Application Guide

How to Apply for Security Operations Engineer

at Apollo Research

🏢 About Apollo Research

Apollo Research is a frontier AI lab focused on cutting-edge artificial intelligence research, likely working on advanced AI safety and alignment. The company operates in the UK and collaborates with other AI research organizations, making it an exciting environment for someone passionate about securing next-generation AI systems. Working here means contributing directly to AI safety at a pivotal moment in the technology's development.

About This Role

As Apollo Research's first Security Operations Engineer, you'll build their security program from scratch, establishing foundational security controls while balancing operational needs. You'll directly enable AI research by securing infrastructure and maintaining partner trust through pragmatic security implementations. This role offers unique impact by shaping security culture at a frontier AI lab from day one.

💡 A Day in the Life

You might start your day reviewing security alerts from newly deployed EDR systems, then collaborate with researchers to secure their experimental AI training infrastructure. In the afternoon, you could work with the engineering team on infrastructure-as-code security controls before meeting with the CISO to plan certification processes for partner collaborations. The role balances hands-on security implementation with strategic planning and cross-team collaboration.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Apollo Research Is Looking For

  • Has hands-on experience deploying and managing MDM (like Jamf or Intune), EDR (like CrowdStrike or SentinelOne), and identity management systems in fast-paced environments
  • Demonstrates ability to translate security requirements for non-technical stakeholders and build trust across research and engineering teams
  • Has experience collaborating with engineering teams on infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, CloudFormation) and secure software architecture patterns
  • Can work closely with a CISO on certification processes, threat modeling methodologies, and managing external partner relationships

📝 Tips for Applying to Apollo Research

1

Highlight specific examples where you've built security programs from scratch or significantly improved immature security postures

2

Demonstrate your ability to make pragmatic security tradeoffs by describing situations where you balanced security requirements with operational needs

3

Show experience working with research or engineering teams in fast-moving environments, emphasizing collaboration over gatekeeping

4

Mention any experience with AI/ML infrastructure security or securing research environments, even if tangential

5

Quantify your impact with metrics (e.g., reduced incident response time, improved compliance scores, partner satisfaction)

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience building security operations from the ground up in fast-paced environments', 'Specific examples of working with non-security stakeholders to build trust and enable their missions', "How you've balanced security rigor with operational pragmatism in previous roles", 'Your interest in AI safety and how security enables frontier AI research']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Apollo Research's published work or research focus areas in AI safety and alignment
  • → Their potential partners in the frontier AI research ecosystem (Anthropic, OpenAI, DeepMind, etc.)
  • → The UK's regulatory environment for AI research and any relevant compliance frameworks
  • → Recent security challenges in AI research environments (model theft, data leakage, infrastructure attacks)

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you would build security operations from scratch at a frontier AI research lab
2 Describe a time you had to make a pragmatic tradeoff between security and operational requirements
3 How would you approach securing AI research infrastructure and maintaining partner trust simultaneously?
4 What's your experience with infrastructure-as-code security and collaborating with engineering teams on secure architecture?
5 How do you communicate security risks and requirements to non-security researchers and executives?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on theoretical security without demonstrating pragmatic implementation experience
  • Presenting as a security gatekeeper rather than an enabler for research teams
  • Failing to show experience with the specific tooling mentioned (MDM, EDR, identity management) or infrastructure-as-code

📅 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 Apollo Research!

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