Staff Software Engineer, Security & AI Platform

We’re hiring a Staff Backend Software Engineer for our Product & AI Security Engineering team. You’ll own and evolve the security foundations behind Gusto’s products and AI/LLM experiences-from authentication and authorization at scale to securing core services and data. You’ll define and own security architecture and standards across Gusto’s products and AI/LLM experiences - setting the direction for authentication, authorization, and safe data handling, and building the platforms and guardrails that other teams rely on.

• 10+ years of experience as a backend engineer, building and operating large-scale server-side services and APIs.
• Proven track record building secure, highly available distributed systems and services.
• Hands-on experience with modern security tooling and practices (e.g., SAST, DAST, SIEM, SCA).
• Proficiency in one or more of: Ruby, Python, Kotlin, JavaScript/TypeScript.
• Experience with AI tools for coding (ex: Cloud Code, Cursor, Github Copilot).
• Strong collaboration skills and comfort breaking down complex, cross-cutting security and AI problems into clear, practical solutions., * Strong backend software engineering skills - you write clean, scalable, well-tested code.
• Experience building and operating high-availability services at scale.
• Ability to partner cross-functionally and communicate technical tradeoffs clearly.
• Genuine interest and desire to grow within the security domain - you don’t need to have worked in security before, but you’re excited to get started., * Experience with authorization platforms/policy engines (e.g., Open Policy Agent, SpiceDB) and technologies like GraphQL, gRPC, Kubernetes, Terraform, Traefik, Flask, Okta.
• Experience with authentication and authorization, such as SAML/SSO, RBAC, and ABAC.
• Familiarity with security concepts like access control, abuse detection, or data protection.
• Prior work on security tooling or platforms.

At Gusto, we’re on a mission to grow the small business economy. We handle the hard stuff - payroll, health insurance, 401(k)s, and HR - so owners can focus on their craft and their customers. With teams in Denver, San Francisco, and New York, we support more than 500,000 small businesses nationwide and are building a workplace that reflects the people we serve.

All full-time employees receive competitive base pay, benefits, and equity (RSUs) - because everyone who helps build Gusto should share in its success. Offer amounts are determined by role, level, and location. Learn more about our Total Rewards philosophy.

AI is a fundamental part of how work gets done at Gusto. We expect all team members to actively engage with AI tools relevant to their role and grow their fluency as the technology evolves. AI experience requirements vary by role and will be assessed during the interview process., Our cash compensation amount for this role is targeted at $181,000-215,000 in Denver & most remote locations, and $218,94-260,000 in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and NYC. Stock equity is additional. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate experience and expertise and may vary from the amounts listed above.

Gusto has physical office spaces in Denver, San Francisco, and New York City. Employees who are based in those locations will be expected to work from the office on designated days approximately 2-3 days per week (or more depending on role). The same office expectations apply to all Symmetry roles, Gusto’s subsidiary, whose physical office is in Scottsdale.

Note: The San Francisco office expectations encompass both the San Francisco and San Jose metro areas.

When approved to work from a location other than a Gusto office, a secure, reliable, and consistent internet connection is required. This includes non-office days for hybrid employees.

Our customers come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes our company stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for small businesses, you will find a home at Gusto.