Senior Manager, Security Engineering, Application Security
Snap Inc. · Bellevue, WA
- On site
- Full-time
- $352,000 / year
- Bellevue, WA
Job highlights
- Lead application security strategy for Snap Inc.
- Drive secure design and testing practices.
- Build and mentor a high-performing security team.
- Influence executive leadership on security risks.
- Utilize AI for scalable security solutions.
About the role
About Snap Inc.
Snap Inc. is a technology company dedicated to improving how people live and communicate through the lens of the camera. Our core products include Snapchat, a visual messaging app; Lens Studio, an augmented reality platform; and Spectacles, AR glasses.
The Snap Security team is committed to protecting the trust and safety of our global community by securing the systems and data that power Snapchat. We ensure that every product and service is built on a foundation of security and resilience, safeguarding hundreds of millions of Snapchatters daily. Our values emphasize moving fast with precision, always prioritizing privacy, and collaborating effectively.
About the Role
We are seeking a Senior Manager to lead our Application Security team at Snap Inc. This role is crucial in defining and executing our application security strategy to protect our user base and platform.
What You’ll Do
- Define and drive a multi-year application security strategy aligned with Snap’s product roadmap and company priorities.
- Identify systemic product security risks and take ownership of high-impact initiatives to reduce risk at scale across Snap’s application ecosystem.
- Establish scalable practices for secure design reviews, threat modeling, code review, and security testing (SAST, DAST, SCA, fuzzing, etc.).
- Lead application security architecture reviews for high-risk or high-impact product initiatives.
- Drive automation-first approaches to increase security coverage while minimizing friction for engineering teams.
- Influence senior engineering leadership and executives on security strategy, risk tradeoffs, and investment decisions.
- Align team direction with organizational goals and contribute to quarterly and annual planning.
- Utilize AI tools and high-velocity engineering workflows to design and ship scalable services, upholding rigorous standards for code correctness, security, and production-ready quality.
- Recruit and develop high-caliber security engineers and managers, fostering an inclusive, high-performing team culture.
- Coach and grow managers and senior individual contributors, strengthening technical depth and leadership bench strength across the organization.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Deep expertise in application security, including secure architecture, common vulnerability classes (OWASP Top 10), mobile security, and modern attack techniques.
- Experience building and scaling secure SDLC programs across large engineering organizations.
- Proficiency in leveraging AI tools for development, with critical judgment for auditing generated output for architectural integrity, performance bottlenecks, and security risks.
- Adaptability in learning and applying evolving AI systems and tools to stay at the forefront of engineering trends.
- Strong understanding of web, mobile, and backend application architectures.
- Familiarity with security testing methodologies including SAST, DAST, IAST, SCA, fuzzing, and manual code review.
- Experience partnering with product engineering teams in fast-paced, consumer-scale environments.
- Demonstrated ability to operate strategically while staying connected to technical details.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a technical field (e.g., Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics) or equivalent experience.
- 9+ years of post-Bachelor’s security experience; OR Master’s degree + 8+ years of post-grad security experience; OR PhD + 5+ years of security experience.
- 2+ years of experience managing high-performing managers or leading engineering teams focused on advertising applications.
- Proven experience in managing, mentoring, and scaling diverse engineering teams to consistently deliver complex, high-impact projects.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience leading application security in a large consumer technology company.
- Demonstrated success embedding security into high-velocity product organizations.
- Experience operating in zero-trust or BeyondCorp-inspired environments.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Snap Inc. believes in the power of diverse backgrounds and voices to create innovative products. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification.
We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with applicable law, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.
Our Benefits
Snap Inc. offers comprehensive benefits designed to support your well-being, including paid parental leave, extensive medical coverage, emotional and mental health support, and compensation packages that include opportunities to share in Snap’s long-term success through RSUs.
Compensation
Compensation is determined by pay zones based on work location. The base salary range for this position in Zone A (CA, WA, NYC) is $276,000-$414,000 annually. Zone B: $262,000-$393,000 annually. Zone C: $235,000-$352,000 annually. This position is eligible for equity in the form of RSUs.
Key skills/competency
- Senior Manager Application Security
- Security Engineering
- Application Security Strategy
- Secure SDLC
- Threat Modeling
- Security Testing SAST DAST SCA
- AI Security Tools
- Team Leadership
- Consumer Technology
- Risk Management
Skills & topics
- Senior Manager
- Application Security
- Security Engineering
- Snap Inc.
- SDLC
- Threat Modeling
- SAST
- DAST
- SCA
- AI Security
- Team Leadership
- Consumer Technology
- Risk Management
- Mobile Security
- Web Application Security
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your experience in application security, team management, and scaling secure SDLC programs, emphasizing consumer technology environments.
- Craft a compelling cover letter: Clearly articulate your strategic vision for application security and your leadership approach, referencing Snap's values and 'default together' policy.
- Prepare for technical interviews: Be ready to discuss your expertise in secure architecture, vulnerability classes, security testing methodologies, and leveraging AI tools for security.
- Showcase leadership skills: Demonstrate your ability to mentor, manage, and scale engineering teams, as well as influence senior stakeholders on security strategy and risk.
- Understand Snap's culture: Research Snap's commitment to privacy, innovation, and their 'default together' approach to collaboration to align your responses with company values.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What are the key responsibilities for the Senior Manager, Application Security Engineering role at Snap Inc.?
- The Senior Manager, Application Security Engineering at Snap Inc. will be responsible for defining and driving the application security strategy, establishing secure SDLC practices, leading security architecture reviews, and building/mentoring a high-performing security engineering team. This includes identifying risks, influencing leadership, and leveraging AI tools for scalable security solutions.
- What technical skills and experience are most important for this Senior Manager role at Snap Inc.?
- Key skills for this role include deep expertise in application security (secure architecture, OWASP Top 10, mobile security, attack techniques), experience scaling secure SDLC programs, proficiency with security testing methodologies (SAST, DAST, SCA, fuzzing), and a strong understanding of web, mobile, and backend architectures. Familiarity with AI tools for development and security auditing is also crucial.
- How does Snap Inc. approach security and privacy in its products?
- Snap Inc. prioritizes trust and safety by securing the systems and data that power Snapchat, ensuring every product is built on a foundation of security and resilience. Privacy is at the forefront of their operations, guiding how they anticipate threats, mitigate risks, and collaborate across the company.
- What is Snap Inc.'s policy on remote work or in-office presence for this Senior Manager, Application Security Engineering position?
- Snap Inc. practices a 'default together' approach, expecting team members to work in the office 4+ days per week. This policy aims to foster culture, collaboration, and better serve the community, customers, and partners.
- What career growth opportunities are available for a Senior Manager in Application Security at Snap Inc.?
- As a Senior Manager at Snap Inc., you will have opportunities to influence security strategy at a company-wide level, lead and grow a team of high-caliber engineers and managers, strengthen technical and leadership capabilities across the organization, and contribute to quarterly and annual planning, offering significant career development.
- How does Snap Inc. leverage AI in its engineering and security practices?
- Snap Inc. utilizes AI tools and high-velocity engineering workflows to design and ship scalable services while maintaining rigorous standards. For this role, proficiency in leveraging AI tools to streamline development and critically auditing AI-generated output for security and architectural integrity is emphasized.
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