Senior Application Security Engineer

Forward Financing; Boston, Northern (MA, KY); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 183,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Commuter benefits

Flexible time-off

Parental leave

401k match

Wellness reimbursement

Professional development budget

Volunteer days

Donation match

Remote-first with office options

Job summary

Forward Financing, a Boston-based fintech, is hiring a Senior Application Security Engineer to find vulnerabilities in core software and AI systems, and to shape how we test AI-built code.

You will conduct manual pentests, build AI-assisted tooling, review code across web apps, APIs, and AWS, and explain risk to engineers to drive secure delivery.

The role offers remote-first flexibility with the option to work from home or in the office, and competitive compensation with a 10% annual bonus.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in application security, offensive security, or product security.
• Hands-on pentesting and code-review depth across web applications, APIs, and cloud infrastructure (AWS).
• A hacker mentality with curiosity about how systems break and how to investigate beyond scanners.
• Interest in using AI to solve problems in workflows and testing.
• Understanding of AI/LLM attack surface: prompt injection and insecure agent tool use.
• Experience with Ruby, Python, TypeScript, or Go, and secure SDLC practices.
• Ability to communicate risk and priorities to engineers.

Responsibilities

• Conduct manual penetration tests against systems and AI-enabled components.
• Triage findings from SAST tools, fix real vulnerabilities, and tune false positives.
• Perform secure code reviews across web apps, APIs, and AWS infrastructure.
• Build tooling and security services within the Forward application stack, including AI-assisted tooling.
• Support the test-to-production review process to ensure AI-built work is security-reviewed.
• Explain risk to engineers to help them prioritize fixes.

Skills

Application security

Pentesting

Code review

AI testing

AWS

Ruby

Python

TypeScript

Go

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent

OSCP/OSWE (nice to have)

Tools

AWS

Job description

• Targeted base salary $145K – $183K 10% annual bonus

Forward Financing is a financial technology company based in Boston, Massachusetts with team members throughout the United States, Dominican Republic, and Canada. The company is on a mission to unlock the capital that fuels small businesses across America. Recognized as a Best Place to Work by Built In Boston and certified as a Great Place To Work®, Forward is investing in its employees, technology, and customer experience – with long-term success in mind every step of the way.

As a Senior Application Security Engineer, you'll find the vulnerabilities in Forward Financing's software before an attacker does. You'll pentest our core systems along with the AI systems and agents our engineers are shipping, and help shape how we test software that AI helped write. Our engineering organization is moving fast with AI, and our security testing needs to move at the same pace.

In this role you will:

Conduct manual penetration tests against each of our systems, and build the AI-assisted tooling and automation that extends how much ground those tests can cover.

Help define how we pentest AI. Bring us new ideas for testing LLM applications, agents, and agent-generated code, and build the ones that work into our regular testing.

Triage findings from our SAST tools, fix the vulnerabilities that are real, and tune the rules that produce false positives.

Perform secure code review across web applications, APIs, and AWS infrastructure.

Build tooling and security services within the Forward application stack, including AI-assisted tooling that speeds up the security team's own work.

Support the test-to-production review process so AI-built work is security-reviewed before promotion.

Explain risk to engineers in enough detail that they can prioritize and fix what you found.

Why you should apply:

Shape a growing function: Our security program is early enough that your work sets the standard. You'll have influence over how we test, what tooling we build, and how we secure AI-built software.

Mission driven company: Forward is a trusted source of fast, flexible funding for small businesses that have often been underserved by traditional financing options. When you join the team, you will help ensure all small businesses have access to the financial support they need to succeed.

Flexibility is a top priority: Our employees are empowered to choose where they want to work (whether that’s from home, in the office, or a combination of both) with flexible hours.

Role Requirements:

5+ years in application security, offensive security, or product security.

Hands-on pentesting and code-review depth across web applications, APIs, and cloud infrastructure (AWS).

