Staff Software Engineer (Agent Security)

Fortinet, Inc.; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Fortinet, Inc. is seeking a backend engineer to build AI security solutions for enterprise customers in Santa Clara, CA. You will design and implement security controls for agentic AI systems and collaborate with PM/QA to deliver secure, scalable services.

The role requires 3+ years in backend development, strong Python/Go or Rust/C/C++ skills, and familiarity with HTTP, gRPC, and WebSocket. Proactive troubleshooting and integration experience are valued.

Qualifications

• 3+ years backend development experience with cloud-native infrastructure, networking, and building reliable services at scale.
• Proficiency in Python or Go, or systems languages such as Rust or C/C++.
• Understanding of HTTP, gRPC, WebSocket, reverse proxies, API gateways, or identity-aware proxies.
• Self-drive and proactive with strong problem-solving and debugging skills and a focus on delivering high-quality solutions.

Responsibilities

• Build AI security solutions for enterprise customers.
• Design and implement security controls for agentic AI systems, including agents, tools, and agent-to-agent interactions.
• Work cross-functionally with PM and QA teams to deliver secure and scalable solutions.
• Develop pre-sales and post-sales tools and environments to support customer evaluations, deployments, troubleshooting, and integration.
• Research emerging technologies and security trends to identify new opportunities and develop innovative solutions.

Skills

Python

Go

Rust

C/C++

Problem-solving

Self-driven

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

HTTP

gRPC

WebSocket

reverse proxies

API gateways

identity-aware proxies

Job description

Responsibility

1. Build AI security solutions for enterprise customers.
2. Design and implement security controls for agentic AI systems, including agents, tools, and agent-to-agent interactions.
3. Work cross-functionally with PM and QA teams to deliver secure and scalable solutions.
4. Develop pre-sales and post-sales tools and environments to support customer evaluations, deployments, troubleshooting, and integration.
5. Research emerging technologies and security trends to identify new opportunities and develop innovative solutions.

Requirements

1. Strong software engineering skills in Python or Go, or in a systems language such as Rust or C/C++.
2. Bachelor’s degree or above in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
3. 3+ years of backend development experience, including cloud-native infrastructure, networking, and building reliable services at scale.
4. Solid understanding of application and network protocols, such as HTTP, gRPC, and WebSocket, and/or hands-on experience with reverse proxies, API gateways, or identity-aware proxies.
5. Self-drive and proactive with strong problem-solving and debugging skills and a focus on delivering high-quality solutions.

Strong Plus

1. Hands-on experience with the agentic AI ecosystem, including MCP, tool calling, and agent frameworks.
2. Experience with LLM and agent security, including areas such as prompt injection, tool poisoning, jailbreaks, and agent security controls.
3. Background or professional experience in cybersecurity, particularly application security, network security, identity, or API security.