Principal Software Engineer II - Product Security

Snowflake5 days ago

Location

US-CA-Menlo Park

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 280,000 – 402,500

Level

Principal

Role

Principal Engineer

Posted

Mar 9, 2026

Full TimePrincipal

The role

Summary

Snowflake is seeking a Principal Software Engineer II to lead their Product Security team, serving as the senior technical authority for security architecture and strategy. This role involves designing secure-by-default frameworks, driving AI security initiatives, and influencing security decisions across the organization while mentoring engineering teams and ensuring security excellence across all Snowflake products.

What you'll do

Technical Leadership: Serve as senior technical authority and architectural leader for Product Security, defining long-term technical vision and security architecture

Security Strategy: Drive security strategy across key domains including AI security, authentication, authorization, data protection, and software supply chain security

Framework Development: Design and develop scalable, secure-by-default frameworks, services, and tools to secure Snowflake's infrastructure and protect customer data

AI Security Leadership: Define and implement proactive strategies to mitigate emerging AI-related threats while leveraging AI to enhance overall security posture

Risk Mitigation: Anticipate emerging security risks and proactively define long-term mitigation strategies aligned with business and product goals

Cross-team Alignment: Drive alignment across engineering, infrastructure, AI/ML, and security teams to ensure cohesive execution

Security Partnership: Partner with product and engineering teams to implement security best practices throughout the development lifecycle

Mentorship and Culture: Mentor engineers, influence engineering culture, and promote a strong security mindset company-wide

What we look for

Technical

Large-scale Systems Experience15+ years building and securing large-scale distributed systems and cloud-native platforms

Security Domain ExpertiseDeep expertise in AI/ML system security, applied cryptography, identity and access management, secure distributed system design

AI/ML SecurityExperience securing AI/ML systems or building security controls for AI-driven platforms

Systems ThinkingStrong systems thinking with experience identifying and mitigating systemic risks at scale

Programming LanguagesProficiency in Java, Go, Python, C, or C++ for security system development

Education

Bachelor's DegreeBachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent practical experience

Experience

Technical LeadershipDemonstrated company-level technical leadership with cross-organizational impact

Complex Initiative LeadershipTrack record of leading complex, multi-year technical initiatives with broad organizational impact

Executive CommunicationExceptional communication skills and ability to influence senior technical and executive audiences

Skills

Required skills

Distributed Systems SecurityExpertise in securing large-scale distributed systems and cloud-native platforms

Applied CryptographyDeep knowledge of cryptographic principles and implementation in production systems

AI/ML SecurityExperience with securing AI/ML systems and building security controls for AI platforms

Identity and Access ManagementExpertise in authentication, authorization, and identity management systems

Cloud SecurityComprehensive understanding of cloud and infrastructure security across multiple platforms

Software Supply Chain SecurityKnowledge of secure software delivery, dependency management, and SBOM practices

Technical LeadershipProven ability to lead technical initiatives and influence cross-organizational decisions

Systems ArchitectureExperience designing and implementing secure system architectures at scale

Nice to have

Threat ModelingAdvanced threat modeling methodologies and risk assessment frameworks

Zero Trust ArchitectureExperience implementing zero trust security principles and micro-segmentation

Kubernetes SecurityContainer orchestration security, network policies, and runtime protection

Regulatory ComplianceKnowledge of SOC 2, ISO 27001, FedRAMP, and other security compliance frameworks

Security ResearchExperience in security research, vulnerability discovery, and threat intelligence

Executive PresentationAbility to present technical security concepts to executive and board-level audiences

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 280,000 – 402,500 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Comprehensive Health Coverage

Medical, dental, and vision insurance with company contribution

Equity Participation

Stock options and equity grants as part of total compensation package

Professional Development

Learning and development opportunities including conference attendance and training

Flexible Work Arrangements

Hybrid work model with flexibility between office and remote work

Retirement Planning

401(k) plan with company matching contributions

Wellness Programs

Employee wellness initiatives and mental health support resources

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Phone or video screening with talent acquisition focusing on background and cultural fit
2
Technical Leadership Interview — Deep dive into technical leadership experience, security architecture decisions, and cross-organizational impact
3
Security Architecture Design — Whiteboard or collaborative session designing security solutions for complex distributed systems
4
AI/ML Security Case Study — Discussion of AI/ML security challenges and mitigation strategies with technical examples
5
Executive Interview — Interview with senior leadership focusing on strategic thinking and business impact
6
Team Collaboration Session — Meet with potential team members and stakeholders to assess collaboration and mentorship approach
7
Final Interview — Comprehensive discussion with hiring manager covering role expectations and cultural alignment