Senior Software Engineer - AI Security

Sophos Group; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Sophos is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to own end-to-end product development for AI security initiatives. You’ll build AI-powered products across the stack—frontend, backend, and APIs—driving architecture decisions with high autonomy and strong engineering judgment.

You’ll define problems without waiting for specs, collaborate when needed, and ship scalable solutions that empower real user workflows while leveraging LLMs and AI tooling to accelerate delivery.

Qualifications

• , 4+ years engineering across frontend + backend
• Experience with AI-powered development (LLMs, agents, automation)
• Ability to work with minimal specs and high autonomy

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end product development from idea to production
• Build and ship AI-powered security products across frontend, backend, and APIs
• Develop scalable, high-quality interfaces and systems for real user workflows
• Define problems and make decisions with minimal guidance
• Collaborate when needed, but operate with lean ownership and autonomy
• Drive adoption and impact based on real usage and metrics
• Leverage LLMs and AI tooling to accelerate development
• Continuously improve systems, code quality, and developer workflows

Skills

End-to-end prod dev

AI-powered development

High agency

Frontend + Backend

LLMs & AI tooling

Tools

LLMs

APIs

AI tooling

Job description

About Us

Sophos is a cybersecurity leader defending 600,000 organizations globally with an AI-driven platform and expert-led services. Sophos meets organizations wherever they are in their security maturity and grows with them to defeat cyberattacks. Its solutions combine machine learning, automation, and real-time threat intelligence with frontline human expertise from Sophos X-Ops to deliver advanced, 24/7 threat monitoring, detection, and response.

Sophos offers industry-leading managed detection and response (MDR) alongside a comprehensive portfolio of cybersecurity technologies — including endpoint, network, email, and cloud security, extended detection and response (XDR), identity threat detection and response (ITDR), and next-gen SIEM. Together with expert advisory services, these capabilities help organizations proactively reduce risk and respond faster, with the visibility and scalability needed to stay ahead of evolving threats.

Sophos goes to market with a global partner ecosystem, including Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs), resellers and distributors, marketplace integrations, and cyber risk partners, giving organizations the flexibility to choose trusted relationships when securing their business. Sophos is headquartered in Oxford, U.K. More information is available at www.sophos.com.

Role Summary

We’relooking for a Senior Software Engineer who can own end-to-end product development — from idea to production, for our AI security team. You’ll build and ship AI-powered products (LLM-driven workflows, automation, intelligent systems) across the stack — frontend, backend.

This is a high-agency, low-process role. Youwon’twait for specs.You’lldefine problems, make decisions, and move fast with strong engineering judgment. Your work will directly shape how we build, scale, and accelerate software using AI.

What You Will Do

• Own end-to-end product development — from idea, research, and architecture to production.
• Build and ship AI-powered security products across frontend, backend, and APIs.
• Develop scalable, high-quality interfaces and systems that power real user workflows.
• Work with minimal specs — define problems, make decisions, and execute independently.
• Collaborate whenneeded, butprimarilyoperatewith lean ownership and high autonomy.
• Drive adoption and impact — iterate based on real usage, not just requirements.
• Leverage LLMs and AI tooling to accelerate development and improve team productivity.
• Continuously improve systems, code quality, and developer workflows.

What You Will Bring

We’renot looking for just a coder — we want a builder with ownership and first-principles thinking who:

• Is comfortable building end-to-end products (UI, APIs, systems, deployment).
• Think from first principles, not just patterns or frameworks.
• Demonstrates high agency — takes ownership, drives clarity, and executes without waiting.
• Writes clean, scalable, maintainable code with strong fundamentals.
• Has experience or strong interest in AI-powered development (LLMs, agents, automation, copilots).
• Uses AI tools to accelerate development and decision-making.
• Can operate in low-structure, fast-moving environments with minimal PM/design dependency.
• Makes pragmatic trade-offs — balances speed, quality, and long-term thinking.
• Cares about shipping real products, not just building components.
• Years of experience does not matter to us, but we think most devs would need 4 + years of engineering experience across frontend + backend.
• Interest and knowledge of security is a plus.

In Canada, the base salary for this role ranges from $125,000 to $209,000. In the United States, the base salary for this role ranges from $153,000 to $255,000. In addition to base salary, we offer additional compensation including bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits package. A candidate’s specific pay within this range will depend on a variety of factors, including job-related skills, training, location, experience, relevant education, certifications, and other business and organizational needs.

Ready to Join Us?

At Sophos, we believe in the power of diverse perspectives to fuel innovation. Research shows that candidates sometimes hesitate to apply if they don't check every box in a job description. We challenge that notion. Your unique experiences and skills might be exactly what we need to enhance our team. Don't let a checklist hold you back –we encourage you to apply.

What's Great About Sophos?

• Sophos operates a remote-first working model, making remote work the primary option for most employees. However, some roles may necessitate a hybrid approach. While we are a remote first organization, applicants must have legal authorization to work in the jurisdiction where the position is posted, without requiring employer sponsorship.
• Our people – we innovate and create, all of which are accompanied by a great sense of fun and team spirit
• Employee-led diversity and inclusion networks that build community and provide education and advocacy
• Annual charity and fundraising initiatives and volunteer days for employees to support local communities
• Global employee sustainability initiatives to reduce our environmental footprint
• Global fitness and trivia competitions to keep our bodies and minds sharp
• Global wellbeing days for employees to relax and recharge
• Monthly wellbeing webinars and training to support employee health and wellbeing

Our Commitment To You

We’re proud of the diverse and inclusive environment we have at Sophos, and we’re committed to ensuring equality of opportunity. We believe that diversity, combined with excellence, builds a better Sophos, so we encourage applicants who can contribute to the diversity of our team. All applicants will be treated in a fair and equal manner and in accordance with the law regardless of gender, sex, gender reassignment, marital status, race, religion or belief, color, age, military veteran status, disability, pregnancy, maternity or sexual orientation. We want to give you every opportunity to show us your best self, so if there are any adjustments we could make to the recruitment and selection process to support you, please let us know.

Data Protection

If you choose to explore an opportunity, and subsequently share your CV or other personal details with Sophos, these details will be held by Sophos for 12 months in accordance with our Privacy Policy and used by our recruitment team to contact you regarding this or other relevant opportunities at Sophos. If you would like Sophos to delete or update your details at any time, please follow the steps set out in the Privacy Policy describing your individual rights. For more information on Sophos’ data protection practices, please consult our Privacy Policy Cybersecurity as a Service Delivered | Sophos