Software Engineer

About Prelude

Prelude Security is building the category leader in Runtime Memory Protection — an endpoint product that detects and blocks in-memory execution, memory zero-day exploitation, and ransomware execution entirely from user mode.

We are a small team of security researchers and software developers working to reinvent the way we protect endpoints in a world where threats are complex, emergent, and accelerating. Backed by Sequoia Capital, Insight Partners, and other leading investors, we are building an advanced security solution to detect in-memory attacks on endpoints, which is written in Rust and runs exclusively in user mode. It leverages advances in modern edge computing architecture, hardware-level telemetry, and a graph-based understanding of the Windows operating system to catch adversaries the moment that they compromise an endpoint. Rather than endlessly attempting to predict what an adversary might do, trapping adversaries at this universal and unavoidable chokepoint that lies at the center of their operations allows us to focus all of our efforts on what they must do, regardless of their sophistication or how much creativity (or AI) they apply to their tactics.

Our goal is simple: to detect out-of-context execution in a way that remains entirely outside the adversary’s control. Out-of-context execution occurs when an attacker coerces an application to run code paths that were not intended by the original application. This includes in-memory execution techniques such as local and remote injection, exploitation that results in the execution of dynamic code, and fileless malware

Role

Prelude is seeking to expand our research and development team with highly technical and passionate software engineers. The team is responsible for designing and developing our endpoint protection platform. In this role, you will work at the intersection of operating system internals, agent and service development, and endpoint security building resilient and efficient software.

As a core contributor, you will focus on systems programming, high performance endpoint agent development, and service architecture. Expertise in areas such as high performance systems design, agent performance optimization, and secure service development will be key to success. This role requires delivering scalable, high-quality software, driving innovation, and collaborating across engineering and research teams to advance our mission.

Given the confidential nature of our work, we require an NDA to be signed after an introductory call if there is mutual interest in moving forward.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain code that adds to our endpoint protection platform
• Contribute to service and agent architecture, design, and development
• Assist with test procedures to ensure that software system requirements are met
• Support the research and development team as a whole and actively engage in team-driven initiatives

Skills & Experience

• Demonstrable software design and engineering experience in a modern tech stack

• Systems programming, ideally in Rust

• Cloud service development experience, ideally using AWS

• Ability to develop high performance endpoint agents and an aptitude for optimizing system resource utilization

• Experience designing and developing scalable and reliable systems

• Interest in working in a cybersecurity company within a research-focused organization

Nice to Haves

• Prior agent and systems-level development experience
• Experience working in a startup environment
• Demonstrable expertise in Windows

Working at Prelude

Prelude is a fully remote team across the US & Canada, built on trust, autonomy, and excellence. We empower our team to take ownership, move with purpose, and continuously improve. Our culture values top performers who align with our mission and embrace high standards. We offer generous healthcare, flexible PTO, and home-office support, ensuring our team has the freedom and resources to thrive. While we move fast, we prioritize quality, collaboration, and remain committed to building impactful security solutions with precision.

Compensation Range: $200K - $360K