Senior Software Engineer (Security & Privacy)

WikimediaWikimedia·Remote
Software Development
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WFA Digital Insight

As demand for robust digital security grows, specialists with a passion for transparency and collaboration are in high demand. Wikimedia's commitment to openness and community-driven development makes this role stand out. With a focus on protecting user data and platform resilience, this senior software engineer position requires a unique blend of technical expertise and values-driven approach. Candidates should be prepared to showcase their experience in building secure features and fostering collaborative team cultures.

Job Description

About the Role

The Wikimedia Foundation seeks a seasoned Senior Software Engineer to join its Product Safety and Integrity team. This hands-on engineering role involves designing and implementing new security features to protect Wikipedia and other projects, ensuring the platform remains resilient against attacks.

Responsibilities

  • Help design, develop, and deliver security features with safety and security in mind
  • Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure safe and compliant architectural and implementation choices
  • Lead by example in code review, decision-making, and team culture, fostering transparency, empathy, and collaboration
  • Develop, review, and deploy security features developed by the Foundation and community members
  • Conduct internal and external security and privacy reviews
  • Perform maintenance and address technical debt in security and privacy-critical components
  • Provide support for application security and privacy incidents and operations

Requirements

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of experience as a software engineer, ideally with a focus on security or privacy, and a passion for the Wikimedia mission. Experience with MediaWiki, large-scale systems, and modern authentication technologies is beneficial.

Nice to Have

  • Experience in detecting and preventing platform abuse from bots
  • Knowledge of planning and rolling out improvements to security architecture
  • Familiarity with defending against emerging threats

How to Stand Out

  • Ensure your portfolio showcases projects where you've implemented security features or enhanced privacy protections in large-scale systems.
  • Familiarize yourself with MediaWiki and Wikimedia's specific technology stack to stand out.
  • Highlight any experience with community-driven development or open-source projects, as these align with Wikimedia's values.
  • Prepare examples of how you've handled security incidents or operational challenges in previous roles.
  • Be ready to discuss your approach to balancing security with performance and usability.

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