Security Engineer - Azure Government

ABOUT xAI

xAI’s mission is to create AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge. Our team is small, highly motivated, and focused on engineering excellence. This organization is for individuals who appreciate challenging themselves and thrive on curiosity. We operate with a flat organizational structure. All employees are expected to be hands-on and to contribute directly to the company’s mission. Leadership is given to those who show initiative and consistently deliver excellence. Work ethic and strong prioritization skills are important. All employees are expected to have strong communication skills. They should be able to concisely and accurately share knowledge with their teammates.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

We are seeking a skilled Azure Security Engineer to design, implement, and maintain robust security controls across our Azure Gov Cloud environment (including hybrid and multi-cloud scenarios). In this hands-on role, you will build, strengthen, and maintain our cloud security posture, protect critical workloads, and collaborate with engineering, DevOps, and compliance teams to embed security throughout the development lifecycle. You will develop, implement, and leverage Microsoft’s native security tools to detect threats, respond to incidents, and ensure alignment with industry standards and regulations. Lastly, you will be required to both achieve and maintain compliance with government regulations such as FedRAMP and CMMC.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Implement, design, and manage security architecture for Azure Government and Commercial deployments (with considerations for DoD IL5\IL6 and FedRAMP High controls)

Configure and optimize Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, and related services for threat detection, vulnerability management, and automated response

Design and enforce identity & access management using Microsoft Entra ID, Privileged Identity Management (PIM), Conditional Access policies, RBAC, and just-in-time access

Secure network architectures with Azure Firewall, Network Security Groups (NSGs), DDoS Protection, Web Application Firewall (WAF), Network Watcher, and private endpoints

Protect data at rest and in transit via Azure Key Vault, encryption strategies, data classification, and information protection controls

Develop and maintain security policies, initiatives, and blueprints using Azure Policy and Microsoft Purview for compliance (NIST, FedRAMP, CMMC, STIGs, etc.)

Perform threat hunting, incident response, and forensics using Sentinel playbooks, Log Analytics, and KQL queries

Conduct security reviews of Infrastructure as Code (IaC), containers, Kubernetes (AKS), and serverless workloads

Collaborate with developers and architects to implement DevSecOps practices, including secure CI/CD pipelines, code scanning, and secure defaults

Monitor and remediate security findings, reduce attack surface, and improve overall security posture per the Microsoft Cloud Security Benchmark (MCSB)

Deploy configurations and compliance policies to Azure AVD endpoints using Intune and other Azure native services.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Active U.S. security clearance (e.g., Secret, Top Secret) or eligibility to obtain one.

3+ years of experience in cloud security, cybersecurity engineering, or related roles (with strong Azure focus)

Deep hands-on expertise with core Azure security services: Microsoft Defender suite, Sentinel, Intune, Entra ID, Key Vault, Azure Policy, Firewall, Network Watcher, and Purview

Strong understanding of DLP implementation both in cloud and on endpoints utilizing Purview and other Microsoft native controls

Experience implementing security in hybrid/multi-cloud environments

Proficiency in scripting/automation (PowerShell, Azure CLI, Bicep/ARM templates, Terraform)

Strong understanding of identity federation, zero-trust principles, encryption, network security, and vulnerability management

Familiarity with compliance frameworks (NIST, FedRAMP, CMMC, STIGs, etc.) and regulatory requirements

Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills

Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to stay composed under pressure.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500), Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect (SC-100)

Additional relevant certifications (e.g., CISSP, CCSP, Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator, AWS Security Specialty, SANS GCPS, SANS GCAD)

Deep experience with detection and response engineering and SOC operations

Knowledge of container security (Docker, AKS), secure DevOps, or AI/ML workload protection

Prior experience in government regulations frameworks such as FedRAMP and CMMC.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

$180,000 - $440,000 USD

Base salary is just one part of our total rewards package at xAI, 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.