Senior Cloud Security Engineer

BackOps AI; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Remote-friendly options

Equity opportunity

Job summary

BackOps AI is seeking a Cloud Security Engineer to own the security design and implementation across our cloud platform. You will collaborate with engineering and DevOps to build resilient, secure architectures and automated guardrails for our cloud-native services.

You will lead container and infrastructure hardening, implement IAM and secrets management, and drive secure development practices in a fast-paced AI environment, ensuring protection of customer data.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in cloud security, infrastructure security, or DevSecOps in a modern SaaS environment.
• Deep proficiency in AWS and/or GCP networking, IAM, and managed services.
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code and automating security within CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong container security knowledge for Kubernetes-based workloads.
• Risk-minded approach with strong communication of security implications.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain cloud security controls across AWS/GCP, Kubernetes, and serverless environments.
• Architect and implement fine-grained IAM policies and automated secrets management.
• Develop and integrate automated security scanning (SAST, DAST, container scans) into CI/CD pipelines.
• Lead network security hardening including VPCs, security groups, and monitoring/alerting.
• Operationalize vulnerability management and threat modeling for cloud-native apps and AI-driven workflows.
• Partner with engineering teams on secure development practices for AI agent architectures.

Skills

Cloud security

DevSecOps

CI/CD automation

Kubernetes security

Python/Go scripting

Threat modeling

Communication

Execution

Tools

Terraform

CloudFormation

AWS

GCP

Kubernetes (EKS/GKE)

Job description

BackOps AI is transforming supply chain operations with agentic AI solutions that automate complex workflows, freeing operations teams to focus on what matters most. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area with flexible remote-friendly options, we foster a culture of innovation, ownership, and measurable impact.

Role Overview

As a Cloud Security Engineer, you will lead the technical design and implementation of security controls across our cloud infrastructure and platform. You will work at the intersection of engineering and DevOps to build resilient architectures, automate security guardrails, and secure our cloud-native services. This is a hands-on technical role for someone who can drive DevSecOps practices and take direct ownership of our security posture in a fast-paced AI environment.

In this role, you will be the primary technical owner for cloud security, focusing on infrastructure hardening, container security, and automated response. While you will support our compliance goals, your core mission is building and maintaining the technical safeguards that protect our platform and customer data.

What You’ll Do

• Design, build, and maintain robust cloud security controls across AWS/GCP infrastructure, Kubernetes, and serverless environments
• Architect and implement fine-grained IAM policies, least privilege access models, and automated secrets management to minimize the attack surface
• Develop and integrate automated security scanning and guardrails into CI/CD pipelines (SAST, DAST, and container vulnerability scanning)
• Lead network security hardening, including VPC architecture, security groups, and cloud-native monitoring/alerting strategies
• Operationalize vulnerability management and threat modeling for cloud-native applications and AI-driven workflows
• Partner with engineering teams on secure development practices and provide technical guidance for securing complex AI agent architectures

What We’re Looking For

• Experience: 5+ years in cloud security engineering, infrastructure security, or DevSecOps within a modern SaaS environment
• Cloud Platforms: Deep technical proficiency in AWS and/or GCP, including networking, IAM, and managed services
• DevSecOps & Automation: Proven experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform/CloudFormation) and automating security within CI/CD pipelines
• Container Security: Strong understanding of securing containerized workloads and orchestration platforms like Kubernetes (EKS/GKE)
• Risk Mindset: Strong judgment in identifying material risks, prioritizing remediation, and balancing speed with practical security outcomes
• Communication: Can write clear policies, standards, procedures, risk summaries, and customer-facing responses; able to work effectively across technical and non-technical teams
• Execution: You are organized, hands-on, and able to independently drive programs from requirement to implementation to review
• Startup Fit: Comfortable operating in a fast-moving environment where you may define structure while also doing the work directly
• Programming Proficiency: Strong coding skills in Python, Go, or a similar language to automate security tasks and interact with cloud APIs.

Nice to Have

• Experience with Vanta, Drata, or similar compliance automation tooling
• Familiarity with cloud environments such as AWS and/or GCP
• Experience with vendor risk management, security questionnaires, and enterprise customer diligence workflows
• Familiarity with privacy operations and data governance practices in B2B SaaS environments
• Experience with security awareness programs, endpoint/device management, or identity lifecycle management
• Exposure to secure SDLC, application security reviews, or vulnerability management programs
• Experience working in AI, automation, or operationally sensitive product environments

What Success Looks Like

• Our controls are not just documented they are actually operating, measurable, and sustainable
• Audit readiness improves with less scramble and clearer ownership
• Security and compliance become embedded into engineering and business workflows instead of bolted on later
• Enterprise customers gain confidence in our maturity through strong security posture and clear responses
• Risk is identified earlier, prioritized better, and remediated faster

What We Offer

• Equity & Ownership: Competitive equity so you grow alongside the company
• Impact & Visibility: Direct access to leadership; your work directly improves customer trust and company readiness
• Collaborative Culture: Tight-knit team of seasoned operators and AI experts
• Flexible Work: Hybrid with core Bay Area presence and remote flexibility