Principal Security Engineer

Wilson Sonsini is the premier legal advisor to technology, life sciences, and other growth enterprises worldwide. We represent companies at every stage of development, from entrepreneurial start-ups to multibillion-dollar global corporations, as well as the venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance and advise them. The firm has approximately 1,100 attorneys in 17 offices: 13 in the U.S., two in China, and two in Europe. Our broad spectrum of practices and entrepreneurial spirit allow exceptional opportunities for professional achievement and career growth. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The Principal Security Engineer, under the direction of the Director of Security Engineering and Operations, is responsible for managing the Firm’s information security systems and processes, assuring enforcement of security policies, managing the information security threat lifecycle, analyzing and responding to security events escalated by the Security Operations Center (SOC) and coordinating actions to limit risks identified through our automated systems. The Senior Security Engineer is accountable for providing expertise and support in the areas of security engineering, incident response and risk management. This role can be 100% remote. Provide subject matter expertise in information security as it relates to networks and systems Manage the Firm’s security technology including but not limited to: anti-virus, vulnerability scanning, intrusion detection, content filtering, and insider threat systems Review security events from all monitoring environments not integrated with the firm SIEM, and those events escalated by the SOC, on a daily basis, and follow defined incident response processes in their analysis and reporting Monitor appropriate venues for threats to the security of the Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati environment. Provide notification to all impacted parties related to the actions needed to mitigate threats and manage the threat lifecycle in totality Manage and lead evaluations of the firm’s environment by external 3rd parties. Produce recommendations that integrate any findings with the business needs of the firm Maintain knowledge of the information security needs of firm clients and implement measures to satisfy those requirements in the most efficient manner Keep abreast of emerging security technologies and discipline developments. Make appropriate recommendations that meet the firms needs Design and build operational environments that scale to meet the needs of our security products and assure appropriate reliability Support general troubleshooting related to information security tasks and provide support to end users as needed Provide other teams with security consulting services, including responding to requests for additional information and assisting with specific projects Perform related duties as assigned by supervisor Maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures Education and/or Work Experience Requirements: Bachelor’s degree required 5+ of experience in Information Security One or more of the following certifications preferred: GIAC, CISSP, CISM, CEH, CIPP Focus on knowledge of direct support for Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems (e.g. configuration of feeds, developing alarm/report concepts), Red Teaming concepts and execution, and Linux skills including command line and operational/administrative usage Extensive knowledge of traditional security controls and technologies, such as Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), public key infrastructure (PKI), identity and access management (IDAM) systems, antivirus and firewalls, in addition to newer offerings such as endpoint detection and response (EDR), threat intelligence platforms, security automation and orchestration, deception technologies and application controls Experience with windows desktop, server, and database security Ability to identify security technology risks and perform incident response Extensive knowledge of TCP/IP networking including wireless, network monitoring/design and routing Extensive understanding of the cyber kill-chain Experience in cloud computing technologies, including software-, infrastructure and platform-as-a-service, as well as public, private, and hybrid environments Experience working in a law firm or professional services firm environment desired Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to effectively communicate with internal and external customers and communicate clearly and effectively with people from both technical and non-technical backgrounds The primary location for this job posting is in Palo Alto, but other locations may be listed. The actual base pay offered will depend upon a variety of factors, including but not limited to the selected candidate’s qualifications, years of relevant experience, level of education, professional certifications and licenses, and work location. The anticipated pay range for this position is as follows: Palo Alto, New York, San Francisco: $163,200 - $220,800 per year. Austin, Boston, Boulder, Century City, Delaware, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and all other locations: $147,050 - $198,950 per year. The compensation for this position may include a discretionary year-end merit bonus based on performance. We offer a highly competitive salary and benefits package. Benefits information can be found here. Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). careers.wsgr.com Wilson Sonsini is the premier legal advisor to technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, as well as the venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance them. We represent more than 300 public enterprises and 3,000 private companies in a wide range of today’s cutting-edge industries, from AI and fintech to life sciences and mobility. For more than 60 years, our attorneys and professional staff have created a unique working environment. With deep roots in the fast-paced and innovative world of Silicon Valley, the firm fosters an entrepreneurial spirit and team-oriented approach for all employees, providing professional and personal development opportunities and encouraging all departments to promote a stable and optimal work/life balance. Wilson Sonsini is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce globally. We have built a culture in which employees of all backgrounds, viewpoints, and experiences are encouraged and empowered to achieve their maximum potential. Our firm is consistently recognized among the top law firms in annual diversity rankings. For example, Wilson Sonsini ranked No. 2 among firms with more than 601 attorneys in Law360’s 2025 Diversity Snapshot. Additionally, in 2025, for the seventh consecutive year, Wilson Sonsini achieved Mansfield Plus Certification, and in 2026, for the sixth consecutive year, the firm achieved a top score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index. We are also dedicated to enhancing the communities in which we live and work by providing legal services, financial support, and volunteer services to worthy agencies and individuals in need. In 2025, Wilson Sonsini attorneys and staff provided more than 80,500 pro bono hours, participated in 125 community service projects, and raised over $130,000 for charitable organizations and causes. In addition, the Wilson Sonsini Foundation contributed more than $2.35 million to 112 law-related organizations and 129 community organizations in 2025. Wilson Sonsini has 17 offices in 16 technology and business hubs worldwide. Austin, TX Boston, MA Boulder, CO Brussels, Belgium Century City, CA Hong Kong London Los Angeles, CA New York, NY Palo Alto, CA Salt Lake City, UT San Diego, CA San Francisco, CA Seattle, WA Shanghai (China) Washington, D.C. Wilmington, DE