Staff Detection & Response Engineer - Federal

Get to know Okta

Okta is The World’s Identity Company. We free everyone to safely use any technology, anywhere, on any device or app. Our flexible and neutral products, Okta Platform and Auth0 Platform, provide secure access, authentication, and automation, placing identity at the core of business security and growth.

At Okta, we celebrate a variety of perspectives and experiences. We are not looking for someone who checks every single box - we’re looking for lifelong learners and people who can make us better with their unique experiences.

Join our team! We’re building a world where Identity belongs to you.

Staff Detection & Response Engineer - Federal

Location: San Francisco Hybrid (USA) 

About the Role

As a Staff Detection & Response Engineer at Okta, you will occupy a high-impact leadership role within our Security Operations organization. This is not just a technical role; it is a strategic one. You will influence security decisions across multiple teams, drive innovation in our defense-in-depth strategies, and act as a force multiplier for our global security posture.

You will be responsible for leading complex threat hunts, managing major security incidents, and architecting the detection frameworks that protect Okta’s infrastructure and customers. You will serve as a bridge between executive leadership and technical teams, ensuring our security objectives align with broader business trends and strategic goals.

What You’ll Do

Technical Leadership & Innovation

• Threat Hunting: Lead complex, hypothesis-driven threat hunts based on vague intelligence, and develop refined methodologies for the broader team to follow.
• Detection Engineering: Write novel detections and solve complex querying challenges. You will establish the frameworks and standards for detection engineering across the entire security organization.
• Architectural Influence: Design and validate the effectiveness of preventative control chains and influence the selection and architecture of new security solutions.
• Incident Response: Serve as the technical lead for major incidents, including investigating threats in "foreign" or uncommon environments by leveraging frameworks and your professional network.

Global Mindset: While Okta maintains a 24x7posture, there is a requirement to be available in a crisis out of (your business) hours, and as a thought leader, to interface with colleagues globally. 

Strategic Execution

• Project Ownership: Own multi-quarter objectives and drive them to success, developing project plans that align with Okta’s strategic VMTs (Vision, Metrics, and Targets) and budget.
• Problem Solving: Navigate issues of diverse scope, analyzing data against current business trends to provide innovative solutions.
• Innovation: Secure resources for and drive innovation initiatives across multiple teams, facilitating cross-functional workshops to generate new security solutions.

Team Advocacy & Mentorship

• Culture Building: Foster an inclusive, collaborative environment by sharing wins, rewarding team efforts, and encouraging diverse perspectives.
• Mentorship: Act as an advisor to junior colleagues, providing actionable feedback and helping others align their career goals with organizational objectives.
• Consensus Driving: Drive consensus and resolve issues within cross-functional teams, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned on security priorities.

Who You Are

• Expert Investigator: You have a deep understanding of threat actor TTPs and can navigate complex systems even when documentation is sparse.
• Effective Communicator: You can translate complex technical problems for any audience, from executive leadership to junior analysts.
• Resilient Leader: You have a "bottom-line" orientation, persisting through obstacles and setbacks to achieve results.
• Self-Aware & Empathetic: You proactively seek feedback, know your limits, and lead with empathy and compassion.
• Collaboratively Minded: You prioritize the development of others and establish internal and external networks of coaches and mentors.
• US Citizen or Greencard : You will be expected to work on FEDRAMP systems as part of your day to day. Exposure to and/or experience in this environment would be beneficial. 

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a high-growth SaaS or security-focused environment.
• Expertise in querying languages, detection frameworks (e.g., MITRE ATT&CK), and modern IR toolsets.
• Experience managing communications during crises or major security incidents.
• Demonstrated ability to lead project teams and manage budget/resource requirements.
• Strong background in automating response workflows and refining preventative controls.

Why Okta? Okta is the World’s Identity Company. We are building a world where anyone can safely use any technology. As a Staff Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that vision remains a reality.

Additional requirements:

• This position requires the ability to access federal environments and/or have access to protected federal data.  As a condition of employment for this position, the successful candidate must be able to submit documentation establishing U.S. Person status (e.g. a U.S. Citizen, National, Lawful Permanent Resident, Refugee, or Asylee. 22 CFR 120.15) upon hire.

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Below is the annual base salary range for candidates located in San Francisco Bay Area. Your actual base salary will depend on factors such as your skills, qualifications, experience, and work location. In addition, Okta offers equity (where applicable), bonus, and benefits, including health, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), flexible spending account, and paid leave (including PTO and parental leave) in accordance with our applicable plans and policies. To learn more about our Total Rewards program please visit: .

The annual base salary range for this position for candidates located in the San Francisco Bay area is between: $180,000—$270,000 USD

What you can look forward to as a Full-Time Okta employee!

• Amazing Benefits
• Making Social Impact
• Developing Talent and Fostering Connection + Community at Okta

Okta cultivates a dynamic work environment, providing the best tools, technology and benefits to empower our employees to work productively in a setting that best and uniquely suits their needs. Each organization is unique in the degree of flexibility and mobility in which they work so that all employees are enabled to be their most creative and successful versions of themselves, regardless of where they live. Find your place at Okta today! .

Some roles may require travel to one of our office locations for in-person onboarding.

Okta is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, or status as a protected veteran. We also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and convictions records, consistent with applicable laws.

If reasonable accommodation is needed to complete any part of the job application, interview process, or onboarding please use this Form to request an accommodation.

Notice for New York City Applicants & Employees: Okta may use Automated Employment Decision Tools (AEDT), as defined by New York City Local Law 144, that use artificial intelligence, machine learning, or other automated processes to assist in our recruitment and hiring process. In accordance with NYC Local Law 144, if you are an applicant or employee residing in New York City, please click here to view our full NYC AEDT Notice.

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