ServiceNow: Senior Staff Software Engineer - Platform Access Control - Security — Santa Clara, CALIFORNIA, United States

About ServiceNow

ServiceNow develops an enterprise software platform bringing together data, workflows and AI for business operations. Its employer introduction traces the business to automating a repetitive workplace task and describes a continuing focus on freeing people from routine work. The platform is intended to connect technology with how organisations carry out their processes. This makes workflow automation and the use of information in everyday business activity central themes, rather than a product aimed at only one industry.

The position and its setting

ServiceNow lists Senior Staff Software Engineer - Platform Access Control - Security in Santa Clara, CALIFORNIA, United States, under reference JB0075814. The details below separate the work described by the employer from essential conditions, preferred experience and practical preparation advice.

• Department: Engineering, Infrastructure and Operations
• Employment type: Full-time
• Employer listing date: 22 October 2026
• Brands: ServiceNow

Responsibilities and work described

• Team:
• The Platform Access Controls team is within the Platform Security Core Organization and owns ServiceNow's core authorization frameworks, including ACLs, Security Policies, Security Attributes, and Security Filters
• We are responsible for validating identity and access for every transaction across the platform, helping ensure a secure-by-default experience
• Our team consists of passionate, self-directed engineers who enjoy solving complex security challenges and building scalable security controls
• We foster a highly collaborative culture across distributed teams, empowering individuals with the support, autonomy, and opportunities needed to grow and succeed
• As a Senior Staff Software Engineer, you’ll be a key technical leader in the Platform Access Controls group
• You’ll set the architectural direction for the access control layer as it expands into securing AI Agent access across the product stack and raise the bar for engineering craftmanship across the organization

Essential requirements and candidate background

• To be successful in this role you have:
• Having aptitude for learning new technologies quickly
• Domain experience in authorization technologies such as RBAC, ABAC, policy engines or adjacencies applicable to this space
• Demonstrated success completing complex, cross-team projects, on time and with quality
• Experience: troubleshooting difficult production issues e.g., memory leaks, concurrency issues, caching issues, network problems, intermittent failures etc. across the stack
• Track record of technical leadership — influencing architecture and engineering decisions across multiple teams without relying on direct authority
• Written and verbal communication skills, including experience authoring design docs/RFCs and presenting technical strategy to senior engineering leadership
• 12+ years of software development experience with a Bachelor's degree
• OR 8+ years with a Master's degree
• OR 5+ years with a PhD
• OR equivalent work experience
• Knowledge: data structures, algorithms, object-oriented design, design patterns, and performance optimization at scale
• Expert level understanding of best practices for object-oriented and modularized software, with emphasis on Java and Golang
• Experience: automated testing frameworks (e.g., JUnit, Selenium, TestNG) and integrating tests into CI/CD pipelines
• Deep understanding of software quality principles including reliability, observability, and production readiness
• Experience leveraging or critically thinking about how to integrate AI into engineering work — whether using AI-powered coding and operational tooling, automating workflows, or reasoning about how AI changes the way software and infrastructure are built

Preferred experience and additional strengths

• Prior experience with ServiceNow Platform
• Prior experience in building Authorization frameworks
• Experience: Kubernetes based services and deploying them in regulated environments with compliance and governance requirements
• FD21
• For positions in this location, we offer a base pay of $190,900 - $334,100, plus equity (when applicable), variable/incentive compensation and benefits
• Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure
• Please note that the base pay shown is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location
• We also offer health plans, including flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) Plan with company match, ESPP, matching donations, a flexible time away plan and family leave programs
• Compensation is based on the geographic location in which the role is located and is subject to change based on work location

Location, schedule and contract conditions

For this overseas or regional listing, confirm work authorisation and any location restrictions with the employer. The location does not establish visa sponsorship or permission to work remotely from India.

• Work arrangement: On-site
• Advertised location: Santa Clara, CALIFORNIA, United States

Benefits mentioned by the employer

• Set the technical vision and architecture strategy for the authorization platform, balancing long-term scalability and delivery objectives while maintaining a secure-by-default posture
• Work on core Authorization frameworks that touch every part of the product, keeping it high-quality, reliable, secure and fast
• Own features from design through delivery, turning business requirements into well-architected, cross-team solutions
• Lead design and code reviews, championing access control best practices, performance, maintainability, and testability across multiple teams
• Implement software that is simple to use to allow customers, applications to extend and customize the functionality to meet their specific needs
• Define comprehensive test strategies covering functional, regression, integration and performance testing
• Diagnose, resolve, root cause and mitigation plans for the hardest production issues across the security stack
• Mentor engineers at every level and raise the technical bar across the organization

Employer details to confirm

• The employer’s seniority category and its stated experience requirements do not agree. Follow the role-specific requirements above rather than assuming this is a fresher opening.

Pay and application dates

A verified salary figure is not established in this article. An online estimate for another Senior Staff Software Engineer - Platform Access Control - Security vacancy is not an offer for reference JB0075814; use the employer’s own pay disclosure and recruitment communication.

A closing date is not confirmed in this article. Check the current employer page before submitting: an undated posting can change or be withdrawn.

How to apply to ServiceNow

Applications follow the official employer page linked below.

Open the official ServiceNow posting below and match the title and reference JB0075814.

Compare your qualifications and experience with the essential conditions for the Santa Clara, CALIFORNIA, United States position, then read the preferred criteria separately.

Prepare an accurate CV and the supporting items requested in that employer’s application. Provide only information and documents you are authorised to share.

Use the employer’s application option, complete the required fields and review the submission. Retain the acknowledgement when one is provided. Job Alerts World does not receive the application.

Practical preparation: Java

For Java experience, describe the application or service you worked on, its purpose and your own contribution. A useful example connects language knowledge to an actual engineering decision, such as an interface design, a performance issue or a production defect.

Relevant skills

• Java
• Kubernetes
• CI/CD
• AI/ML
• ServiceNow
• AI
• root-cause analysis
• compliance