A hacker mentality. You're curious about how systems break, and you keep pulling on threads after the scanner comes back clean.

Interest in using AI to solve problems, whether that's in your own workflow or in the systems you're testing.

Understanding of AI/LLM attack surface: prompt injection, insecure agent tool use, and vulnerabilities characteristic of AI-generated code.

Experience with modern programming languages such as Ruby, Python, TypeScript, or Go, and with secure SDLC practices.

Ability to communicate risk and priorities to other security and software engineers.

Typically has a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or equivalent technical degree, or equivalent industry experience.

Nice to have:

Experience pentesting or red-teaming LLM applications and agentic systems.

OSCP/OSWE or comparable offensive certifications.

Experience contributing to bug-bounty or external testing programs.

Background in fintech or other regulated environments.

Compensation:

At Forward Financing, we're committed to fair and transparent compensation. We believe in providing a compensation package that recognizes your skills, experience, and the unique value you bring to our team. We take a market-basedapproach to pay, regularly reviewing benchmark data to ensure our compensation remains competitive, equitable, and aligned with our performance-driven culture.

Final offers are determined by a variety of factors, including the candidate's qualifications, relevant experience, specific skills, and internal equity. This approach ensures that our compensation is competitive and equitable. Your recruiter will provide specific details on the expected base and variable earnings as it pertains to this specific role.

Total Rewards:

Additionally, we offer a comprehensive total rewards package, including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision, commuter benefits, a flexible time-off policy, paid parental leave, 401k match for US employees, wellness reimbursement, volunteering days, annual professional development budget, and charitable donation match.

Forward is proud to be a remote-first company, keeping workplace flexibility a top priority for our employees. As a business, we are focused on impact; we are more concerned with your contributions to the success of the company than where you get your work done. To help facilitate in-person collaboration, employees are welcome to work from one of our premiere office locations.

When we aren’t collaborating to drive business and support our customers, we’re finding virtual and in-person ways to get to know our colleagues, celebrate team wins, and have fun together!

Our Culture: The Forward Compass
The Forward Compass is the standard we hold for ourselves and one another—guiding how we lead, collaborate, and show up every day to move in the same direction.
Back the Builders: We are wired to fuel customer progress, not just provide support.
Rooted in People: We create an environment that balances deep connection with the extreme ownership and honesty required to reach our highest potential.
Flying V: We move through coordinated effort with speed and urgency to achieve what no individual could do alone.
Always Forward, Never Finished: We pursue growth with a relentless drive that keeps us ahead of the competition.

About Us:

Forward Financing is a fintech company based in Boston, Massachusetts with team members throughout the United States, Dominican Republic, and Canada. The company is on a mission to unlock the capital that fuels small businesses across America. Whether facing challenges accessing traditional financing or simply needing a convenient, flexible solution, Forward is committed to funding more of the millions of small businesses nationwide. By simplifying the requirements, streamlining the process, and using advanced proprietary technology, Forward is often able to deliver approvals within hours and funds that same day – giving more businesses the financial opportunity they need to thrive. Plus, with their dedicated teams and award-winning service, customers get personalized support when they need it most.

Since 2012, Forward has expanded access to capital by providing over $4.8 billion in funding to more than 92,000 small businesses. The company is A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau with an Excellent / 4.7 stars rating on Trustpilot.com . Recognized as a Best Place to Work by Built In Boston and certified as a Great Place To Work®, Forward is dedicated to empowering both its team and the customers they serve, helping them succeed and thrive.

U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Information

Forward Financing is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to fostering a fair and inclusive culture built on a foundation of high performance and exceptional customer experience. With a laser focus on employee impact, we’re able to reduce biases and ensure the right people are in the right jobs to contribute to our mission. The varied perspectives of our people fuel innovation and make us a stronger team. By embracing what makes each of us unique, we create a supportive environment where people feel valued, accepted, and empowered to thrive.