Senior Security Engineer - AI Products & Platforms in London

Senior Security Engineer - AI Products & Platforms in London

London Full-Time 70000 - 90000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Citi

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Engineer secure AI products and conduct ethical hacking to protect cutting-edge technology.
  • Company: Join Citi, a global leader in finance with a dynamic tech team.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 27 days annual leave, private medical care, and a competitive salary.
  • Other info: Embrace a hybrid work model and enjoy a supportive, inclusive workplace.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in AI security while growing your career in a fast-paced environment.
  • Qualifications: Experience in application security, ethical hacking, and cloud-native security is essential.

The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.

Discover your future at Citi. Working at Citi is far more than just a job. A career with us means joining a team of more than 230,000 dedicated people from around the globe. At Citi, you’ll have the opportunity to grow your career, give back to your community and make a real impact.

We are Citi’s Application, Platform and Engineering team, a start‑up with the exciting mission of shaping the direction of travel for the entire bank under the Chief Technology Office, by defining the tech and engineering strategy for the bank. We are a team of talented engineers, product managers and tech SMEs, taking ambiguous concepts and making them real by engineering cutting edge products at planetary scale! We are solely focused on the most modern technology and engineering disciplines such as generative AI, cloud, security, modern app stacks (with Golang, Gatekeeper), open source and the latest and greatest in the Kubernetes ecosystem.

You might be a good fit if you:

  • Bring your deep‑dive application security engineering expertise from building production systems
  • Thrive in a results‑driven environment, where flexibility fuels impact
  • Be a game‑changer, ready to step beyond your designated role
  • Love the synergy of pair programming? Seize the opportunity to secure AI applications at scale.
  • A relentless passion to learn more about AI security, LLM attacks, and bringing your knowledge to shape Citi’s secure AI future.

What you’ll do within the Tech Strategy team:

  • Build secure AI products from 0‑1 – Engineer production‑grade, business‑facing AI platforms with security built‑in from day one
  • Ethical hacking and red team activities – Conduct penetration testing, vulnerability research, and attack simulation to make our products bulletproof
  • Design and build security tools and frameworks – Create automated security solutions that scale across fast‑paced development cycles
  • Secure novel AI attack surfaces – Identify and mitigate LLM‑specific vulnerabilities, prompt injection attacks, and AI model security risks through hands‑on testing
  • Lead "shift left" security – Embed security practices throughout our rapid development lifecycle while maintaining velocity
  • Mentor security practices – Guide other engineers on secure coding, vulnerability remediation, and security‑first thinking

Experience That Will Help You Succeed In This Role:

  • Production system builder with security focus – proven track record of architecting and building secure, large‑scale production applications and business‑facing platforms from the ground up
  • Ethical hacking and penetration testing expertise – hands‑on experience finding and exploiting vulnerabilities, conducting red team exercises, and thinking like an attacker to strengthen defenses
  • State‑of‑the‑art security engineering with Go, Python, JavaScript – you build both security tools and secure production systems in fast‑paced environments
  • HashiCorp Vault mastery – deep experience writing custom plugins, creating secret engines, implementing dynamic credentials, and extending Vault functionality for enterprise‑scale secrets management
  • Enterprise authentication & authorization – designing and implementing OAuth, JWT, RBAC, and complex identity systems with fine‑grained access controls in business‑critical applications
  • API security and threat modelling – securing REST/GraphQL APIs, conducting threat assessments, and implementing advanced security patterns in high‑traffic production systems
  • AI/ML security and vulnerability research – understanding of LLM vulnerabilities, model security, prompt injection attacks, and AI‑specific threat vectors through hands‑on testing
  • Security automation and tooling – automating manual security processes
  • Cloud‑native security – securing containerized applications in Kubernetes, service mesh security, and cloud‑native security patterns at enterprise scale
  • Incident response and forensics – experience investigating, analyzing, and responding to security incidents in live production systems

What We Believe In:

We do not have boundaries between security engineering and product development, and we expect all our technical staff to contribute to both as needed. We take a product‑focused approach to security and care about building solutions that are robust, scalable, and easy for developers to use. We enjoy working in a fast‑paced team tackling cutting‑edge security problems by constantly testing and learning. We enjoy pair programming for our security tools; we are lean in our approach and remove bureaucracy where we see it. We believe in delivering secure solutions fast, iterating and pivoting as we go, rather than defining the perfect security framework upfront.

