Security Software Engineer

AMD; United States; Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

AMD in San Jose, CA is seeking a hands-on Software Engineer focused on application security to strengthen the security posture of the Vivado FPGA toolchain. You will protect sensitive software and customer IP at the application layer and implement protections against tampering, reverse engineering, and data exposure.

The ideal candidate has strong C++ skills and a solid grasp of security principles, with experience across Linux and Windows environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent.
• Strong C++ development experience and security instincts.
• Experience with cryptography libraries (e.g., OpenSSL) and data protection.

Responsibilities

• Implement protections against reverse engineering, debugging, and tampering
• Identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities within the application
• Improve robustness of the tool against misuse or exploitation
• Ensure secure handling of sensitive customer design data within the tool
• Implement and maintain encryption and data integrity workflows during read/write operations
• Preserve security guarantees across different data formats and processing stages
• Work within an existing in-house security framework to maintain and extend capabilities
• Refactor and enhance existing security components for performance and reliability
• Collaborate with internal security experts to validate and strengthen protections
• Develop and optimize security features in C++
• Apply best practices for multithreading, performance, and memory management
• Work across Linux and/or Windows environments

Skills

C++ development

Application security

Cryptography

Reverse engineering

Multithreading

Linux/Windows

OpenSSL

Secure design

Code hardening

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in CS/CE/EE

Job description

WHAT YOU DO AT AMD CHANGES EVERYTHING

At AMD, our mission is to build great products that accelerate next-generation computing experiences—from AI and data centers, to PCs, gaming and embedded systems. Grounded in a culture of innovation and collaboration, we believe real progress comes from bold ideas, human ingenuity and a shared passion to create something extraordinary. When you join AMD, you’ll discover the real differentiator is our culture. We push the limits of innovation to solve the world’s most important challenges—striving for execution excellence, while being direct, humble, collaborative, and inclusive of diverse perspectives. Join us as we shape the future of AI and beyond. Together, we advance your career.

THE ROLE:

We are seeking a skilled Software Engineer focused on application security to support and enhance the security infrastructure within AMD’s Vivado FPGA toolchain.

This role is responsible for protecting sensitive software and customer IP at the application layer, ensuring that AMD tools are resilient against reverse engineering, tampering, and data exposure. The engineer will work within an existing security framework to maintain, improve, and evolve security features across the platform.

The ideal candidate brings strong C++ experience and a practical understanding of security principles, with the ability to apply them effectively in complex, real-world systems.

THE PERSON:

The ideal candidate is a hands-on software engineer with strong security instincts and the ability to operate in complex, mature codebases.

They are comfortable working with existing systems, identifying gaps, and incrementally improving security over time. They think critically about how systems can be attacked and proactively design protections against those threats.

Strong collaboration skills, ownership, and professionalism are essential, as this role works closely with cross-functional teams in a high-impact, security-sensitive environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Application Security & Hardening

• Implement protections against reverse engineering, debugging, and tampering
• Identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities within the application
• Improve robustness of the tool against misuse or exploitation

Data Protection

• Ensure secure handling of sensitive customer design data within the tool
• Implement and maintain encryption and data integrity workflows during read/write operations
• Preserve security guarantees across different data formats and processing stages

Security Framework Development

• Work within an existing in-house security framework to maintain and extend capabilities
• Refactor and enhance existing security components for performance and reliability
• Collaborate with internal security experts to validate and strengthen protections

Software Development (C++)

• Develop and optimize security features in C++
• Apply best practices for multithreading, performance, and memory management
• Work across Linux and/or Windows environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong understanding ofapplication security concepts (e.g., vulnerability mitigation, attack surfaces, secure design)
• Experience applying cryptography in software systems (e.g., using libraries such as OpenSSL)
• Familiarity with reverse engineering techniques and common attack methods
• Solid C++ development experience (modern C++ preferred)
• Experience working in large, complex codebases or mature products
• Knowledge of multithreading, concurrency, and performance optimization
• Exposure to software protection, DRM, or licensing systems is a plus (nice to have, not required)
• Familiarity with Linux (preferred) or Windows environments

Academic Credentials:

• Bachelor’s or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent

LOCATION: San Jose, CA

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

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Benefits offered are described: AMD benefits at a glance.

AMD does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, recruitment agencies, or fee-based recruitment services. AMD and its subsidiaries are equal opportunity, inclusive employers and will consider all applicants without regard to age, ancestry, color, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, political and/or third-party affiliation, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and will accommodate applicants’ needs under the respective laws throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process.

AMD may use Artificial Intelligence to help screen, assess or select applicants for this position. AMD’s “Responsible AI Policy” is available here.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.