Cybersecurity Penetration Tester

Cybersecurity Penetration Tester

Location:

Remote UK, United Kingdom. Thales people architect identity management and data protection solutions at the heart of digital security. Business and governments rely on us to bring trust to the billions of digital interactions they have with people. Our technologies and services help banks exchange funds, people cross borders, energy become smarter and much more. More than 30,000 organizations already rely on us to verify the identities of people and things, grant access to digital services, analyze vast quantities of information and encrypt data to make the connected world more secure.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well‑being matters to us and that is why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you;

whether that’s part‑time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

• Safeguard UK Defence systems through advanced penetration testing and red teaming on critical military platforms
• Tackle complex threat simulations and exploit development across IT, OT, cloud, and embedded environments
• Use cutting‑edge tools with funded training and certifications (CHECK, CREST, OSCP, GIAC)
• A developmental role where you’ll put your own stamp on future capability

We are seeking a security‑cleared Penetration Tester to join our dynamic Cyber Security team, working at the forefront of UK Defence and national security. In this role, you’ll 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.

This position offers the opportunity to apply your expertise in offensive security methodologies, secure system design, and the unique challenges of defence environments. While prior defence experience is highly valued, we also welcome applications from seasoned red team specialists and offensive security professionals from sectors such as utilities, nuclear, and automotive, who bring transferable skills and fresh perspectives to our mission.

• Annual bonus (VCP)
• Pension – match like‑for‑like up to 7% of annual base salary
• Life Assurance – 2 × base salary minimum (8 × salary if part of the pension scheme)
• Income Protection – 50% of salary less state benefits for 5 years
• Annual Leave – 201 hours, bank holidays, plus 1 company day
• Private Medical Insurance – Couples cover
• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 1:00 pm
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• 24 hours paid leave for volunteering activities
• Access to flexible benefits and discounts – dental insurance, buying & selling annual leave, cycle to work, and many more

• Lead end‑to‑end penetration testing across networks, applications, cloud infrastructures, and embedded systems—delivering actionable insights that strengthen mission‑critical environments
• Drive advanced vulnerability assessments and exploit development, executing post‑exploitation activities within authorised scopes to uncover hidden risks and resilience gaps
• Orchestrate red and purple team engagements, simulating sophisticated threat scenarios against defence systems to rigorously test and enhance security posture
• Produce high‑impact technical reports and executive briefings, translating complex findings into clear risk narratives, business impact assessments, and prioritised remediation strategies
• Partner with defensive operations and risk management teams to sharpen detection, accelerate response, and embed proactive resilience across the enterprise
• Stay ahead of adversaries by maintaining expert knowledge of tactics, techniques, and…