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DevSecOps Engineer Career Roadmap

DevSecOps engineers integrate security into the software development lifecycle, ensuring that vulnerabilities are caught early and security is a shared responsibility. This role bridges development, operations, and security teams.

Devsecops Engineer Application Security Engineer APPSEC Engineer Product Security Engineer Software Security Engineer

What Makes a Great DevSecOps Engineer

The best DevSecOps engineers are force multipliers - they build tools and pipelines that make secure coding the path of least resistance. They understand developer workflows deeply enough to add security without adding friction.

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Entry Level

$75,000–$95,000

You're learning secure coding principles, running dependency scans, and integrating basic security checks into CI/CD pipelines. Understanding the OWASP Top 10 becomes second nature as you review code daily.

Skills

Secure coding fundamentals (OWASP Top 10) CI/CD pipeline basics Dependency scanning Container security basics Git security practices Secret detection in code Docker image hardening

ATT&CK Focus Areas

Initial Access

Understanding how vulnerable dependencies and injection flaws create entry points drives secure coding practices

Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190), Supply Chain Compromise (T1195)

Execution

Catching code injection and unsafe deserialization in CI/CD pipelines prevents exploitation before production

Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059), Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203)

Certifications

CompTIA Security+

Foundational security concepts

200h study · 3yr validity · 50 CPE · $75/yr CE fee

CSSLP (ISC2)

Secure software lifecycle

250h study · 3yr validity · 30 CPE · $125/yr AMF

Tools

SonarQube Snyk Trivy OWASP ZAP GitGuardian

Learning Platforms

  • OWASP WebGoat
  • PortSwigger Web Security Academy
  • Snyk Learn

Key Questions to Explore

  • How do I integrate security into a CI/CD pipeline?
  • What is the difference between SAST and DAST?

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Mid Level

$105,000–$145,000

You're configuring SAST/DAST tools, leading threat modeling sessions, and building security into the pipeline so comprehensively that most issues are caught before code reaches production.

Skills

Threat modeling SAST/DAST tool configuration Supply chain risk assessment Security architecture review Developer security training SBOM generation and analysis IaC security scanning

ATT&CK Focus Areas

Persistence

Threat modeling reveals how attackers persist through web shells, backdoored dependencies, and implanted code

Server Software Component: Web Shell (T1505.003), Supply Chain Compromise (T1195)

Credential Access

Securing secrets in CI/CD - API keys, tokens, certificates - prevents the credential exposure that SAST/DAST tools catch

Unsecured Credentials (T1552), Steal Application Access Token (T1528)

Certifications

GWEB

Web application security

300h study · 4yr validity · 36 CPE · $479/yr

Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist

Kubernetes security

200h study · 2yr validity · $395 (retake)

Tools

Semgrep Checkmarx GitHub Advanced Security Grype Dependabot

Learning Platforms

  • SANS SEC540
  • Application Security Podcast
  • HackTheBox web challenges

Key Questions to Explore

  • How do I implement a software composition analysis program?
  • What's the process for threat modeling applications?

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Senior Level

$150,000–$190,000

You're designing the product security program - defining maturity models, building security champion networks across development teams, and measuring AppSec effectiveness at the organizational level.

Skills

Product security program design AppSec metrics and maturity models Security champion programs Secure SDLC governance Vulnerability disclosure program management

ATT&CK Focus Areas

Defense Evasion

Designing pipeline security that detects tampered builds, unsigned artifacts, and bypassed security gates

Subvert Trust Controls (T1553), Masquerading (T1036)

Impact

Protecting CI/CD infrastructure from destructive attacks - build system compromise, artifact poisoning - secures the entire software supply chain

Supply Chain Compromise (T1195), Data Manipulation (T1565)

Certifications

CISSP

Security leadership and governance

400h study · 3yr validity · 40 CPE · $125/yr AMF

Tools

Custom security toolchains Threat modeling tools (STRIDE, PASTA) SBOM generators CycloneDX

Learning Platforms

  • OWASP SAMM assessment
  • BSIMM framework
  • DevSecOps conferences

Key Questions to Explore

  • How do I build a product security program?
  • How do I measure application security maturity?

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Resources

Books

  • The DevSecOps Playbook by Sean D. Mack
  • Agile Application Security by Laura Bell et al.
  • Threat Modeling: Designing for Security by Adam Shostack

Communities

  • OWASP community
  • DevSecOps Days
  • r/devsecops

Podcasts

  • Application Security Podcast
  • The Secure Developer
  • CyberWire Daily

Related Career Paths

Cloud Security Engineer

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