Posted 12 June, 2026
Staff Security Research Engineer
Harness
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Full Time
Reference: 102_699416_4948399007
Key Responsibilities
- Research and build AI-powered security capabilities that enhance early detection and prevention across SAST, SCA, DAST, and CI/CD pipelines.
- Research risks in AI-assisted development, including insecure code generation, dependency suggestions, and automated refactoring.
- Lead research into modern attack vectors targeting code, dependencies, build systems, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud environments.
- Develop AI-assisted detection and testing methods to improve accuracy, automation, and coverage across security tooling.
- Prototype and validate new detection methods that help developers prevent vulnerabilities before deployment.
- Collaborate with engineering and product teams to integrate research outcomes directly into developer workflows and platform features.
- Perform deep technical assessments of applications, APIs, source repositories, and build pipelines to uncover design flaws, dependency risks, and supply chain threats.
- Work with customers and internal teams to align research with real-world DevSecOps use cases and product improvements.
- Contribute to pre-sales and technical enablement through proof-of-concepts, demos, and solution design for code-to-cloud protection.
- Build internal tools and automation that accelerate vulnerability discovery, analysis, and AI-driven security research.
- Share insights and research outcomes through blogs, whitepapers, and conference talks to advance the field of Shift-Left and AI security.
- Continuously monitor emerging threats and apply learnings to improve product detection and protection capabilities.
About You
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field.
- 8 - 10+ years of experience with special focus on security research and application security.
- Strong background in shift-left security tools (SAST, DAST, SCA) with experience building or customizing scanning rules, engines, or pipelines.
- Prior hands-on development experience with a solid understanding of modern programming languages, frameworks, and build systems.
- Understanding of AI and LLM models, their integration into developer workflows, and potential security risks.
- Deep understanding of OWASP Top 10, API Security Top 10, LLM Top 10, and CI/CD Security Top 10, with the ability to map real-world vulnerabilities to these risk categories.
- Familiarity with AI-assisted development tools and experience evaluating or mitigating risks from AI-generated code and dependency suggestions.
- Proficient in at least one modern programming language (Python, Go, Java, JavaScript, etc.)
- Familiarity with dependency management ecosystems (npm, PyPI, Maven, Go modules) and open-source risk analysis.
- Demonstrated experience in publishing security research, authoring technical blogs, or presenting at top security conferences (e.g., Black Hat, DEF CON, RSAC, BSides) is a strong plus.
- Relevant credentials such as OSCP, OSCE, CEH, or equivalent security certifications are a plus.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to lead complex research independently; from hypothesis to validation and implementation.
- Proven ability to work autonomously, drive large research efforts, and collaborate cross-functionally with product and engineering teams.
- Passion for research, security, and continuous learning, with a never-give-up attitude.
Work Location
This role will be out of our Bengaluru, India office on a Hybrid capacity.