CursorSoftware Engineer, Security
Cursor is hiring a Software Engineer, Security in San Francisco, United States. It pays $140k-$225k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Cursor.
Level's read on this job
- On Level's scale, this software engineer role is Builds AI ●●●●: the job is building AI systems.
- Tools and skills the posting cites include Grok, MCP and security.
- Level classifies it as a senior role.
- Level lists 113 other open roles at Cursor.
- The role was posted in the last few days.
AI in this role
Build secure AI infrastructure, agent execution environments, and code review systems for Grok models at xAI.
SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today, SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary and expanding consciousness to the stars.
SpaceXSI is building Super Intelligence to help humanity understand the universe. Our teams are building the full Super Intelligence stack: from our Colossus supercomputers, to Grok models, to our suite of applications, including Grok Bot, Grok Build, Grok Imagine, Grok Voice, and X. We're creating a powerful flywheel where more compute trains better models, better models power more useful products, and what we learn from people using those products shapes what we build next.
SOFTWARE ENGINEER, SECURITY
You form hypotheses about why data is helping or misleading the model, build the systems to test them, run ablations, and read the rollouts to find the bug, shortcut or mismatch behind a result. Every flaw you catch, or miss, shows up in what the next Grok models learn.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Build AI augmented code review to get involved in important systems at the right time
Build a least-privilege and JIT system for cloud access that enables engineers and enforces least privileges
Implement a safe environment for agents to engage with code
Implement a framework for securely handling agent manipulation of user systems (e.g., MCP tool calls and command execution)
Implement a paved road for preventing inappropriate data from being logged
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience building or scaling secure systems in fast-moving environments
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
A strong software engineer first, with security as your superpower
Think like both a builder and an attacker: you anticipate vulnerabilities before they become issues
Care about developer experience, building solutions that are secure and frictionless
Comfortable moving quickly, owning problems end to end, and iterating with limited guidance
Strong opinions on secure defaults, but can balance pragmatism with rigor
Enjoy working on small, high-talent teams where impact is magnified
Motivated by protecting developers and users, and you see security as an enabler
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
If there appears to be a fit, we'll reach out to schedule 2-3 short technicals. After, we'll schedule an onsite in our office, where you'll work on a small project, discuss ideas, and meet the team
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
The annual compensation range for this role is listed below.
Annual Salary:
$140,000 - $225,000 USD
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Base salary is just one part of our total rewards package at SpaceXSI, which also includes equity, comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short & long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and various other discounts and perks.
How we rate this
Software Engineer, Security at Cursor rates 85 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Builds AI (AI Level 4 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Builds AI. The job is building AI systems.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Pay
- This job starts at
- $140k
- Typical software engineer job
- $167k
This posting starts 16% below the typical software engineer job. See software engineer jobs
Questions you could be asked
- Tell me about a project where security was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where code review was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where cloud access was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where agent safety was part of your work. What did you do?
- Walk me through how you've used Grok in your day-to-day work.
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: Security, Code Review, Cloud Access, Agent Safety, and Grok. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
- Lead with what you built, trained or shipped. This role is judged on the AI system itself, not the tools around it.
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