Security Engineer

What You’ll Do: Role Summary Avalara is seeking a Senior Security Engineer to join our Platform Security team. As Avalara continues to expand its global SaaS platform, cloud footprint, and engineering velocity, we require scalable security capabilities that are embedded directly into how software and infrastructure are built and operated. This role is ideal for an engineer who combines deep technical expertise in cloud and infrastructure security with a strong track record of technical execution, automation, and cross-functional influence. This position reports to the Senior Manager of Platform Security. How This Role Elevates Avalara This role will:
- Improve the security posture of Avalara’s cloud platforms through scalable security controls and automation.
- Reduce infrastructure, CI/CD, and runtime risk by implementing secure-by-default guardrails and engineering best practices.
- Increase engineering velocity by embedding security into development workflows and enabling teams to build securely at scale.
- Strengthen platform observability, threat detection, and response capabilities across cloud environments.
- Advance Avalara’s AI-first strategy by identifying opportunities to responsibly leverage AI within platform security operations.
- Raise security awareness and capability across engineering teams through technical leadership, collaboration, and mentorship. What Your Responsibilities Will Be:
- Engineer and deliver secure-by-default platform components and shared security services, including authentication, secrets management, encryption, and access control capabilities.
- Drive adoption of zero-trust principles, least-privilege access models, and scalable security guardrails across infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines, and runtime environments.
- Improve platform-wide security posture through enhanced observability, threat detection, security automation, and engineering enablement.
- Provide technical guidance to engineering teams on threat modeling, secure design practices, and software development lifecycle security controls.
- Lead complex, cross-functional security initiatives with clear milestones, measurable outcomes, and risk reduction objectives.
- Develop and execute remediation strategies that address security findings and improve organizational security maturity.
- Collaborate with engineering teams to embed security into cloud-native architectures, deployment pipelines, and operational processes.
- Identify opportunities to leverage AI and automation to strengthen platform security capabilities and operational effectiveness. 12-Month Success Signals Within the first 12 months, this engineer will:
- Deliver platform-wide security capabilities that measurably reduce cloud, infrastructure, and CI/CD risk.
- Improve adoption of secure-by-default engineering practices across multiple development teams.
- Increase visibility into security posture through enhanced monitoring, detection, and reporting capabilities.
- Successfully lead complex remediation and security improvement initiatives involving multiple stakeholder groups.
- Establish scalable security controls that improve developer experience while maintaining strong security standards.
- Demonstrate measurable improvements in platform security effectiveness through automation, risk reduction, and operational efficiency.
- Contribute to the adoption of AI-enabled security capabilities that improve detection, analysis, or response effectiveness. AI Bar Raiser Expectations
- Identify and implement AI-enabled approaches that improve security operations, detection, analysis, remediation, and engineering productivity.
- Evaluate emerging AI security risks and opportunities and provide guidance on responsible adoption.
- Use AI to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of platform security processes.
- Demonstrate measurable improvements in security outcomes through AI-enabled capabilities and automation.
- Promote responsible, secure, and governance-aware use of AI technologies.
- Share AI best practices and help elevate security and engineering teams’ understanding of AI-enabled security solutions. Bar Raiser Expectations At Avalara, we hire Bar Raisers
- individuals who strengthen teams through technical excellence, sound judgment, and measurable business impact. As a Senior Security Engineer, you will elevate security standards, improve engineering practices, and help create a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Demonstrate strong ownership and accountability for security outcomes across the platform.
- Raise engineering and security standards through technical leadership, mentorship, and collaboration.
- Use sound judgment when balancing security, operational efficiency, developer experience, and business priorities.
- Influence teams to adopt scalable security practices that improve long-term platform health.
- Simplify complex security challenges and drive practical, measurable impr