Research Software Engineer

Upwind is a next-generation Cloud Security Platform that leverages runtime context to identify and prioritize critical risks, providing precise insights and efficient cloud security management. Unlike traditional tools, Upwind uses runtime data proactively for risk prioritization and posture insights, ensuring teams focus on what truly matters. With industry-leading efficiency and eBPF-powered sensors, Upwind delivers comprehensive capabilities, including agentless cloud posture discovery, real-time threat protection, and integrated API security. From misconfigurations to malware defense, Upwind ensures end-to-end, cost-effective cloud infrastructure protection. At Upwind, you’ll have the opportunity to think creatively, explore new ideas, and use your skills to make a meaningful impact on our growth.

We’re looking for a talented Research Software Engineer to join our Security Research group. In this role, you’ll build the engineering foundation behind our research initiatives, transforming innovative security ideas into scalable, production-ready capabilities. Working closely with security researchers and product teams, you’ll develop and maintain the infrastructure, services, and tools that power next-generation Attack Surface Management (ASM), offensive security research, cloud security analysis, and autonomous security workflows.

This role is ideal for a software engineer who enjoys solving challenging technical problems, building reliable systems, and working at the intersection of software engineering and cutting-edge cybersecurity research.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain production-grade services, tools, and infrastructure that support the Security Research team.
• Collaborate closely with Security Researchers to translate research prototypes into robust, maintainable production features.
• Build reliable APIs, services, and data pipelines that integrate with the Upwind platform.
• Improve the scalability, performance, and maintainability of research-driven systems.
• Work cross-functionally with Product, Platform, DevOps, and other engineering teams to deliver customer-facing capabilities.

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in backend software engineering or software infrastructure development.
• Strong proficiency in one or more modern programming languages such as Go, Python, or Java.
• Experience designing, building, and maintaining production backend systems.
• Strong software engineering fundamentals, including system design, testing, debugging, and performance optimization.
• Experience working with cloud platforms and distributed systems.
• Ability to collaborate closely with researchers and rapidly iterate on new ideas while maintaining production-quality code.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a passion for building high-quality engineering solutions.
• Self-driven, resourceful, and comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment.

Nice to Have

• Experience in cybersecurity or cloud security.
• Familiarity with Attack Surface Management (ASM), CNAPP, offensive security, or cloud-native technologies.