What is a Security Engineer at SAS?

As a Security Engineer at SAS, you are a guardian of the world’s most advanced analytics and data management platforms. SAS software is trusted by thousands of organizations globally—including government agencies and financial institutions—to process sensitive data and drive critical decision-making. Your role is to ensure that the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of these systems remain uncompromised in an increasingly complex threat landscape.

You will be part of a sophisticated security organization that integrates deeply with the software development life cycle. This is not a siloed role; you will work across product teams to bake security into the fabric of SAS Viya and other cloud-native offerings. Whether you are performing deep-dive threat models, conducting architectural reviews, or automating security testing, your work directly impacts the trust that global enterprises place in SAS.

At SAS, the Security Engineer role is defined by a balance of technical rigor and strategic influence. You are expected to be both a hands-on problem solver and a clear communicator who can translate complex security risks into actionable engineering requirements. This is a high-visibility position where your contributions help define the security posture of industry-leading analytics software.

Common Interview Questions

Interview questions at SAS range from fundamental security concepts to complex behavioral scenarios. The goal is to see how you apply your knowledge under pressure and how you interact with a team of experts.

Technical and Domain Knowledge

• Explain the difference between Stored XSS and Reflected XSS and how you would prevent each.
• How would you design a secure authentication system for a multi-tenant SaaS application?
• Describe the process of a SQL Injection attack and how parameterized queries mitigate the risk.
• What are the security implications of using third-party open-source libraries, and how do you manage that risk?
• If you were to audit a Kubernetes cluster, what are the first three things you would check?

Behavioral and Leadership

• Tell me about a time you found a critical vulnerability right before a product launch. What did you do?
• Describe a situation where a developer disagreed with your security assessment. How did you resolve it?
• What is the most challenging technical project you have ever worked on, and what was your specific contribution?
• Give an example of how you have mentored a junior team member or a developer on security best practices.
• How do you stay active in the security community or keep your skills sharp?

Problem-Solving and Scenarios

• You are given a legacy application with no documentation and told to secure it. Where do you start?
• If you had to choose between fixing a known high-severity vulnerability and implementing a new security feature, how would you decide?
• How would you handle a situation where you discover a security breach that happened six months ago?

Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparation for a Security Engineer role at SAS requires a dual focus on deep technical expertise and professional communication. The interviewers are looking for candidates who do not just identify vulnerabilities but also understand the business context and can collaborate effectively with development teams to remediate them.

Role-Related Knowledge – You must demonstrate a mastery of application security principles, particularly regarding the OWASP Top 10, secure coding practices, and cloud infrastructure security. Interviewers evaluate your ability to apply these concepts to real-world scenarios, such as securing a multi-tenant cloud environment or hardening a CI/CD pipeline.

Communication and Presentation – Unique to the SAS process is a heavy emphasis on your ability to present information. You will likely be asked to deliver a formal presentation to a panel. Strength in this area is shown by your ability to structure a narrative, handle difficult Q&A sessions, and explain technical risks to stakeholders with varying levels of security expertise.

Problem-Solving Ability – SAS values a structured approach to ambiguity. When faced with a security challenge, you should demonstrate a methodology that involves root-cause analysis, risk assessment, and scalable solutioning. Interviewers look for how you prioritize tasks when multiple security threats emerge simultaneously.

Culture Fit and Values – The SAS culture is collaborative, academic, and professional. You should be prepared to discuss how you navigate conflict—especially with developers—and how you contribute to a positive, office-based team environment. Demonstrating a passion for continuous learning and data-driven decision-making is essential.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process at SAS is thorough and designed to evaluate both your technical depth and your ability to thrive in their unique corporate environment. While the specific steps may vary slightly depending on the seniority of the Security Engineer position, the process generally moves from high-level screenings to a highly interactive panel stage. Expect a process that values quality over speed, with a focus on ensuring a mutual fit between your skills and the team's needs.

The journey typically begins with a standard recruiter screen followed by a more technical conversation with a hiring manager. For certain tracks, you may encounter a HireView stage, which involves recorded responses to behavioral and situational questions. The "Onsite" (or final round) is the centerpiece of the experience, often involving a multi-hour panel interview with several team members. This stage is rigorous but professional, emphasizing your ability to present your work and defend your technical decisions in real-time.

The timeline above illustrates the progression from the initial application to the final decision. Candidates should use this to pace their preparation, ensuring they save their highest energy for the panel presentation, which is often the deciding factor. Note that SAS often maintains a traditional office culture at its Cary, NC headquarters, so the final stages frequently emphasize how you will interact with the team in a physical office setting.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

Application Security and Secure SDLC

This is the core of the Security Engineer role at SAS. You are evaluated on your ability to integrate security into every phase of the development lifecycle. This includes your knowledge of automated testing tools (SAST/DAST), manual code review, and threat modeling.

Be ready to go over:

• Vulnerability Assessment – How you identify, categorize, and prioritize vulnerabilities using frameworks like CVSS.
• Remediation Strategy – Moving beyond just finding bugs to providing developers with clear, actionable guidance on how to fix them.
• Threat Modeling – Your approach to identifying potential threats during the design phase of a new feature or service.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk us through how you would secure a new microservice being deployed to a Kubernetes environment."
• "How do you handle a situation where a critical security patch will delay a major product release?"
• "Describe your process for conducting a manual code review on a piece of legacy Java code."

Technical Presentation and Communication

SAS places a significant premium on the "Presentation" round. This is designed to test your ability to synthesize complex information and deliver it confidently to a group of peers and leaders. It is as much about your delivery and "presence" as it is about the technical content.

