Intermediate Vulnerability Researcher, Ast: Vulnerability Research

GitLab GitLab · Enterprise · Remote · Sec Engineering

GitLab is seeking an Intermediate Vulnerability Researcher to improve their Application Security Testing (AST) offerings, focusing on Static Application Security Testing (SAST), Secret Detection, and Composition Analysis (SCA). The role involves researching vulnerabilities, developing proof of concepts, curating advisory databases, building benchmarks, measuring product efficacy, and performing root cause analysis to enhance detection capabilities. The researcher will collaborate with Security, Development, and Product teams to integrate research insights into GitLab's security features.

What you'd actually do

  1. Carry out vulnerability research and develop proof of concepts that inform GitLab security products and internal security efforts.
  2. Curate advisory databases for dependency scanning by reviewing, editing, and adding advisories while reducing repetitive manual work through automation.
  3. Build benchmarks that test the efficacy of scanning and detection products across supported security categories.
  4. Measure product efficacy over time and use findings to improve the quality and reliability of detection results.
  5. Assess security product output and perform root cause analysis to identify gaps, false positives, false negatives, and opportunities for improvement.

Skills

Required

  • Experience developing or improving vulnerability detection capabilities in web security or a closely related area.
  • Knowledge of the vulnerability management process and how research connects to product outcomes.
  • Understanding of software composition analysis and software supply chain ecosystems.
  • Experience with source code analysis, static application security testing, dynamic application security testing, and benchmarking the efficacy of security tools.
  • Knowledge of compilers and compiler design as it relates to code analysis and detection techniques.
  • Experience building automated web security testing or analysis tools.
  • Ability to contribute in a product development environment and work effectively with cross-functional partners.

Nice to have

  • Interest in security and open source, with openness to candidates who bring transferable experience from adjacent research, application security, or detection-focused roles.

What the JD emphasized

  • improve how GitLab detects and understands software vulnerabilities
  • support stronger detection
  • contributing to future security products
  • research vulnerabilities and exploitation methods
  • turn findings into practical improvements
  • help GitLab teams and customers get more accurate, useful security results
  • work at the intersection of research, product quality, and security engineering
  • help shape how detection capabilities evolve over time
  • creating proof of concepts
  • evaluating product output
  • applying root cause analysis to improve efficacy
  • motivated by practical security research
  • work to influence both GitLab's platform and the people who rely on it
  • building, tune, and improve the efficacy of the security capabilities integrated into GitLab
  • focus on practical research that strengthens detection quality
  • supports advisory content
  • helps translate emerging vulnerability knowledge into product improvements