What we’ll provide you:

This is a unique role that will put you in the position to be part of a new venture and actively drive change. Every day there will be new challenges that will help you develop new skills that can drive your career. By joining Citi London, you will not only be part of a business casual workplace with a hybrid working model (up to 2 days working at home per week), but also receive a competitive base salary (which is annually reviewed), and enjoy a whole host of additional benefits such as:

  • 27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
  • A discretionary annual performance related bonus
  • Private Medical Care & Life Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Pension Plan
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Special discounts for employees, family, and friends

Citi is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Senior Security Engineer - AI Products & Platforms in London employer: Citi

Citi is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, where innovation meets collaboration. As a Senior Security Engineer in London, you'll be part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to shaping the future of AI security, with ample opportunities for professional growth and development. Enjoy a competitive salary, generous benefits including 27 days of annual leave, and a hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance while tackling cutting-edge challenges in a supportive environment.

Citi

Contact Details:

Citi Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Security Engineer - AI Products & Platforms in London

Get Involved in the Cybersecurity Community

Diving into the cybersecurity community is key for landing that full-time gig. Join forums like Reddit's r/cybersecurity or attend local meetups to connect with industry veterans and other job seekers. Networking is everything in this field—don’t just be a passive lurker!

Show Off Your Skills with Capture the Flag Competitions

Participate in Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions; these are not just a fun way to boost your skills but also a chance to showcase your talent to potential employers. Many companies, including Citi, love seeing candidates who actively engage in these challenges.

Tailor Your Online Presence

Make sure your LinkedIn and any professional profiles reflect your cybersecurity expertise. Share your projects, whether they’re personal or from a previous role, to catch the eye of hiring managers. This is how they’ll find your passion and commitment to the field!

Apply Directly Through Citi

Don’t forget to head straight to our website and check out any openings for cybersecurity roles at Citi. Applying directly can sometimes give you an edge, especially if you can mention that you've been following our work or engaging in the community.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Security Engineer - AI Products & Platforms in London

Application Security Engineering
Ethical Hacking
Penetration Testing
Vulnerability Research
Security Tool Development
AI Security
LLM Vulnerabilities

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show off your technical skills:In cybersecurity, it's crucial to highlight your technical prowess. Make sure your CV showcases specific skills like network security, penetration testing, or threat analysis. If you have relevant certifications (like CEH or CISSP), pop those on the front page to grab attention!

Tailor your portfolio for the role:Even for a full-time role, a portfolio can set you apart. If you've worked on any cybersecurity projects—be it CTF challenges, security assessments, or research papers—include these in your application. This demonstrates not just your skills, but also your hands-on experience!

Use real-world examples:When writing your cover letter, don’t just stick to your qualifications. Share real-world examples of how you’ve tackled security issues or vulnerabilities. This gives the hiring team at Citi insight into your practical problem-solving abilities and makes your application memorable.

Demonstrate your passion for cybersecurity:Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, so show us that you’re always learning! Mention any recent courses, webinars, or industry events you’ve attended. This not only exhibits your enthusiasm but also signals to Citi that you’re committed to staying ahead in the game.

How to prepare for a job interview at Citi

Sharpen Your Technical Skills

For a role in cybersecurity, it’s essential to be up-to-date with the latest tools and techniques. Brush up on your knowledge of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and vulnerability assessment tools. Be ready to discuss specific scenarios where you’ve applied these skills, as hands-on experience can really set us apart in interviews.

Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions

Expect the interviewers at Citi to throw in some hypothetical situations to see how you’d handle them. Think about common security breaches or incidents and be prepared to explain how you would respond. This not only shows your problem-solving skills but also your understanding of real-world cybersecurity challenges.

Highlight Your Certifications

Certifications like CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or CEH can give you a significant edge in a full-time role in cybersecurity. Make sure to mention these during your interview and be prepared to discuss what you learned through those certifications and how they relate to the position at Citi.

Show Your Passion for Cybersecurity

Since you’re going for a full-time gig, showing genuine enthusiasm for the field can make all the difference. Share any personal projects, blogs, or communities you’re part of that relate to cybersecurity. This not only showcases your passion but also your commitment to staying engaged in this ever-evolving field.