At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global security strategy and ensure compliance across international markets.
- Company: Join Scale AI, a leader in frontier AI and national security.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on AI security while working with top-tier clients.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in cybersecurity with strong leadership and technical skills.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Scale AI sits at the intersection of frontier AI, enterprise software, and national security. We safeguard high-value assets: proprietary AI data and infrastructure, a global contributor ecosystem, and sensitive enterprise and government customer data. As our International Head of Security, you will own and unify Scale’s security strategy across our non-US affairs: Global Public Sector and non-US Enterprise deals. You will drive the execution, customer engagements and compliance with frameworks such as GDPR, ISO27001, UK Cyber Essentials Plus, the EU AI Act, NIS2 and country-specific sovereignty requirements while staying tightly aligned to our global secure-by-default architecture set by the Head of Security.
As we expand into FDE-led Agentic Applications while continuing to serve our data and model customers, our security surface area spans internal systems, external products, distributed contributors, and high-assurance government environments. You are a builder who believes security is a product feature, not a hurdle — and who can raise both our defensive maturity and our ambition in frontier AI security.
What You'll Do
- Execute the Global Security Strategy Across International Markets
- Drive execution of Scale's multi-year secure-by-default roadmap across non-US markets, surfacing regional needs into global architecture decisions.
- Translate regional regulatory requirements (GDPR, ISO 27001/27017/27018, SOC 2, UK Cyber Essentials Plus, EU AI Act, NIS2, and country-specific data residency / sovereign-cloud rules) into concrete engineering controls.
- Track regional security metrics and accountability, and represent the international perspective in global prioritisation, audits, and roadmap reviews.
- Lead Regional Security Engineering & Threat Detection
- Own the regional execution of identity, fine-grained RBAC, secrets management, CI/CD hardening, encryption, logging, and infrastructure protection with a particular focus on cross-border data flows and in-region telemetry.
- Stand up high-fidelity detection and response capabilities that meet local time zone coverage, breach-notification timelines, and regulator expectations.
- Drive systemic risk reduction through platform-level controls, partnering with the global security engineering team rather than building parallel stacks.
- Secure Products, Data, and AI Systems for International Customers
- Ensure enterprise-grade protection of customer data, proprietary datasets, and AI assets across regional deployments, including support for in-region processing, encryption with customer-managed keys, and data-localisation commitments.
- Design and enforce robust multi-tenant isolation, fine-grained RBAC, and privilege lifecycle management across customer environments serving international enterprises and public sector buyers.
- Address AI-specific attack surfaces; prompt injection, tool abuse in agentic workflows, data exfiltration, and model/data integrity risks.
- Champion secure SDLC practices, threat modeling, and code review standards within FDE teams.
- Lead Insider Risk & Contributor Integrity Across International Populations
- Partner with Product and Operations to reduce fraud, account compromise, collusion, and identity-based abuse without degrading platform usability, particularly in higher-risk regions.
- Implement strong auditability, privilege governance, and behavioural anomaly detection across sensitive workflows in a way that is defensible to international regulators.
- Be the Lead Security Partner for International Customers & Governments
- Serve as the lead security partner in international enterprise and public sector engagements; running customer security reviews, supporting regulator interactions, and shaping trust narratives across the UK, EU, MENA, and beyond.
- Drive execution of the international clearable-infrastructure plan without fragmenting the core platform.
- Partner with Sales, Legal, and Compliance to streamline security reviews and build durable customer confidence.
Qualifications Required
- 8+ years in cybersecurity (security engineering, product security, detection/response, or cloud security), with at least 4 years leading or formally mentoring engineers in high-growth or enterprise environments.
- Demonstrated experience building and scaling security programs that materially improved risk posture.
- Strong technical depth in cloud-native security (AWS / GCP / Azure), IAM / Zero Trust, infrastructure security, logging and monitoring, and secure SDLC practices.
- Hands-on familiarity with GDPR, ISO 27001, SOC 2, UK Cyber Essentials Plus, NIS2, and the EU AI Act.
- Experience managing insider risk or securing environments with significant third-party, contractor, or marketplace-style user populations.
- Ability to operate cross-functionally with Engineering, Product, Legal, Compliance, Sales, and Public Sector stakeholders.
- Right to work in the UK.
- Comfortable traveling regularly; willing to be vetted for country-specific clearances where customer engagements require it.
Preferred / Differentiators
- Experience securing AI / ML platforms, LLM-based systems, or agentic applications.
- Familiarity with AI-specific threat vectors such as training data poisoning, prompt injection, tool/plugin abuse, and protection of model-related IP.
- Experience operating at the intersection of enterprise SaaS and government or national security customers.
- Working knowledge of GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) sovereign compliance and privacy regulations (such as UAE DESC CSP and Qatar NCSA NISCF/NIA).
- Proven ability to build secure-by-design multi-tenant systems serving FTSE 100 / Euro Stoxx 50 / global Fortune 500 clients across multiple regulatory regimes.
- Experience leading red-teaming, adversarial testing, or offense-informed defense programs.
- Active or eligible for UK clearance (SC or DV), NATO clearance, or equivalent in another allied jurisdiction.
Head of International Security in London employer: Scale AI
At Scale AI, we are at the forefront of the Generative AI revolution, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our European Forward Deployed Engineering team is not only pivotal in delivering high-impact solutions but also thrives on a culture of customer empathy and strategic influence, ensuring every team member has the opportunity to grow and make a real difference. With a commitment to inclusivity and professional development, Scale AI provides an exceptional platform for those eager to shape the future of enterprise AI.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of International Security 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 Scale AI, 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 Scale AI
Don’t forget to head straight to our website and check out any openings for cybersecurity roles at Scale AI. 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 Head of International Security in London
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 Scale AI 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 Scale AI that you’re committed to staying ahead in the game.
How to prepare for a job interview at Scale AI
✨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 Scale AI 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 Scale AI.
✨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.