Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Security Software Developer

💰 $90,000 - $160,000

CybersecuritySoftware DevelopmentIT Security

🎯 Role Definition

A Security Software Developer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining secure software systems by integrating robust security practices throughout the software development lifecycle. This role includes threat modeling, vulnerability assessment, secure coding, and compliance with security standards. The developer works closely with software engineers, security analysts, and IT teams to protect applications from cyber threats and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Software Developer with security focus
  • Security Analyst with programming experience
  • Junior Cybersecurity Engineer

Advancement To:

  • Senior Security Software Developer
  • Security Architect
  • Cybersecurity Engineering Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Application Security Engineer
  • Penetration Tester / Ethical Hacker

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  1. Design and develop secure software applications with adherence to secure coding practices.
  2. Conduct threat modeling and risk assessments during software design and development.
  3. Identify and remediate security vulnerabilities in existing codebases.
  4. Implement authentication, authorization, and encryption mechanisms.
  5. Integrate security tools such as SAST, DAST, and dependency scanners into CI/CD pipelines.
  6. Collaborate with DevOps teams to implement secure build and deployment processes.
  7. Develop and maintain security-focused APIs and middleware components.
  8. Monitor software systems for security breaches, anomalies, and performance issues.
  9. Participate in security incident response and root cause analysis.
  10. Conduct code reviews to ensure compliance with security policies and standards.
  11. Maintain documentation for security controls, threat models, and mitigation strategies.
  12. Research emerging security threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigation techniques.
  13. Collaborate with QA teams to design security test cases and penetration testing strategies.
  14. Ensure compliance with industry standards such as OWASP, NIST, ISO 27001, and GDPR.
  15. Provide guidance and mentorship to developers on secure software development.
  16. Design and implement secure data storage, transmission, and access controls.
  17. Conduct regular vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and remediation follow-ups.
  18. Stay current with the latest security technologies, tools, and best practices.
  19. Collaborate with product managers to incorporate security requirements into feature design.
  20. Support integration of security solutions in cloud-based and on-premise environments.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory analysis related to security metrics.
  • Contribute to the organization's cybersecurity strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate security requirements into engineering solutions.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the software development team.
  • Assist in security awareness training and internal security audits.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proficiency in secure coding practices and software development (Java, C#, Python, C++)
  • Experience with application security tools (SAST, DAST, vulnerability scanners)
  • Knowledge of encryption, cryptography, and secure key management
  • Familiarity with authentication and authorization frameworks (OAuth, SAML, JWT)
  • Experience with cloud security (AWS, Azure, GCP)
  • Understanding of network protocols, firewalls, and intrusion detection/prevention systems
  • Knowledge of regulatory frameworks (GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS)
  • Familiarity with penetration testing tools and techniques
  • Experience integrating security into CI/CD pipelines
  • Strong debugging, monitoring, and incident response skills

Soft Skills

  • Analytical and problem-solving mindset with attention to detail
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills
  • Ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment
  • Proactive learning and adaptability to new security challenges
  • Mentorship and knowledge-sharing capabilities
  • Critical thinking to evaluate risks and mitigation strategies
  • Teamwork orientation with cross-functional collaboration

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or Software Engineering

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Security, or Software Engineering

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Computer Science
  • Cybersecurity
  • Information Technology
  • Software Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-7 years in secure software development or application security

Preferred:

  • Proven experience in developing secure enterprise or cloud-based applications
  • Hands-on experience with threat modeling, penetration testing, and vulnerability remediation
  • Experience mentoring developers on secure coding and cybersecurity best practices
Explore More Careers