An overview of this role

As a Senior Software Engineer, you'll work across two important areas for GitLab Security: the data layer behind our vulnerability and dependency management capabilities, and our move toward services outside the GitLab monolith. You'll design and develop systems that ingest, store, index, and query security report data, including integrations with key third-party systems. With a strong focus on PostgreSQL and scalable backend design, your work will support security features that teams across GitLab deliver.

You'll own significant parts of larger deliverables from design through delivery. You'll shape the approach with your tech lead, drive execution and decisions within your scope, and stay hands-on across GitLab's Ruby on Rails application and newer services, including greenfield projects. You'll also grow into a domain expert on the database systems that underpin this suite.

What you’ll do

• Own significant components of larger deliverables, from technical design through delivery, and deliver iteratively within GitLab's monthly release cycle by showing progress and raising constraints early.
• Design and develop backend systems for vulnerability and dependency management, including security report ingestion, storage, indexing, querying, and integrations with key third-party systems.
• Build and improve systems using Ruby on Rails and PostgreSQL, and contribute to newer services using technologies such as Go or Rust where appropriate.
• Develop deep PostgreSQL expertise by improving queries and schemas as the data behind vulnerability management continues to grow.
• Collaborate directly with product, design, frontend, and engineering partners on decisions within your scope.
• Contribute to technical plans and design discussions, and support other engineers through reviews, pairing, and clear documentation.
• Apply a security mindset when designing systems, including how GitLab identifies and handles malicious or vulnerable software packages.
• Contribute to GitLab's move toward modular services as the team establishes these patterns for GitLab Security.

What you’ll bring

• Professional backend engineering experience delivering production features and components at scale, with clear ownership of outcomes rather than tasks.
• Hands-on PostgreSQL experience, including query profiling and optimization, indexing, and schema design decisions, with an interest in growing into a domain expert.
• You have professional experience with Ruby on Rails, Go, or Python; are comfortable working in Ruby on Rails day to day; and are interested in working across languages and services.
• Evidence of guiding peers through complex work or independently carrying out a delivery plan.
• The ability to collaborate with a range of partners and explain technical tradeoffs clearly.
• A self-directed approach with proactive communication about decisions, progress, and blockers.
• Experience using security tooling for vulnerability triage and remediation, or building vulnerability management, dependency management, or related security products.
• Fluency using artificial intelligence tools to improve delivery while applying sound engineering judgment. Experience with large monoliths is helpful.

About the team

The Vulnerability Management team owns the data layer behind GitLab's vulnerability and dependency management capabilities, including security report ingestion, storage, indexing, and querying. We also contribute to GitLab's move toward modular services and will help other Security teams adopt these patterns over time. We include two Staff Software Engineers, two Senior Software Engineers, and one Intermediate Software Engineer across the United Kingdom, Poland, the Netherlands, and India. We work with highly aligned autonomy: you'll receive clear context and outcomes, then have the space to own delivery, communicate decisions and progress, ask for help early, and work directly with your teammates, product partners, and engineering leaders needed to get the job done.