Security Engineer, Insider Threat Detection & Response

OpenAI; California (MO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

OpenAI is seeking a Security Engineer to join our team in defending transformative AI technology. The role focuses on Detection & Response with emphasis on insider threats and safeguarding OpenAI’s sensitive assets.

You will engineer end-to-end detection, tune rules, and partner with HR, Legal, and investigative teams to support investigations. Experience across macOS, Windows, Linux, Kubernetes, and cloud infra is valued.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in detection/response or insider-risk roles.
• Familiar with macOS, Windows, Linux, and Kubernetes.
• Knowledge of adversary tactics, data exfiltration, and incident handling.
• Proficient in a scripting language (Python, Bash, PowerShell).
• Ability to manage projects, balance preventative controls with user experience.
• Motivated to secure transformative technology and adapt security frameworks for AI infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Innovate on Detection and Response infrastructure.
• Develop, measure, and tune detection rules.
• Lead insider-threat investigations and incidents.
• Collaborate with HR, Legal, and investigative teams.
• Work with AI research teams to improve security posture.

Skills

detection/response

insider threats

incident response

Python

Bash

PowerShell

macOS

Windows

Linux

Kubernetes

Cloud infrastructure

Job description

About the Team

Security is at the foundation of OpenAI’s mission to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity.

The Security team protects OpenAI’s technology, people, and products. We are technical in what we build but are operational in how we do our work, and are committed to supporting all products and research at OpenAI. Our Security team tenets include: prioritizing for impact, enabling researchers, preparing for future transformative technologies, and engaging a robust security culture.

About the Role

As a Security Engineer you will join our OpenAI engineers and researchers in building, operating and securing transformational AI technologies. This role will focus on all aspects of Detection & Response but with a strong emphasis on detecting insider threats and influencing controls to safeguard OpenAI's most sensitive assets. In this role, you will:

In this role, you will:

• Innovate on Detection and Response infrastructure to engineer and automate end-to-end detection and investigation workflows.

• Develop, measure, and tune detection rules to ensure effective and sustainable operations.

• Drive projects across OpenAI’s technology stack with a focus on insider threats, ranging from access abuse and intellectual property theft to novel risks emerging within AI infrastructure.

• Partner closely with cross-functional stakeholders, including HR, Legal, and peer investigative teams, providing technical expertise and evidence to support investigations.

• Collaborate on cutting-edge AI research, and use AI to improve OpenAI’s Security posture.

You might thrive in this role if you:

• 5+ years experience working in a detection/response or insider-risk role.. We are seeking mid-level and senior candidates.

• You have broad familiarity with operating systems and platforms such as macOS, Windows, Linux, and Kubernetes, along with experience in cloud infrastructure.

• Knowledge of modern adversary tactics and attack paths, data exfiltration techniques, and have experience running and leading incidents.

• Proficiency with a scripting language (e.g. Python, Bash, PowerShell, or similar).

• Independently manage and run projects , balance preventative controls with user friction, and prioritize efforts for risk reduction.

• You’re motivated by securing transformative technology and can adapt familiar security frameworks to new risks in AI infrastructure

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.

For additional information, please see OpenAI’s Aff…