Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior IT Security Engineer

at Solana Foundation

🏢 About Solana Foundation

Solana Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the decentralization, adoption, and security of the Solana blockchain. As a remote-first team, we value autonomy, innovation, and a collaborative culture focused on building the future of decentralized technology. Joining us means working on cutting-edge infrastructure that powers one of the fastest-growing blockchain ecosystems.

About This Role

This Senior IT Security Engineer role is critical to securing the internal IT environment that supports the Solana ecosystem. You will own identity and access management, endpoint security, and SaaS governance, directly impacting the security posture of a decentralized organization. Your work ensures that internal systems remain resilient against threats, enabling the broader team to focus on protocol development.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day might start by reviewing alerts from your EDR and MDM platforms, then investigating a potential misconfiguration in a SaaS app. Midday, you could be scripting an automation to enforce MFA policies across all cloud apps, followed by a meeting with the IT team to plan a zero trust architecture upgrade. You’ll also spend time documenting security policies and collaborating with developers on secure access for new tools.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Solana Foundation Is Looking For

  • Proven experience deploying and managing SSO, EDR, and MDM solutions at scale (e.g., Okta, CrowdStrike, Jamf or Intune).
  • Strong scripting skills in Python, Go, or Bash to automate security workflows and integrate tools.
  • Deep understanding of security governance, access control, and vulnerability management in a remote-first environment.
  • Ability to secure a diverse SaaS application fleet, with experience in configuration reviews and policy enforcement.

📝 Tips for Applying to Solana Foundation

1

Highlight specific metrics or examples of deploying SSO/EDR/MDM across large fleets (e.g., number of users, endpoints, or applications managed).

2

Showcase automation scripts you've written for security tasks, with links to GitHub or code samples if possible.

3

Mention any experience with blockchain or crypto ecosystems, even if tangential, to demonstrate cultural alignment.

4

Tailor your resume to emphasize governance and SaaS security, as this is a key differentiator from generic IT security roles.

5

Include a brief note on how you approach security in a remote, decentralized environment (e.g., zero trust principles, secure collaboration tools).

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your hands-on experience with identity platforms (Okta, Azure AD) and endpoint security tools, with concrete results.', 'Your ability to automate security workflows using scripting languages like Python or Go.', 'How you have managed security governance for a large SaaS portfolio, including policy creation and enforcement.', 'Your enthusiasm for decentralized technology and how your skills can contribute to securing the Solana ecosystem.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read about Solana’s architecture, consensus mechanism (Proof of History), and recent security incidents or improvements.
  • → Understand the Solana Foundation’s mission and its role in the broader Solana ecosystem (separate from Solana Labs).
  • → Familiarize yourself with the security challenges specific to blockchain and crypto organizations (e.g., key management, wallet security).
  • → Check the Solana Foundation’s blog or GitHub for any security-related posts or open-source tools they use.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe your experience deploying and managing SSO at scale. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
2 How would you design an access control system for a remote-first organization with diverse SaaS applications?
3 Walk me through a time you automated a security workflow using Python or Bash. What was the impact?
4 How do you approach vulnerability management across a fleet of endpoints and SaaS tools?
5 What’s your strategy for ensuring secure configuration of a large SaaS application fleet while maintaining user productivity?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Failing to emphasize hands-on technical experience with specific tools (e.g., Okta, CrowdStrike, Jamf) – generic security experience won't stand out.
  • Not demonstrating automation skills – this role explicitly requires scripting for workflow automation.
  • Overlooking the importance of SaaS governance – many candidates focus on endpoints but miss the application layer.
  • Neglecting to show understanding of remote-first security challenges (e.g., VPN-less access, zero trust).

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Solana Foundation!

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