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- Tasks: Join our team to protect customers and systems through innovative penetration testing.
- Company: Starling Bank, the UK's leading digital bank with a tech-driven culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private medical insurance, and flexible working options.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in fintech while collaborating with talented cyber security professionals.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in information security and experience in penetration testing across various platforms.
- Other info: Open to diverse backgrounds; we value attitude and aptitude over specific qualifications.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Starling is the UK's first and leading digital bank on a mission to fix banking! We built a new kind of bank because we knew technology had the power to help people save, spend and manage their money in a new and transformative way. We're a fully licensed UK bank with the culture and spirit of a fast-moving, disruptive tech company. Our technologists are at the very heart of Starling and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment that is all about building things, creating new stuff, and disruptive technology that keeps us on the cutting edge of fintech.
We operate a flat structure to empower you to make decisions regardless of what your primary responsibilities may be; innovation and collaboration will be at the core of everything you do. Help is never far away in our open culture, you will find support in your team and from across the business. The way to thrive and shine within Starling is to be a self-driven individual and take full ownership of everything around you: from building things, designing, discovering, to sharing knowledge with your colleagues and making sure all processes are efficient and productive to deliver the best possible results for our customers.
Our purpose is underpinned by five Starling values: Listen, Keep It Simple, Do The Right Thing, Own It, and Aim For Greatness.
Hybrid Working
We have a Hybrid approach to working here at Starling - our preference is that you're located within a commutable distance of one of our offices so that we're able to interact and collaborate in person.
About the Role
As an experienced Penetration Tester, you will be working with talented cyber security professionals to protect Starling customers, company assets and systems using the latest technologies and techniques. The primary objective for this role is to collaborate with, support, and guide Starling's engineering and operation functions to ensure our services are designed, developed and operated securely.
As an experienced member of our penetration testing team, you will directly interact with multiple areas of the business to understand requirements, define the scope and approach to testing (including undertaking appropriate research), and produce reporting information aligned to our risk framework. In addition, we understand the importance of knowledge and expertise remaining current and you shall support the continued advancement of our penetration testing through research, design and implementation of new solutions, including automation.
Responsibilities
- Scoping and performing mobile, web application, cloud, and infrastructure penetration tests.
- Automation of security testing, and development of internal tooling, to achieve continuous assurance.
- Collaboration with engineering teams to facilitate secure development, including:
- Review and analysis of proposed technical solutions to identify appropriate security controls.
- Input and guidance to security related technical architecture and design decisions.
- Code review of features and critical security components.
- Practical security testing.
- Advising on remediation of security issues and processes to address root causes.
- Security assurance reviews of third-party solutions.
- Identifying and implementing improvements to the team's internal processes and procedures.
- Review, analysis and reporting of external threats relevant to Starling systems and solutions, in the context of Starling's desired security posture.
We're open-minded when it comes to hiring and we care more about aptitude and attitude than specific experience or qualifications. Ideally, we would like:
- 5+ years technical information security experience.
- Experience of mobile, web application, cloud and infrastructure penetration testing.
- Strong technical knowledge in:
- Mobile security (iOS and Android)
- Web application security
- Networking and associated protocols
- Cloud security (AWS and GCP)
- Containers and Kubernetes
Interview process
Interviewing is a two-way process and we want you to have the time and opportunity to get to know us, as much as we are getting to know you! Our interviews are conversational and we want to get the best from you, so come with questions and be curious. In general, you can expect the below, following a chat with one of our Talent Team:
- First stage with the Penetration Testing Team Lead
- Second stage with additional members of the Penetration Testing team
- Final stage with Infosec Director and CISO
We have a Hybrid approach to working here at Starling - our preference is that you're located within a commutable distance of one of our offices so that we're able to interact and collaborate in person. In Technology, we're asking that you attend the office a minimum of 1 day per week.
Benefits
- 25 days holiday (plus take your public holiday allowance whenever works best for you)
- An extra day's holiday for your birthday
- Annual leave is increased with length of service, and you can choose to buy or sell up to five extra days off
- 16 hours paid volunteering time a year
- Salary sacrifice, company enhanced pension scheme
- Life insurance at 4x your salary & group income protection
- Private Medical Insurance with VitalityHealth including mental health support and cancer care. Partner benefits include discounts with Waitrose, Mr&Mrs Smith and Peloton
- Generous family-friendly policies
- Perkbox membership giving access to retail discounts, a wellness platform for physical and mental health, and weekly free and boosted perks
- Access to initiatives like Cycle to Work, Salary Sacrificed Gym partnerships and Electric Vehicle (EV) leasing
About Us
You may be put off applying for a role because you don't tick every box. Forget that! While we can't accommodate every flexible working request, we're always open to discussion. So, if you're excited about working with us, but aren't sure if you're 100% there yet, get in touch anyway. We're on a mission to radically reshape banking – and that starts with our brilliant team. Whatever came before, we're proud to bring together people of all backgrounds and experiences who love working together to solve problems.
Starling is an equal opportunity employer, and we're proud of our ongoing efforts to foster diversity & inclusion in the workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Starling Bank are considered without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Penetration Tester (Senior) in Southampton employer: Starling Bank Limited
Contact Detail:
Starling Bank Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Penetration Tester (Senior) in Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know Starling's culture! Before your interview, dive into their values and mission. This will help you connect your skills and experiences to what they care about, making you stand out as a candidate who truly gets it.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for a chat, not an interrogation! Starling wants to know you as much as you want to know them. Think of questions that show your curiosity about their tech and team dynamics—this will make the conversation flow naturally.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your problem-solving skills! Be ready to discuss past challenges you've tackled in penetration testing. Use specific examples to illustrate how you’ve collaborated with teams to enhance security—this aligns perfectly with their collaborative spirit.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Starling team and being part of their mission to reshape banking.
We think you need these skills to ace Penetration Tester (Senior) in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Penetration Tester role. Highlight your technical knowledge in mobile, web application, and cloud security, as well as any relevant qualifications like CREST or OSCP.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're excited about joining Starling. Share your passion for cybersecurity and how you can contribute to our mission of fixing banking through innovative technology.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, give examples of how you've tackled complex security challenges in the past. We love seeing candidates who can think critically and creatively when it comes to security testing.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on being part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Starling Bank Limited
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your technical knowledge, especially around mobile, web application, and cloud security. Be ready to discuss specific tools and techniques you've used in your previous roles, as well as any recent trends in penetration testing.
✨Show Your Curiosity
During the interview, don’t hesitate to ask questions about Starling's approach to security and how they handle challenges. This shows that you're genuinely interested in the role and the company, plus it gives you a chance to assess if their culture aligns with your values.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Since the role involves working closely with engineering teams, be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully collaborated in the past. Highlight any experiences where you’ve provided input on security-related technical architecture or guided teams through secure development practices.
✨Be Ready for Practical Tests
Expect some hands-on assessments during the interview process. Brush up on your practical security testing skills and be ready to demonstrate your ability to identify vulnerabilities and suggest remediation strategies. This is your chance to shine!
