Senior Staff Software Engineer - Platform Access Control - Security

About the Position

We are looking for a Senior Staff Software Engineer - Platform Access Control - Security to join our team in Santa Clara. This role is pivotal in shaping the technical vision and architecture strategy for our authorization platforms, ensuring a secure-by-default posture.

Responsibilities

• Set the technical vision and architecture strategy for the authorization platform.
• Work on core Authorization frameworks that touch every part of the product.
• Own features from design through delivery, turning business requirements into well-architected, cross-team solutions.
• Lead design and code reviews, championing access control best practices, performance, maintainability, and testability across multiple teams.
• Implement software that is simple to use to allow customers, applications to extend and customize the functionality to meet their specific needs.
• Define comprehensive test strategies covering functional, regression, integration, and performance testing.
• Diagnose, resolve, root cause, and mitigation plans for the hardest production issues across the security stack.
• Mentor engineers at every level and raise the technical bar across the organization.

Requirements

• Aptitude for learning new technologies quickly
• Domain experience in authorization technologies such as RBAC, ABAC, policy engines, or adjacencies applicable to this space.
• Demonstrated success completing complex, cross-team projects, on time and with quality.
• Experience with troubleshooting difficult production issues e.g., memory leaks, concurrency issues, caching issues, network problems, intermittent failures, etc. across the stack.
• Track record of technical leadership - influencing architecture and engineering decisions across multiple teams without relying on direct authority.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience authoring design docs/RFCs and presenting technical strategy to senior engineering leadership.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of software development experience with a Bachelor's degree; OR 8+ years with a Master's degree; OR 5+ years with a PhD; OR equivalent work experience.
• Strong knowledge of data structures, algorithms, object-oriented design, design patterns, and performance optimization at scale.
• Expert level understanding of best practices for object-oriented and modularized software, with emphasis on Java and Golang.
• Experience with automated testing frameworks (e.g., JUnit, Selenium, TestNG) and integrating tests into CI/CD pipelines.
• Deep understanding of software quality principles including reliability, observability, and production readiness.
• Experience leveraging or critically thinking about how to integrate AI into engineering work - whether using AI-powered coding and operational tooling, automating workflows, or reasoning about how AI changes the way software and infrastructure are built.

Nice to Have

• Prior experience with ServiceNow Platform
• Prior experience in building Authorization frameworks
• Experience with Kubernetes based services and deploying them in regulated environments with compliance and governance requirements.

We Offer

• Base pay of $190,900 - $334,100, plus equity (when applicable), variable/incentive compensation, and benefits.
• Health plans, including flexible spending accounts.
• 401(k) Plan with company match.
• ESPP, matching donations.
• Flexible time away plan and family leave programs.

About the Company

It all started when engineer Fred Luddy wrote code that automated a tedious task for his coworker, Phyllis. She cried tears of joy. That moment inspired Fred to build a company that could do that for everyone-freeing people from busywork so they could focus on meaningful work. Today, ServiceNow is the AI control tower for business reinvention. Our ServiceNow AI platform brings together any AI, any data, and any workflow-helping 85% of the Fortune 500® work smarter, faster, and better. We're building an AI-native culture where technology and talent are unstoppable together. And we're just getting started.

Join us to put AI to work for people.

Equal Opportunity Employer

ServiceNow is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity, veteran status, or any other category protected by law. In addition, all qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with legal requirements.

Accommodations

We strive to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are unable to use this online application and need an alternative method to apply, please contact [email protected] for assistance.

Export Control Regulations

For positions requiring access to controlled technology subject to export control regulations, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), ServiceNow may be required to obtain export control approval from government authorities for certain individuals. All employment is contingent upon ServiceNow obtaining any export license or other approval that may be required by relevant export control authorities.