Remote Principal Security Engineer

Placements24; Randburg; Hybrid; ZAR 2,953,000 - 3,774,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary and benefits

Stock options

Remote work

Professional development budget

Home office stipend

Global scale projects

Diverse team culture

Paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 is partnering with a global leader in cloud-based services to hire a Principal Security Engineer for a 100% remote role. You will architect, develop, and implement advanced security solutions to protect expansive cloud infrastructure and platforms, defining security best practices and leading security initiatives across engineering teams.

The ideal candidate has over 10 years in security engineering with deep cloud focus, hands-on scripting (Python, Go), IaC (Terraform), and

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent in CS, cybersecurity, or related field.
• 10+ years in security engineering with cloud focus.
• Expert knowledge of AWS/Azure/GCP cloud security.
• Experience with automation, scripting, and IaC (Python, Go, Terraform).

Responsibilities

• Design and manage security solutions for large-scale cloud environments.
• Develop security infrastructure: IAM, network, data protection.
• Conduct security reviews, threat modeling, risk assessments.
• Automate security controls to improve efficiency.
• Lead security incident response and remediation.
• Define security standards and mentor engineers.
• Research new technologies and emerging threats.
• Collaborate with product teams to embed security in development.
• Contribute to overall security architecture and strategy.

Skills

Cloud security

Threat modeling

Security automation

CI/CD security

Leadership

Education

Master's degree in CS/Cybersecurity

Tools

Terraform

Docker

Kubernetes

Python

Go

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a global leader in cloud-based services, is seeking a highly accomplished Principal Security Engineer to join their fully remote engineering team. This senior role will be instrumental in architecting, developing, and implementing advanced security solutions to protect our client's extensive cloud infrastructure and platforms. You will be responsible for defining security best practices, driving security initiatives, and tackling complex security challenges at scale. The ideal candidate possesses deep technical expertise in cloud security, a strong understanding of threat landscapes, and a proven ability to innovate and lead technical projects. This is a 100% remote position, offering the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world. You will collaborate with a distributed team of world-class engineers, contributing significantly to the security and integrity of mission-critical systems. If you are a visionary security engineer passionate about building secure and resilient cloud environments, this is the role for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and manage cutting-edge security solutions for large-scale cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Develop and maintain security infrastructure, including identity and access management, network security, and data protection mechanisms.
• Conduct in-depth security reviews, threat modeling, and risk assessments for new features and services.
• Automate security processes and controls to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Lead security incident response efforts, ensuring swift and thorough resolution.
• Define and enforce security standards, policies, and best practices across engineering teams.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers and security professionals.
• Research and evaluate new security technologies and emerging threats.
• Collaborate with product development teams to embed security throughout the development lifecycle.
• Contribute to the overall security architecture and strategy of the organization.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field; or equivalent practical experience.
• 10+ years of experience in security engineering, with a strong focus on cloud security.
• Expert-level knowledge of cloud security principles and best practices for AWS, Azure, and/or GCP.
• Deep understanding of networking, operating systems, cryptography, and identity management.
• Proven experience with security automation, scripting (e.g., Python, Go), and infrastructure as code (e.g., Terraform).
• Experience with container security (Docker, Kubernetes) and CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent communication and leadership abilities, with experience mentoring technical teams.
• Relevant advanced certifications (e.g., CISSP, CCSP, cloud-specific security certifications) are highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fully remote, collaborative team environment.

Benefits

• Exceptional salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Stock options and generous long-term incentives.
• Fully remote work arrangement with flexible hours.
• Annual budget for professional development, conferences, and training.
• Home office stipend and technology allowance.
• Opportunities to work on challenging and impactful projects at a global scale.
• Collaborative and innovative work culture with a diverse, international team.
• Paid time off and company holidays.