Be ready to go over:

• Technical Storytelling – Structuring a presentation with a clear problem, methodology, and result.
• Handling Q&A – Staying calm and precise when challenged on your technical choices.
• Visual Clarity – Creating professional slides that support your narrative without being distracting.

Behavioral and Situational Leadership

The behavioral portion at SAS can be the most challenging for technical candidates. The company looks for evidence of high emotional intelligence and the ability to work within a structured, often academic-leaning corporate culture.

Be ready to go over:

• Conflict Resolution – Specific examples of how you’ve managed disagreements with engineering or product teams.
• Adaptability – How you have handled shifting priorities or ambiguous requirements in past roles.
• Continuous Growth – How you stay current with the rapidly evolving security landscape and how you share that knowledge with your team.

Advanced concepts (less common):

• Zero Trust architecture implementation.
• Security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) workflows.
• Formal verification methods for security-critical code.

Key Responsibilities

As a Security Engineer at SAS, your primary responsibility is to serve as a technical subject matter expert for application and infrastructure security. You will spend a significant portion of your time performing architectural reviews and threat models for new software designs. This proactive work is essential for maintaining the high security standards required for SAS analytics products.

You will also be responsible for the "Security as Code" initiative. This involves developing and maintaining automated security checks within the CI/CD pipeline to ensure that no common vulnerabilities reach production. You will collaborate closely with Software Developers and DevOps Engineers to ensure these tools are effective without becoming a bottleneck for development speed.

Beyond the technical tasks, you will act as a security evangelist. This means conducting training sessions for developers, participating in security "guilds," and helping to mature the overall security culture at SAS. You will be expected to document your findings and create clear security standards that can be applied across different product lines, ensuring consistency in how SAS protects its data and its customers.

Role Requirements & Qualifications

To be competitive for a Security Engineer position at SAS, you must bring a blend of technical certifications, hands-on experience, and soft skills.

• Technical Skills – Proficiency in at least one major programming language (e.g., Java, Python, or Go) is required for code reviews and automation. You should have a deep understanding of cloud security (AWS or Azure) and container security (Docker/Kubernetes). Familiarity with security tools like Checkmarx, Burp Suite, or Snyk is highly valued.
• Experience Level – Typically, SAS looks for 3–7 years of experience in a dedicated security role for mid-level positions. For senior roles, a proven track record of leading security initiatives or designing security architectures is expected.
• Soft Skills – Strong public speaking and writing skills are non-negotiable due to the presentation-heavy nature of the interview and the role. You must be able to influence others without direct authority.
• Education – A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field is standard. Certifications like CISSP, OSCP, or AWS Certified Security are considered strong additions to your profile.

Must-have skills:

• Deep knowledge of OWASP Top 10 and common exploit vectors.
• Experience with static and dynamic analysis tools.
• Ability to explain technical security risks in business terms.

Nice-to-have skills:

• Experience with analytics or "Big Data" security challenges.
• Active participation in the security community (e.g., Bug Bounties, CTFs, or speaking at conferences).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How difficult are the SAS Security Engineer interviews? The difficulty is generally rated as average to high. The technical questions are standard for the industry, but the requirement to deliver a formal presentation to a panel of six people adds a layer of pressure that many candidates find challenging.

Q: What is the typical preparation time? Most successful candidates spend 2–3 weeks preparing. This includes brushing up on OWASP fundamentals, practicing coding challenges, and—most importantly—building and rehearsing their technical presentation.

Q: What is the culture like for Security Engineers at SAS? The culture is highly professional and stable. Unlike some high-growth startups, SAS offers a more measured pace with a strong emphasis on work-life balance and a beautiful, world-class campus in Cary, NC. You will likely have your own office rather than a cubicle.

Q: How much weight is put on the presentation? A significant amount. The presentation is used to evaluate your technical depth, your ability to handle pressure, and your cultural fit. A weak presentation can disqualify a candidate even if their technical coding skills are excellent.

Other General Tips

• Master the STAR Method: For the behavioral portion, use the Situation, Task, Action, and Result framework. At SAS, interviewers appreciate when you can quantify the "Result" (e.g., "reduced vulnerability count by 30%").
• Know the SAS Campus: If you are interviewing in person at the Cary headquarters, be aware that the campus is large and "state-of-the-art." Arrive early to navigate the grounds and settle in before your panel begins.
• Retake the HireView: If your process includes a HireView stage, take advantage of the unlimited retries. SAS often allows you to re-record your answers until you are satisfied—use this to ensure your delivery is polished and professional.

• Focus on the "Why": When answering technical questions, don't just provide the solution. Explain the reasoning behind your choice and the trade-offs you considered. SAS interviewers value the "why" as much as the "what."

Summary & Next Steps

The Security Engineer role at SAS is a prestigious position that offers the opportunity to secure some of the world's most vital analytics software. The interview process is designed to find candidates who are not only technically brilliant but also capable of being the "face of security" within the company. By focusing on your presentation skills and your ability to navigate complex behavioral scenarios, you can set yourself apart from other applicants.

Success at SAS comes to those who are prepared, professional, and passionate about the intersection of data and security. Take the time to refine your technical narrative and practice your delivery. You are interviewing for a role where your influence will be felt across the entire organization, and a strong performance in the panel interview is your gateway to that impact.

The salary data provided reflects the competitive compensation packages offered by SAS. When reviewing these numbers, consider the total rewards package, which often includes excellent benefits and a high quality of life, particularly in the Cary, NC area. Use this data to inform your expectations as you move toward the offer stage. For more detailed insights and real-time interview data, you can explore additional resources on Dataford.