AI Security - Principal Security Research Engineer I Elastic

Neura Market; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 304,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage in many locations

Flexible locations and schedules

Generous vacation days

Stock program eligibility

401k with company match

Job summary

Elastic is seeking a Principal Security Research Engineer to shape detection capabilities within the TRaDE team. You will work hands-on on detection engineering, threat research, and AI security validation, delivering robust detection content for Elastic Security.

You will collaborate across multiple domains to enhance protections, validate methods, and drive innovations in AI-assisted threat detection and telemetry generation, with a focus on distributed teamwork and scalable solutions.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Generative AI Security and understanding of MITRE ATLAS/ATT&CK threat techniques.
• Experience with Elastic Security Solution and writing or validating detections using a query language (EQL, KQL, SQL).
• Experience leveraging AI-assisted development tools to accelerate feature development, debug complex systems, and generate telemetry.
• Demonstrated ability to work across multiple projects or teams in a distributed environment.

Responsibilities

• Improve and create internal rule management capabilities to ship rigorous protections.
• Develop Elastic AI workflows to steer threat research and detection engineering processes.
• Investigate multidomain threat vectors and attack methodologies to stay ahead of risks.
• Monitor security trends and threat intelligence for relevant insights.
• Create and present findings to enhance team knowledge and community awareness.

Skills

Generative AI Security

MITRE ATT&CK

Elastic Security

Query languages (EQL/KQL/SQL)

AI-assisted development tools

AI/ML frameworks

LLM API integration

Distributed collaboration

Tools

Elastic Security Solution

Job description

Elastic, the Search AI Company, enables everyone to find the answers they need in real time, using all their data, at scale — unleashing the potential of businesses and people. The Elastic Search AI Platform, used by more than 50% of the Fortune 500, brings together the precision of search and the intelligence of AI to enable everyone to accelerate the results that matter. By taking advantage of all structured and unstructured data — securing and protecting private information more effectively — Elastic’s complete, cloud-based solutions for search, security, and observability help organizations deliver on the promise of AI.

What is The Role

As a Principal Security Research Engineer on the Threat Research and Detection Engineering (TRaDE) team, you\'ll play a key role in shaping the detection capabilities of Elastic Security. You\'ll work hands-on with detection engineering and threat research, focusing on enhancing our defenses, particularly in the areas of AI security. This position invites you to apply your solid security background and keen interest in validating detection methods, helping to create effective and reliable detection content that benefits the wider community.

What You Will Be Doing

• Improving and creating new internal rule management capabilities to ship rigorous protections
• Developing new capabilities and Elastic AI workflows to steer and streamline our threat research and detection engineering processes
• Investigate new multidomain threat vectors and attack methodologies to stay ahead of emerging risks
• Monitor security trends and threat intelligence reports for relevant insights
• Create and present findings to enhance team knowledge and community awareness

What You Bring

• We\'re looking for candidates with experience in Generative AI Security and intimately understand MITRE ATLAS / ATT&CK threat techniques and behaviors.
• Experience with Elastic Security Solution and proficiency in writing or validating detections using a query language (e.g. EQL, KQL, SQL)
• Demonstrated experience leveraging AI-assisted development tools to accelerate feature development, debug complex systems, optimize existing codebases, generating telemetry, conduct threat research, and assist detection engineering workflows.
• Proven ability to seamlessly transition between different projects, codebases, or scrum teams based on dynamic business priorities.
• You have a proven track record of using AI to accelerate development, debug complex systems, and optimize code, while still owning the final outcomes.
• Proficiency in modern AI/ML frameworks and hands-on experience integrating LLM APIs into production applications
• You work autonomously and can drive decisions and results in a distributed team by leveraging asynchronous, direct, and transparent communication.
• Previous successes in presenting findings and insights to technical audiences

Compensation

Compensation for this role is in the form of base salary. This role does not have a variable compensation component.

The typical starting salary range for new hires in this role is listed below. In select locations (including Seattle WA, Los Angeles CA, the San Francisco Bay Area CA, and the New York City Metro Area), an alternate range may apply as specified below.

These ranges represent the lowest to highest salary we reasonably and in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the ranges may be modified in the future.

An employee\'s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Elastic believes that employees should have the opportunity to share in the value that we create together for our shareholders. Therefore, in addition to cash compensation, this role is currently eligible to participate in Elastic\'s stock program. Our total rewards package also includes a company-matched 401k with dollar-for-dollar matching up to 6% of eligible earnings, along with a range of other benefits offered with a holistic emphasis on employee well-being.

The typical starting salary range for this role is:

$159,800—$252,800 USD

The typical starting salary range for this role in the select locations listed above is:

$191,900—$303,500 USD

Additional Information - We Take Care of Our People

As a distributed company, diversity drives our identity. Whether you\'re looking to launch a new career or grow an existing one, Elastic is the type of company where you can balance great work with great life. Your age is only a number. It doesn\'t matter if you\'re just out of college or your children are; we need you for what you can do.

We strive to have parity of benefits across regions and while regulations differ from place to place, we believe taking care of our people is the right thing to do.

• Competitive pay based on the work you do here and not your previous salary
• Health coverage for you and your family in many locations
• Ability to craft your calendar with flexible locations and schedules for many roles
• Generous number of vacation days each year
• Increase your impact - We match up to $2000 (or local currency equivalent) for financial donations and service
• Up to 40 hours each year to use toward volunteer projects you love
• Embracing parenthood with minimum of 16 weeks of parental leave

Different people approach problems differently. We need that. Elastic is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive culture that celebrates different perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law, ordinance or regulation.

We welcome individuals with disabilities and strive to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all individuals. To request an accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please email [e-mail]. We will reply to your request within 24 business hours of submission.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws, view posters linked below: Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Poster; Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision Poster; Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) Poster and Know Your Rights (Poster)

Elasticsearch develops and distributes technology and information that is subject to U.S. and other countries\’ export controls and licensing requirements for individuals who are located in or are nationals of the following sanctioned countries and regions: Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, or Russia, including the Ukrainian territories annexed by Russia (The Crimea region of Ukraine, The Donetsk People\'s Republic (DNR), The Luhansk People\'s Republic (LNR), Kherson or Zaporizhzhia). If you are located in or are a national of the listed countries or regions, an export license may be required as a condition of your employment in this role. Please note that national origin and/or nationality do not affect eligibility for employment with Elastic.

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