Principal Engineer – Secure Code Development

At F5, we strive to bring a better digital world to life. Our teams empower organizations across the globe to create, secure, and run applications that enhance how we experience our evolving digital world. We are passionate about cybersecurity, from protecting consumers from fraud to enabling companies to focus on innovation. 
 

Everything we do centers around people. That means we obsess over how to make the lives of our customers, and their customers, better. And it means we prioritize a diverse F5 community where each individual can thrive.

Principal Engineer – Secure Code Development

F5 BIG-IP Platform Security Team

Role Overview

Drive secure coding practices across the F5 BIG-IP platform by conducting code reviews, identifying security vulnerabilities, and collaborating with development teams to integrate security throughout the software development lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

Secure Code Review & Analysis

• Conduct comprehensive security code reviews to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in BIG-IP product code
• Perform manual and automated code analysis using static (SAST) and dynamic (DAST) analysis tools
• Review code for compliance with secure coding standards (OWASP, CWE/SANS Top 25, CERT)
• Analyze security implications of design decisions in application delivery, traffic management, and security modules

• Collaborate with BIG-IP development teams to integrate security best practices into the SDLC
• Develop and maintain security coding guidelines, standards, and checklists tailored for F5 products
• Define security requirements and controls for system designs, APIs, and authentication/authorization mechanisms
• Champion secure-by-design principles across engineering teams

• Mentor junior engineers on security best practices and code review techniques

• Analyze vulnerability reports, CVEs, and security advisories to assess impact and recommend fixes
• Track security findings through resolution using Bugzilla or similar tracking systems

• Stay current with latest security threats, attack vectors, and defensive technologies relevant to application delivery and network security
• Evaluate and recommend new security tools and methodologies to improve code security posture
• Leverage AI-powered security tools for enhanced vulnerability detection and code analysis

Required Qualifications

Experience

• 12+ years of hands-on experience in secure code review and secure software development
• Proven track record identifying and remediating security vulnerabilities in production code
• Experience integrating security into agile software development processes

Technical Skills

• Programming Languages: Python, Java, C/C++ (proficiency required)
• Secure Coding: Deep understanding of secure coding principles, OWASP Top 10, CWE/SANS Top 25
• Static Analysis Tools: SonarQube, Checkmarx, Fortify, Coverity, Semgrep
• Dynamic Analysis Tools: Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, Acunetix
• Code Review Methodologies: Manual code review, peer review, automated scanning integration
• Source Code Management: Git, GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket
• SDLC Integration: CI/CD security gates, GitHub Actions, Jenkins

Core Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to articulate security risks and recommended mitigations to development teams
• Collaborative mindset with ability to influence engineering culture

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with F5 BIG-IP architecture, TMOS, iRules/iApps development
• Understanding of application delivery, load balancing, SSL/TLS processing, and WAF functionality
• Experience with network protocols and security features (HTTP/S, DNS, IPsec, authentication)

• Knowledge of cryptographic implementations and common pitfalls
• Experience with API security, authentication/authorization frameworks (OAuth, SAML, JWT)
• Understanding of product security concepts: Secure Boot, FIPS compliance, code signing
• Familiarity with threat modelling methodologies (STRIDE, PASTA, OCTAVE)

• Experience with container security and Kubernetes for BIG-IP containerized deployments
• Knowledge of scripting for security automation (Bash, PowerShell)
• Familiarity with vulnerability assessment and penetration testing techniques
• AI Security Skills: Experience using AI-powered code analysis tools or LLM-assisted security reviews

Certifications

• GIAC Secure Software Programmer (GSSP)
• Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP)
• CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)
• OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional)

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Security, Software Engineering, or related field

The Job Description is intended to be a general representation of the responsibilities and requirements of the job. However, the description may not be all-inclusive, and responsibilities and requirements are subject to change.

Please note that F5 only contacts candidates through F5 email address (ending with @f5.com) or auto email notification from Workday (ending with f5.com or @myworkday.com).

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is the policy of F5 to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to unlawful considerations of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, sensory, physical, or mental disability, marital status, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, discipline, and termination.  F5 offers a variety of reasonable accommodations for candidates. Requesting an accommodation is completely voluntary. F5 will assess the need for accommodations in the application process separately from those that may be needed to perform the job. Request by contacting accommodations@f5.com.