Lead Penetration Tester

About the Role

Our client is looking for a highly skilled and experienced Lead Penetration Tester to join their security team based in Southampton . In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for planning, executing, and reporting on penetration tests to identify vulnerabilities in our client's networks, applications, and systems. You will lead a team of testers, mentor junior members, and work closely with development and operations teams to ensure vulnerabilities are remediated effectively. This is an exciting opportunity for a security professional who thrives on uncovering security weaknesses and helping to strengthen an organization's defenses against sophisticated threats.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, scope, and execute comprehensive penetration tests across various environments (web applications, networks, cloud infrastructure).
• Lead and mentor a team of penetration testers, providing technical guidance and quality assurance.
• Develop and maintain sophisticated testing methodologies and tools.
• Analyze test results, identify vulnerabilities, and generate detailed, actionable reports for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Collaborate with system owners and development teams to prioritize and track remediation efforts.
• Stay current with the latest attack vectors, exploitation techniques, and security trends.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in penetration testing and vulnerability assessment.
• Demonstrated experience leading security assessment projects and teams.
• Proficiency with a wide range of penetration testing tools and frameworks (e.g., Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap).
• Strong understanding of web application security, network protocols, and operating system internals.
• Relevant certifications such as OSCP, OSCE, GPEN, or CEH are highly desirable.

Benefits

• An attractive salary with potential for bonuses based on performance.
• A comprehensive benefits package including private health insurance.
• Generous annual leave entitlement and company-provided equipment.
• Significant opportunities for career advancement and professional development.
• Exposure to diverse and challenging security testing scenarios in Southampton .
• A collaborative and intellectually stimulating work environment.