PhD Security Engineer Intern: AI Safety & Threat Research

Candidate; New York (NY); On-site; USD 84,000 - 120,000; Part time

Job summary

Figma is seeking a PhD Intern, Security Engineer to join the Security team and work on impactful projects that improve the security of Figma’s product, platform, or infrastructure. You will collaborate with mentors and teams across the company to drive real-world security outcomes.

The role is a 12 or 16-week internship based in the US (SF or NY) starting in May or June 2027, with responsibilities spanning security assessments, code audits, and threat-driven security enhancements.

Qualifications

• Current enrollment as a 4th or 5th year senior PhD student in a Computer Science program with a focus in Security or a related field.
• Proficiency in at least one general-purpose coding language.
• A track record in applying security techniques to projects in academia or industry, with excellent domain knowledge in at least one relevant area such as AI Safety/Evaluation, Useable security, Anti-abuse, Anti-fraud, detection and response or similar.
• Strong knowledge of statistical methods and/or experimental design.
• Experience solving sophisticated problems and comparing alternative solutions, trade-offs, and diverse points of view to determine a path forward.

Responsibilities

• Perform technical security assessments, code audits, and design reviews.
• Design and develop solutions to prevent or mitigate security vulnerabilities across Figma’s products, services and infrastructure.
• Lead and support security investigations, developing the datasets, tooling, and analysis that help us scope incidents, understand root cause, and reduce time to detect and respond.
• Translate threat intelligence into action, operationalizing intel on relevant threat actors and techniques to prioritize detection coverage, harden high-risk surfaces, and guide security strategy.

Skills

General-purpose coding language

Security techniques

Statistical methods

Problem solving

Education

PhD CS security

Job description

Figma is seeking a PhD Intern, Security Engineer to join the Security team and work on impactful projects that improve the security of Figma’s product, platform, or infrastructure. You will collaborate with mentors and teams across the company to drive real-world security outcomes.

The role is a 12 or 16-week internship based in the US (SF or NY) starting in May or June 2027, with responsibilities spanning security assessments, code audits, and threat-driven security enhancements.