At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead security initiatives, perform threat modelling, and enhance secure software development.
- Company: Join Klarna, a leading finance network transforming how millions manage their money.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, and opportunities for continuous learning.
- Other info: Embrace a dynamic role with cross-functional collaboration and growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by preventing security flaws and shaping secure engineering practices.
- Qualifications: Experience in coding and a strong understanding of various security domains.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Klarna, briefly
At Klarna, we're building an everyday finance network, helping over 120 million consumers across 26 countries save time and money, and worry less about their finances.
Working here means taking on problems most companies never get to solve, and being hands‑on enough that the interesting part of the work lands with you, not someone else - you'll build with AI, not watch it happen.
At Klarna, we're building an everyday finance network, helping over 120 million consumers across 26 countries save time and money, and worry less about their finances.
Working here means taking on problems most companies never get to solve, and being hands‑on enough that the interesting part of the work lands with you, not someone else - you'll build with AI, not watch it happen.
This is the stretch zone.
Come find out what you're capable of.
About The Role
The Secure Development team equips Klarna's engineers to design, build, and deliver secure software through standardized tools and processes, continuous learning, and a security‑focused engineering culture.
As a Lead Engineer on the team, you'll work on preventing security flaws before they reach production, not cleaning them up after.
That means getting involved early: reviewing architecture and design decisions, running threat models, and helping engineering teams build applications and services that are hard to break in the first place.
You'll pair that upstream work with hands‑on assessment - code review and penetration testing - and with building the tooling and automation that make secure practices the path of least resistance across Klarna's engineering division.
What You'll Do
- You'll perform threat modeling and architecture and design reviews, helping teams design hard‑to‑break applications and services.
- You'll take an active role in architectural decisions, working directly with engineering teams to drive security improvements.
- You'll build and improve Klarna's security tooling, automation, and processes on an ongoing basis.
- You'll perform security assessments of Klarna services, including code reviews and penetration testing.
- You'll contribute to Klarna's internal engineering security community.
Who You Are
- You take a pragmatic approach to solving security issues, weighing effort against effect rather than chasing theoretical risk.
- You break down complex systems, spot where they're likely to fail, and land on fixes that work in practice.
- You've written and reviewed code in at least one of: Java Script (Node JS), Python, Go, Erlang, Java, or Scala.
- You're proficient across several of web application security, mobile application security, network security, operating system internals and hardening, applied cryptography, and cloud computing - and you're an expert in at least one of them.
- You have working proficiency in English.
- Bonus points for
- Experience with Bug Bounty programs or CTF competitions.
- Communication skills that hold up when explaining security tradeoffs to engineers who don't work in security day to day.
- Things you should know before applying
- This position works cross‑functionally across Klarna's engineering division, not within a single product team.
- We welcome candidates from non‑traditional or self‑taught security backgrounds - what matters is what you've built, broken, or fixed, not how you got there.
Please include a CV in English.
Concrete beats comprehensive - what you built, what it did, what it cost.
Curious to learn more about Klarna and what it's like to work here?
Explore our career site!
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Lead Engineer — Application Security employer: Klarna
At Klarna, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to tackle unique challenges in the fintech space. With opportunities for professional growth and collaboration across diverse teams, our London office offers a vibrant environment where innovation thrives. Join us to make a meaningful impact while enjoying competitive salaries and a commitment to work-life balance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Engineer — Application Security
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Klarna or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Klarna.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Klarna.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Klarna that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Engineer — Application Security
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Klarna.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Klarna and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Klarna
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Klarna uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.