2179 IT & Software Developer jobs in the UK
Cybersecurity Penetration Tester
£45,000 - 80,000
Thales
Longwater Avenue 350, Manchester
£45,000 - 80,000
Requirements
Must:
- I hold a degree in Computing, Cybersecurity, or a related field, or I possess equivalent professional experience in lieu of formal tertiary studies.
- I currently hold a CHECK Team Leader accreditation.
- I have a demonstrated track record as a Penetration Tester, Red Team Operator, or equivalent offensive security specialist.
- I can manage small technical teams, showcasing strong people skills, mentorship, and collaborative leadership.
- I possess deep expertise in network protocols, application security, operating systems, and cloud platforms across both IT and OT environments.
- I have hands-on proficiency with industry-standard tools including Burp Suite, Metasploit, Cobalt Strike, Nmap, Nessus, and am skilled in custom scripting in Python, PowerShell, and Bash.
- I bring proven experience conducting penetration tests across diverse systems: Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, Web Applications, and Cloud infrastructures.
- I am familiar with defence and government environments, including the secure handling of classified information.
- I possess exceptional written and verbal communication skills, allowing me to translate complex technical findings into clear, actionable insights.
- I have SC or DV clearance (mandatory for project delivery), with eligibility or current holding.
Responsibilities
- I will lead end-to-end penetration testing across networks, applications, cloud infrastructures, and embedded systems, delivering actionable insights that strengthen mission-critical environments.
- I will drive advanced vulnerability assessments and exploit development, executing post-exploitation activities within authorised scopes to uncover hidden risks and resilience gaps.
- I will orchestrate red and purple team engagements, simulating sophisticated threat scenarios against defence systems to rigorously test and enhance security posture.
- I will produce high-impact technical reports and executive briefings, translating complex findings into clear risk narratives, business impact assessments, and prioritised remediation strategies.
- I will partner with defensive operations and risk management teams to sharpen detection, accelerate response, and embed proactive resilience across the enterprise.
- I will stay ahead of adversaries by maintaining expert knowledge of tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) employed by state and non-state actors in the defence sector.
- I will advance security testing methodologies and tooling, contributing to innovative threat modelling approaches tailored for complex, high-assurance environments.
- I will champion compliance and assurance by aligning practices with MOD, NCSC, and international standards (JSP 440, ISO 27001, NIST, CHECK, CREST), ensuring robust governance and trust.
Description
I am part of a dynamic Cyber Security team that works at the forefront of UK Defence and national security. I take on advanced security testing, vulnerability assessments, and red team exercises across both classified and unclassified environments, directly strengthening the resilience of mission-critical networks and applications. While I bring valuable experience, I am also eager to collaborate with seasoned red team specialists and offensive security professionals from various sectors, such as utilities, nuclear, and automotive, who can contribute fresh perspectives to our mission. At Thales, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package designed to support your wellbeing and professional growth, including an annual bonus, pension matching, life assurance, private medical insurance, and more. Our roles are subject to security restrictions, requiring UK National status and the ability to achieve Security Clearance (SC) without caveats. I value inclusion and am committed to providing support to ensure a diverse recruitment process. Together, we will address the world’s most critical challenges. Join us today and step into a role where your expertise makes a national impact!
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You can find Cyber Security Engineer salaries in the UK here.
How many Cyber Security Engineer jobs are in the UK?
Currently, there are 2179 Security openings. Check also: IAM jobs, SAML jobs, Cisco jobs, Splunk jobs - all with salary brackets.
Is the UK a good place for Cyber Security Engineers?
The UK is one of the best countries to work as a Cyber Security Engineer. It has a vibrant startup community, growing tech hubs and, most important: lots of interesting jobs for people who work in tech.
Which companies are hiring for Cyber Security Engineer jobs in the UK?
Sellafield Ltd, Computershare, EG Group, Ever Nimble, Bank of England, Accenture, Amberjack Global Ltd among others, are currently hiring for Security roles in the UK.
The company with most openings is Experis as they are hiring for 95 different Cyber Security Engineer jobs in the UK. They are probably quite committed to find good Cyber Security Engineers.
The company with most openings is Experis as they are hiring for 95 different Cyber Security Engineer jobs in the UK. They are probably quite committed to find good Cyber Security Engineers.