Application Security Engineer I

CarGurus; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 96,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Daily free lunch

New car discount

Equity for all

Flexible hybrid model

Job summary

CarGurus seeks an Application Security Engineer I to join the Security Engineering and Architecture team. You will work hands-on to secure applications, products, and infrastructure, partnering with engineers and senior security staff to review services for security best practices and support vulnerability remediation.

This entry-level role is ideal for someone early in their security career who wants practical skills, collaborative growth, and exposure to AWS, Kubernetes, and modern security

Qualifications

• 0–2 years in cybersecurity or app security or related field.
• Internship, co-op, or project work in security or software dev is a plus.
• Interest in AI/ML to improve security outcomes.
• Familiar with secure coding, vulnerability management, threat modeling, or risk assessment.
• Familiar with AWS, Kubernetes, containers, or IaC.
• Familiar with SDLC processes and GitHub/CI/CD tools.
• Proficient in at least one language (Python/Go/Java).
• Strong desire to learn continuously in cybersecurity.

Responsibilities

• Support threat modeling and security risk assessments for CarGurus apps and products.
• Assist in training developers on secure coding, AI-assisted development, and secure SDLC.
• Help triage, prioritize, and track remediation of vulnerabilities.
• Contribute to scanning tools and policies to enforce security guardrails.
• Assist investigations involving application security issues.
• Collaborate with teams to design and implement security controls for a cloud-first environment.

Skills

Security basics

Threat modeling

Vulnerability management

Cloud infrastructure

Python/Go/Java

CI/CD tooling

AI/ML in security

Security concepts

Secure coding

Tools

GitHub

CI/CD automation

Job description

Who We Are

At CarGurus (NASDAQ: CARG), our mission is to give people the power to reach their destination. We started as a small team of developers determined to bring trust and transparency to car shopping. Since then, our history of innovation and go-to-market acceleration has driven industry-leading growth. In fact, we’re the largest and fastest-growing automotive marketplace, and we’ve been profitable for over 15 years.

What We Do

The market is evolving, and we are too, moving the entire automotive journey online and guiding our customers through every step. That includes everything from the sale of an old car to the financing, purchase, and delivery of a new one. Today, tens of millions of consumers visit CarGurus.com each month, and ~30,000 dealerships use our products. But they're not the only ones who love CarGurus—our employees do, too. We have a people-first culture that fosters kindness, collaboration, and innovation, and empowers our Gurus with tools to fuel their career growth. Disrupting a trillion-dollar industry requires fresh and diverse perspectives. Come join us for the ride!

Role Overview

CarGurus is looking for an Application Security Engineer I to join our growing Security Engineering and Architecture team.

This is a hands‑on technical role focused on helping secure the applications, products, and infrastructure that power CarGurus. In this role, you will partner with engineers and senior security team members to help review services for security best practices, support vulnerability remediation, and contribute to security guardrails that reduce common application and developer‑environment risks.

This role is a strong fit for someone early in their security career who is excited to learn application security fundamentals, build practical technical skills, and grow in a collaborative engineering environment.

What You'll Do

• Support threat modeling and security risk assessments for CarGurus applications and products
• Assist in training developers on secure coding, AI-assisted development, and secure SDLC practices
• Help triage, prioritize, assign, and track remediation of vulnerabilities
• Contribute to the operation and improvement of code and infrastructure scanning tools and policies that help monitor and enforce security guardrails
• Assist in investigations involving application security issues
• Partner with development teams and senior security engineers to help design and implement security controls for a cloud‑first infrastructure (AWS, Kubernetes, and related technologies)

What You'll Bring

• 0 to 2 years of experience in cybersecurity, application security, software engineering, or a related technical field
• Internship, co‑op, academic, or hands‑on project experience in security or software development is a plus
• Interest in leveraging modern technologies, including AI and ML, to improve security outcomes
• Familiarity with application security concepts such as secure coding, vulnerability management, threat modeling, or risk assessment
• Familiarity with cloud infrastructure and technologies such as AWS, Kubernetes, containers, or infrastructure as code
• Familiarity with standard SDLC processes and engineering tools such as GitHub and CI/CD automation
• Familiarity with at least one programming or scripting language such as Python, Go, Java, or a similar language
• Strong passion for continuous learning, especially in cybersecurity and technology

The displayed range represents the expected annual base salary / On‑Target Earnings (OTE) for this position. On‑Target Earnings (OTE) is inclusive of base salary and on‑target commission earnings, which applies exclusively to sales roles.

Individual pay within this range is determined by work location and other factors such as job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

This annual base salary forms part of a comprehensive Total Rewards Package. In addition to benefits, this role may qualify for discretionary bonuses/incentives and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).

Position Pay Range

$96,000—$120,000 USD

Working at CarGurus

We reward our Gurus’ curiosity and passion with best‑in‑class benefits and compensation, including equity for all employees, both when they start and as they continue to grow with us. Our career development and corporate giving programs, as well as our employee resource groups (ERGs) and communities, help people build connections while making an impact in personally meaningful ways. A flexible hybrid model and robust time off policies encourage work‑life balance and individual well‑being. Thoughtful perks like daily free lunch, a new car discount, meditation and fitness apps, commuting cost coverage, and more help our people create space for what matters most in their personal and professional lives.

CarGurus may require in‑person interviews as part of our hiring process, particularly for positions based in our Boston and Dublin offices. Candidates selected for an in‑person interview will be notified in advance. Please be aware that travel expenses are the responsibility of the candidate.

We welcome all

CarGurus strives to be a place to which people can bring the ultimate expression of themselves and their potential—starting with our hiring process. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, or sexual orientation. We foster an inclusive environment that values people for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. That’s why we hope you’ll apply even if you don’t check every box listed in the job description. We also encourage you to tell your recruiter if you require accommodations to participate in our hiring process due to a disability so we can provide the appropriate support. We want to know what only you can bring to CarGurus.