Engineer III - Linux Sensor (Hybrid)

As a global leader in cybersecurity, CrowdStrike protects the people, processes and technologies that drive modern organizations. Since 2011, our mission hasn’t changed — we’re here to stop breaches, and we’ve redefined modern security with the world’s most advanced AI-native platform. We work on large scale distributed systems, processing almost 3 trillion events per day and this traffic is growing daily. Our customers span all industries, and they count on CrowdStrike to keep their businesses running, their communities safe and their lives moving forward. We're proud to work for a mission-driven company leveraging AI to transform the way we work. CrowdStrikers drive their careers through flexibility and autonomy while also being expected to contribute to a culture of responsible AI adoption, experimentation, and innovation. We use an AI-first mindset as a force multiplier to proactively and continuously accelerate execution, build expertise, uncover insights, and solve complex problems. We’re always looking to add talented CrowdStrikers to the team who have limitless passion, a relentless focus on innovation and a fanatical commitment to our customers, our community and each other. Ready to join a mission that matters? The future of cybersecurity starts with you.

About the Team:

Content Development (CD) is a team within the Endpoint Protection area of CrowdStrike—the area responsible for enabling detections and preventions of malicious behaviors on the Falcon Platform. The CD team focuses on strategic, forward-leaning research into new Falcon Sensor capabilities to identify the tactics and techniques used by adversaries. We accomplish this by focusing on OS security and internals across all major supported platforms (Windows, macOS, and Linux) and exposing the right data to the sensor in a supportable and performant manner. Most of our projects involve months of research, planning, coordination, and implementation to be successful. We currently support several key Falcon Sensor technologies that detection and response teams leverage to increase telemetry, detections, and preventions on the platform.

Location:

• This is a hybrid role based out Redmond, WA, Sunnyvale, CA, Austin, TX, NYC, or Toronto with an expectation of being in the office at least 2 days per week.

About the Role:

In this role, you will research and develop techniques for detecting malicious activity on Linux systems, then build them into production-level solutions for deployment in the endpoint sensor. The role is a split of research and implementation, working alongside a small and nimble group of Linux engineers and often leveraging shared code with other sensor platforms such as Windows and macOS.

Successful engineers in this role have an understanding of Linux kernel and user space, a passion for continuous learning to keep up with an ever-changing threat landscape, a creative mindset for designing new detection methods, and the discipline to write fast and reliable code.

CrowdStrike Falcon Host is a two-component security product:

• The sensor is a lightweight agent installed on client machines that observes system activity, recognizes malicious behavior, provides on-box prevention, and sends remote telemetry to the Falcon Host cloud. It processes thousands of events per second to deliver deep visibility into endpoint operations and performs rich correlation and computation to identify and block malicious activity.

• The cloud component aggregates sensor telemetry across each customer's network, correlates malicious behavior across multiple machines, and presents customers' operations teams with a prioritized summary of the threats detected in their environments.

Engineers on the team own the design and development of core platform features that cut across most core OS subsystems—file system, memory, process, and networking. The team operates under Agile development principles and ships frequently.

What You’ll Do:

• Design and build detection logic and systems leveraged across teams within CrowdStrike to detect cyber attackers and stop breaches

• Research techniques for detecting malicious activity, including some reverse engineering and/or big-data analysis

• Own features from design to delivery, developing them into production-level solutions for deployment

• Apply engineering best practices—secure coding, testing paradigms, debugging, performance, code reviews, CI/CD, and OS internals—to ensure our sensor code is fast and reliable

• Collaborate with a cross-functional team spread across geographies

• Respond to and troubleshoot product issues reported by customers

• Be an energetic self-starter with the ability to take ownership and be accountable for individual deliverables

• Take on other projects as assigned

What You’ll Need:

• 3+ years of experience with either:

  • Reverse engineering, threat detection, and malware analysis, and an familiarity with on-device development, or

  • Designing, building, and delivering high-quality software in C/C++ (and ideally similar languages), and an familiarity or proven interest in security

• Solid knowledge of Linux OS internals: processes, storage, networking, and memory management

• Ability to develop high-quality code in C/C++ that meets:

  • High-concurrency requirements with strong use of multi-threading

  • High reliability and performance requirements

  • Detailed low-level operating requirements (memory usage, efficient performance, standards conformance)

• Ability to deliver enterprise software while collaborating across functions: CI, testing, debugging, performance tracing, release management, big-data telemetry analysis, and issue handling

• Team player—able to lead, mentor, communicate, collaborate, and work effectively in a distributed team, and to clearly articulate thoughts and designs to peers and upper management

• Proven experience utilizing AI technologies to enhance decision-making, streamline workflows and processes, improve efficiency and drive business outcomes.

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Bonus points:

• Familiarity and ideally experience with Linux kernel programming and/or eBPF 

• Prior security experience, particularly in endpoint threat detection or sensor development, including on other operating systems (macOS, Windows)

• Familiarity with recent developments in the Linux threat landscape

• Experience developing and delivering 24/7 enterprise endpoint software

#LI-DR1

#LI-Hybrid

Benefits of Working at CrowdStrike:

• Market leader in compensation and equity awards

• Comprehensive physical and mental wellness programs 

• Competitive vacation and holidays for recharge  

• Paid parental and adoption leaves

• Professional development opportunities for all employees regardless of level or role

• Employee Networks, geographic neighborhood groups, and volunteer opportunities to build connections

• Vibrant office culture with world class amenities

• Great Place to Work Certified™ across the globe

CrowdStrike is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging where everyone is valued for who they are and empowered to succeed. We support veterans and individuals with disabilities through our affirmative action program.

CrowdStrike is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment. The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy or pregnancy-related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status, veteran status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, status with regard to public assistance, or any other characteristic protected by law. We base all employment decisions--including recruitment, selection, training, compensation, benefits, discipline, promotions, transfers, lay-offs, return from lay-off, terminations and social/recreational programs--on valid job requirements.

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Right to Work

CrowdStrike, Inc. is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. Placement within the pay range is dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications, job level, supervisory status, and location. The base salary range for this position for all U.S. candidates is $120,000 - $180,000 per year, with eligibility for bonuses, equity grants and a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, 401k and paid time off.

For detailed information about the U.S. benefits package, please click here. 

CrowdStrike Canada ULC is committed to equal pay for equal work in its compensation practices. The base salary range for this position in Canada is $115,000 - $165,000 CAD per year + variable/incentive compensation + equity + benefits. A candidate’s salary is determined by various factors including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and location. This is Canadian-based employment, and it is expected that all employees maintain legal entitlement to work in Canada. Applicants selected to move forward in the hiring process are subject to background checks, including but not limited to criminal record, credit, and/or reference checks.