
- [Equity / bonus / commission if applicable]
- [Health, PTO, learning budget, equipment — only what's real]
- [Work mode + flexibility]
About [Company] [2–3 sentences: stage, customers, traction. Keep it specific.]
Want it tailored to your company and country?
The free generator writes a country-aware, inclusive, salary-formatted version in 30 seconds — then ranks the applicants when they roll in.
Frequently asked
What does a Security Engineer do?
Design, implement, and maintain security infrastructure that protects company systems, data, and customer information. You'll own vulnerability assessments, incident response, and security compliance across cloud and on-premise environments. As SMBs scale, they face real security threats, regulatory requirements, and customer demands for proof of secure practices. You're hired to reduce breach risk, pass audits, and build security into product development.
What should a Security Engineer job description include?
A strong Security Engineer job post has a one-line hook, why the role exists, 6 outcome-led responsibilities, a clear list of required skills, the salary range, and a country-specific compliance line. Use the copy-ready template above as a starting point.
How much does a Security Engineer earn?
Approximate annual gross bands (Q2 2026): $120,000 – $180,000 in the US, £85,000 – £135,000 in the UK, and €100,000 – €155,000 in the Eurozone. Adjust for city, seniority, and experience.
How do I write a Security Engineer job description fast?
Use Penroll's free job description generator — enter the title and country and it produces a complete, inclusive, salary-formatted Security Engineer post in about 30 seconds, no signup required.
More Engineering job descriptions
AI Engineer
Design and deploy machine learning models and AI systems that solve real business problems. Own the full lifecycle from data pipeline to production monitoring, working closely with product and ops to ship features that move the needle.
Android Developer
Design and build native Android applications that solve real customer problems. Own the full development lifecycle from architecture to production deployment, ensuring code quality and app performance across devices.
Automation Engineer
Design and build automated systems that eliminate manual, repetitive work across operations, infrastructure, and business processes. You own the tooling and workflows that let the team scale without proportional headcount growth.
Backend Developer
Own the design, build and scaling of server-side systems that power your product. You'll write clean, testable code and make architectural decisions that balance speed-to-market with long-term maintainability.
Next step: interview them well
Job post done? The harder part is the interview. We paired every question with what a strong answer sounds like — and the red flag to catch.