Application Security Engineer

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) in New York City seeks an Application Security Engineer to protect city systems. You will execute security assessments, perform SAST/DAST/CAST reviews, and guide developers in secure coding.

Join a 24/7 operations team based in Brooklyn, working with CI/CD pipelines and open-source risk management. Strong communication and threat modeling skills required; relevant certifications are a plus.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of security-focused application experience (security testing or software engineering).
• Experience with SAST/DAST/SCA tools and CI/CD pipelines.
• Knowledge of OWASP Top 10 and secure coding in languages like Python/Java/JavaScript/ C#/.NET.
• API security concepts (REST, OAuth 2.0) and cloud basics.
• Ability to explain vulnerabilities to developers and project teams.
• Certifications such as GWAPT, GWEB, eWPT, PenTest+ or CSSLP are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Execute application security assessments within the SSAP to verify web apps, APIs and mobile systems meet city security standards.
• Perform SAST, DAST, and manual reviews to validate vulnerabilities and prioritize findings.
• Operate SCA tools to monitor open-source component risks and remediation.
• Conduct threat modeling during design to identify security flaws before code is written.
• Provide remediation guidance and secure coding advice to agency developers.
• Assist in configuring automated security scans in CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, GitLab).
• Conduct security reviews of third‑party vendor solutions and web APIs (OAuth, REST).
• Contribute to secure coding guidelines and training materials.

Skills

Application security

Penetration testing

Software engineering

CI/CD pipelines

OWASP Top 10

REST APIs

OAuth 2.0

Threat modeling

Communication skills

Certifications

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Veracode

Checkmarx

Snyk

Burp Suite

Job description

The Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) leverages technology to drive opportunity, improve public safety, and help government run better across New York City. From delivering affordable broadband to protecting against cybersecurity threats and building digital government services, OTI is at the forefront of how the city delivers for New Yorkers in the 21st century. Follow us on social media @NYCOfficeofTech, and visit www.nyc.gov/oti to learn more.

At OTI, we offer great benefits, and the chance to work on projects that have a meaningful impact on millions of people. You'll have the opportunity to work with cutting‑edge technology and collaborate with other passionate professionals who share your drive and commitment to making a difference through technology.

Job Description

Cyber Command is charged with protecting all City systems against cyber threats, including systems that deliver vital services to New Yorkers. Headed by the Chief Information Security Officer of the City of New York, we provide in‑depth support to over 100 agencies and offices to protect, detect, identify, respond to, and recover from cyber threats.

The Application Security Engineer will play a core operational role in safeguarding the city’s digital infrastructure by identifying, analyzing, and mitigating security risks across software applications. This role will execute key functions of the Software Security Assurance Program (SSAP) and involves using SAST, DAST, and SCA methodologies to uncover vulnerabilities, conduct manual application security reviews, perform threat modeling, and partner directly with agency developers to guide code‑level remediation. IT Security Specialist - 95622

Responsibilities

• Execute application security assessments within the Software Security Assurance Program (SSAP) to verify that web applications, APIs, and mobile systems meet city security standards prior to deployment.
• Perform SAST, DAST, and manual security reviews to validate vulnerabilities, eliminate false positives, and prioritize findings based on operational risk.
• Operate Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tools to monitor, track, and drive remediation of open‑source and third‑party software component vulnerabilities.
• Conduct structured threat modeling and logic reviews on assigned applications during the design phase to help identify security flaws before code is written.
• Serve as a technical point of contact for agency development teams, delivering clear, actionable remediation guidance and secure coding advice.
• Assist in configuring and integrating automated security scanning tools into agency CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, GitLab) to support DevSecOps practices.
• Conduct security reviews of third‑party vendor solutions and web APIs (OAuth, REST) to verify alignment with city security policies and industry best practices.
• Contribute to the maintenance of secure coding guidelines, application security documentation, and training materials for agency development staff.

HOURS/SHIFT

Day - Due to the necessary technical duties of this position in a 24/7 operation, candidate may be required to work various shifts such as weekends and/or nights/evenings.

WORK LOCATION

Brooklyn, NY

OTI participates in E-Verify

Minimum Qualifications

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of satisfactory full‑time experience related to projects and policies required by the particular position; or.

Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" above.

Preferred Skills

• 2–4 years of dedicated professional experience in application security, penetration testing, or software engineering with a focus on application security.
• Hands‑on experience configuring, operating, and tuning SAST, DAST, and SCA tools (e.g., Veracode, Checkmarx, Snyk, Burp Suite) and working with CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong practical knowledge of OWASP Top 10, CWE flaw types, manual vulnerability verification, and secure coding concepts in common languages (e.g., Python, Java, JavaScript/TypeScript, or C#/.NET).
• Working knowledge of web API security principles (REST, OAuth 2.0) and basic application security controls in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Experience conducting application threat modeling and architectural flaw reviews.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to explain technical vulnerabilities and remediation steps to developers and project teams.
• Mid‑level application security or testing certifications are a plus (e.g., GIAC GWAPT, GWEB, eWPT, CompTIA PenTest+, or CSSLP).

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is not required for this position

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.