Staff Software Engineer - Federal

We safeguard Okta from threats and vulnerabilities that could disrupt our business or erode our customers' trust. The Defensive Cyber Engineering organization is responsible for the Security Data Platform, infrastructure, and tooling that enable Okta's Detection and Response capabilities. The team also manages enterprise security tools and infrastructure that support XDR, DLP, and SSPM capabilities., We are expanding this team to support Okta's Public Sector roadmap by hiring a Staff Software Engineer in the DC area. You'll work closely with Security, Business Technology Engineering, and Product teams to implement and manage security solutions, ensuring our core infrastructure applications protect our workforce, endpoints, and corporate data., * Serve as a security subject matter expert (SME) for solution engineering and architecture reviews, preferably in the Detection and Response and/or enterprise security tooling space.

• Lead technical efforts to evaluate, design, and implement new enterprise security systems and feature enhancements.
• Build, maintain, and enhance custom automation and cloud infrastructure using Terraform or similar tools to support team workflows and enforce security controls.
• Develop integrations with APIs, cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure), and security infrastructure to improve detection, response, and remediation.
• Write and maintain scripts and automations, with an emphasis on Python-based solutions, to streamline security operations.
• Establish monitoring and alerting for security posture, misconfigurations, and threats across endpoints, SaaS, and cloud workloads.
• Proactively identify and remediate security gaps; stay updated on emerging threats, solutions, and tooling across the industry.

And extra credit if you have experience in any of the following!

• Advanced identity management technologies (MFA, SAML, OAuth, OIDC, WebAuthn)
• Deep understanding of Okta's ecosystem, including advanced configuration and integrations
• Experience with continuous compliance solutions (e.g., policy-as-code, automated evidence gathering)

Additional requirements

Do you have experience in Vendor communication?, * 8+ years of strong coding and scripting experience, with a focus on building automation and custom tooling for infrastructure and data pipelines. Experience with Python is required; proficiency in other languages (e.g., Bash, PowerShell, Go) is a plus.

• Experience developing and maintaining ETL/ELT pipelines for onboarding security data into Okta's security data lake.
• Experience working with security teams to integrate log sources and ensure seamless data ingestion.
• Ability to build and maintain scalable, fault-tolerant data pipelines to process security event data.
• Proven track record of automating security controls and workflows using a cloud-first approach.
• Experience with Terraform and other infrastructure-as-code tools to orchestrate security infrastructure.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines for security automation and drift management.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to collaborate with technical staff, support teams, executive leadership, and external vendors.
• 2+ years of experience building engineering solutions within highly regulated environments such as FedRAMP High, IL4, IL5, and/or IL6 is a plus.
• Current or previous Secret, Top Secret (TS), or Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance is a plus., * This position requires the ability to access federal environments and/or have access to protected federal data. As a condition of employment for this position, the successful candidate must be able to submit documentation establishing U.S. Person status (e.g. a U.S. Citizen, National, Lawful Permanent Resident, Refugee, or Asylee. 22 CFR 120.15) upon hire., * Supporting Your Well-Being
• Driving Social Impact
• Developing Talent and Fostering Connection + Community

3.93.9 out of 5 stars Chicago, IL Hybrid work $161,000 - $221,000 a year, We are intentional about connection. Our global community, spanning over 20 offices worldwide, is united by a drive to innovate. Your journey begins with an immersive, in-person onboarding experience designed to accelerate your impact and connect you to our mission and team from day one.

Identity is the key to unlocking the potential of AI. Okta secures AI by building the trusted, neutral infrastructure that enables organizations to safely embrace this new era. This work requires a relentless drive to solve complex challenges with real-world stakes. We are looking for builders and owners who operate with speed and urgency and execute with excellence.