Principal Field Security Engineer (US)

GitLab is the intelligent orchestration platform for DevSecOps. GitLab enables organizations to increase developer productivity, improve operational efficiency, reduce security and compliance risk, and accelerate digital transformation. More than 50 million registered users and more than 50% of the Fortune 100* trust GitLab to ship better, more secure software faster.

The same principles built into our products are reflected in how our team works: we embrace AI as a core productivity multiplier, with all team members expected to incorporate AI into their daily workflows to drive efficiency, innovation, and impact. GitLab is where careers accelerate, innovation flourishes, and every voice is valued. Our high-performance culture is driven by our values and continuous knowledge exchange, enabling our team members to reach their full potential while collaborating with industry leaders to solve complex problems. Co-create the future with us as we build technology that transforms how the world develops software.

*Fortune 500® is a registered trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, used under license. Claim based on GitLab data. Fortune 100 refers to the top 20% ranked companies in the 2025 Fortune 500 list, published in June 2025. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of GitLab.

An overview of the role 

GitLab is seeking an experienced Principal Field Security Engineer to tackle complex customer security challenges at the intersection of technical architecture and business requirements. In this role, you'll apply deep security expertise to answer technical questions, assess contract requirements, and enable GitLab’s Sales and field organizations to address security problems for enterprise customers. You'll work directly with customers and internal teams to provide technical guidance, create security content, and help customers understand how GitLab's security controls meet their compliance and risk management needs.

What you'll do:

Customer Engagement & Assurance

• Serve as the primary security point of contact for enterprise customer questions, requests, and concerns
• Join customer and prospect meetings to provide expert guidance on GitLab’s security practices and controls in order to address security, privacy, and compliance requirements
• Build and maintain templates, playbooks, fallback positions, and training that simplify and accelerate negotiations
• Facilitate customer assurance activities through our Customer Assurance Activities Service Desk
• Provide escalation support for complex security questionnaires, RFPs, and risk assessments

Contract & Legal Review

• Perform comprehensive contract reviews for both customer agreements and vendor relationships
• Analyze security and compliance clauses in legal documents
• Provide risk-based recommendations and remediation guidance for contractual security requirements
• Partner with Legal, Sales, Product, and Procurement teams to negotiate security-related contract terms. Manage escalations, collaborate across other teams, and develop solutions to enable team and business partners to close deals
• Document and track contract-related security obligations

Security Evangelism & Thought Leadership

• Act as a trusted technical thought leader, developing internal and external security content such as blog posts, whitepapers, technical standards, and field sales enablement training materials
• Keep abreast of the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape affecting our agreements. Identify, track, and facilitate solutions for security related customer trends and improvement areas
• Build and strengthen GitLab's security brand within the industry

Strategic Initiatives

• Maintain and enhance GitLab's Trust Center and self-service security resources
• Provide strategic recommendations based on customer security concerns in support of revenue growth
• Participate in Quarterly Business Reviews to inform product and security roadmap decisions
• Mentor and provide guidance to Security Assurance team members
• Drive continuous improvement of Field Security processes and documentation
• Design and implement solutions to enable Sales facing teams to successfully discuss security problems and topics with customers

What you'll bring:

• 10+ years of experience in information security, with at least 5 years in customer-facing security roles
• Deep expertise in security frameworks and standards such as (SOC 2, ISO 27001/27017/27018/42001, FedRAMP, NIST CSF, etc.)
• Expertise in law and regulation such as (GDPR, CCPA, DORA, EU AI Act)
• Proven track record of contract negotiation and security/privacy agreement reviews
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with ability to translate complex technical concepts for diverse audiences
• Experience creating security content (blogs, whitepapers, presentations)
• Strong understanding of cloud security, SaaS security models, and DevSecOps practices
• Experience working cross-functionally with Sales, Legal, Product, and Engineering teams
• Ability to balance security risk with business objectives
• Experience speaking at conferences is a plus
• Preferred: One or more relevant certifications such as CISSP, CISA, CISM, CCSP, ISO 27001 Lead Implementer/Auditor, or CIPP/CIPM. Equivalent demonstrated experience is equally valued.

Due to government requirements, you must be a United States Citizen (defined as any individual who is a citizen of the United States by law, birth, or naturalization) to fill this position.

About the team

The Security Assurance organization helps GitLab build and maintain trust by strengthening how we approach security, compliance, and risk. Security Governance sits within it and owns customer trust, security awareness, policies and standards, and other governance functions. Our counterparts are Security Compliance, Security Risk, and GRC Engineering.

You will join a small team of four direct reports under the Director, where each person has broad scope and visible impact. We work remote-first and asynchronously, and we write things down and share them openly, so you'll draft and revise policies and standards in the open with input from Security, Legal, Product, and Engineering.

The base salary range for this role’s listed level is currently for residents of the United States only. This range is intended to reflect the role's base salary rate in locations throughout the US. Grade level and salary ranges are determined through interviews and a review of education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities of the applicant, equity with other team members, alignment with market data, and geographic location. The base salary range does not include any bonuses, equity, or benefits. See more information on our benefits and equity. Sales roles are also eligible for incentive pay targeted at up to 100% of the offered base salary.

United States Salary Range

$203,200—$285,000 USD

How GitLab Supports Full-Time Employees

• Benefits to support your health, finances, and well-being
• Flexible Paid Time Off 
• Team Member Resource Groups
• Equity Compensation & Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Growth and Development Fund
• Parental Leave 

Please note that we welcome interest from candidates with varying levels of experience; many successful candidates do not meet every single requirement. Additionally, studies have shown that people from underrepresented groups are less likely to apply to a job unless they meet every single qualification. If you're excited about this role, please apply and allow our recruiters to assess your application.

Country Hiring Guidelines: GitLab hires new team members in countries around the world. All of our roles are remote, however some roles may carry specific location-based eligibility requirements. Our Talent Acquisition team can help answer any questions about location after starting the recruiting process.  

Privacy Policy: Please review our Recruitment Privacy Policy. Your privacy is important to us.

GitLab is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. GitLab’s policies and practices relating to recruitment, employment, career development and advancement, promotion, and retirement are based solely on merit, regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression), national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information (including family medical history), discharge status from the military, protected veteran status (which includes disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active duty wartime or campaign badge veterans, and Armed Forces service medal veterans), or any other basis protected by law. GitLab will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. See also GitLab’s EEO Policy and EEO is the Law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know during the recruiting process.