Engineering Lead – Offensive Security Infrastructure & Threat Research in Southampton

Engineering Lead – Offensive Security Infrastructure & Threat Research in Southampton

Southampton Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Unity Systems

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and innovate in Offensive Security Engineering while managing distributed teams.
  • Company: Join a cutting-edge cybersecurity firm focused on offensive security and threat research.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Dynamic environment with a focus on innovation and collaboration across global teams.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in cybersecurity by architecting solutions that protect against emerging threats.
  • Qualifications: 5+ years in engineering leadership with expertise in offensive security and cloud infrastructure.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

We are hiring a highly technical Engineering Lead to drive the evolution of our Offensive Security Engineering capability. This is a Hands-On Leadership role combining Engineering Management, Offensive Security Research, Cloud Infrastructure Engineering, and Internet-Scale Security Platform Development.

As a true “Player-Coach,” you will lead globally distributed Cyber Engineering teams while remaining deeply hands-on with Python, Go, Cloud-Native Architecture, Offensive Security Tooling, and High-Scale Data Processing Systems. You will architect and scale offensive security infrastructure capable of processing massive internet-facing datasets to identify vulnerabilities, simulate sophisticated adversary tactics, and provide actionable threat intelligence before attackers strike.

This opportunity is ideal for an Engineering Manager, Principal Engineer, Staff Engineer, Offensive Security Lead, or Security Engineering Leader with deep expertise in Offensive Security, Red Teaming, Vulnerability Research, Threat Detection, Distributed Systems, and Cloud Infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities
  • Design, build, and scale offensive security infrastructure for internet-scale attack surface analysis and vulnerability discovery.
  • Engineer high-performance distributed systems capable of processing large-scale security datasets in real time.
  • Build offensive security automation platforms, adversary simulation tooling, and threat research infrastructure.
  • Develop scalable backend services, APIs, and automation frameworks using Python and Go.
Engineering Leadership
  • Lead, mentor, manage, and coach distributed Cyber Engineering teams across UK&I and APAC.
  • Act as the senior technical escalation point for complex security engineering and infrastructure challenges.
  • Drive engineering best practices, secure coding standards, architecture governance, and technical consistency.
  • Conduct performance reviews, career development planning, and technical mentorship.
Cloud & Platform Architecture
  • Architect and maintain cloud-native systems across AWS, Azure, or GCP environments.
  • Scale Kubernetes-based infrastructure supporting offensive security research and threat analysis.
  • Implement resilient, secure, and scalable microservices and event-driven architectures.
  • Optimize systems for real-time threat intelligence, vulnerability management, and attack path analysis.
Threat Research & Innovation
  • Lead advanced R&D initiatives focused on adversary emulation, exploit research, and offensive security innovation.
  • Replicate modern attacker TTPs (Tactics, Techniques & Procedures) to improve enterprise defence capabilities.
  • Drive innovation across Red Team Infrastructure, Threat Intelligence, Detection Engineering, and Security Automation.
  • Contribute to next-generation offensive cybersecurity platforms.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with Product, Platform Engineering, Front-End, Back-End, and Security teams.
  • Collaborate with senior leadership to shape the Cyber Engineering roadmap and technical strategy.
  • Ensure cybersecurity initiatives align with enterprise business objectives and platform scalability goals.
Required Skills & Experience
  • 5+ years of experience leading distributed engineering teams within cybersecurity, SaaS, or cloud-native environments.
  • Proven experience as a Hands-On Engineering Manager, Engineering Lead, Principal Engineer, or Staff Engineer.
  • Strong ability to mentor engineers, remove technical blockers, and lead high-performing technical teams.
  • Deep expertise in Offensive Security, Red Teaming, Threat Research, Vulnerability Research, or Adversary Simulation.
  • Strong understanding of attacker methodologies, exploit chains, and real-world adversary TTPs.
  • Experience building offensive security tooling, security research platforms, or vulnerability intelligence systems.
  • Expert-level Python development experience.
  • Strong commercial experience with Go (Golang).
  • Experience building scalable APIs, backend services, automation frameworks, and distributed systems.
  • Strong focus on clean, maintainable, scalable, production-grade code.
  • Strong experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP.
  • Hands-on expertise with Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform, CI/CD, and DevSecOps practices.
  • Experience designing cloud-native microservices architectures and scalable infrastructure platforms.
  • Familiarity with high-volume data processing pipelines and real-time analytics systems.
Innovation & Culture Fit
  • Passion for Offensive Security Research and emerging cyber threats.
  • Experience working within fast-paced B2B SaaS, Cybersecurity Start-Up, or Scale-Up environments.
  • Ownership-driven mindset with strong problem-solving capabilities.
  • Open-source contributions, security research publications, or CTF participation highly desirable.
Ideal Candidate Backgrounds
  • Engineering Lead
  • Offensive Security Engineering Manager
  • Principal Security Engineer
  • Staff Security Engineer
  • Threat Research Engineer
  • Red Team Engineering Lead
  • Security Infrastructure Architect
  • Cyber Engineering Manager
  • Platform Security Engineer
  • Vulnerability Research Lead

Engineering Lead – Offensive Security Infrastructure & Threat Research in Southampton employer: Unity Systems

Join a forward-thinking company that prioritises innovation and employee growth in the dynamic field of cybersecurity. As an Engineering Lead, you will thrive in a collaborative work culture that values hands-on leadership and technical excellence, while enjoying access to cutting-edge resources and opportunities for professional development. Located in a vibrant tech hub, this role offers the chance to make a significant impact on global security initiatives alongside a team of passionate experts.

Unity Systems

Contact Details:

Unity Systems Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Engineering Lead – Offensive Security Infrastructure & Threat Research in Southampton

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Attend industry meetups, conferences, or webinars related to offensive security and cloud infrastructure. It's a great way to connect with potential employers and showcase your expertise.

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your projects in Python, Go, and cloud-native architecture. This can be a game-changer when you're in interviews, proving you can walk the walk.

Tip Number 3

Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of offensive security methodologies and real-world TTPs. Practice coding challenges in Python and Go to demonstrate your hands-on abilities.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.

We think you need these skills to ace Engineering Lead – Offensive Security Infrastructure & Threat Research in Southampton

Python
Go
Cloud Security
Offensive Security
Red Teaming
Vulnerability Research
Threat Research

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the job description. Highlight your expertise in Python, Go, and cloud security, as well as any hands-on leadership roles you've had. We want to see how you can drive our Offensive Security Engineering capability!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about offensive security and how your background makes you the perfect fit for this role. Don’t forget to mention any innovative projects or contributions you've made in the field.

Showcase Your Technical Skills:In your application, be sure to highlight your technical skills, especially in areas like distributed systems and threat research. We love seeing examples of your work, so if you have any open-source contributions or personal projects, include them!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at StudySmarter!

How to prepare for a job interview at Unity Systems

Know Your Tech Inside Out

Make sure you’re well-versed in Python and Go, as these are crucial for the role. Brush up on your knowledge of cloud-native architectures and offensive security tooling. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you've applied these skills.

Showcase Your Leadership Style

As a hands-on leader, it’s important to demonstrate how you mentor and manage distributed teams. Prepare examples of how you've removed technical blockers or driven engineering best practices in previous roles. This will show your potential employer that you can lead effectively.

Prepare for Technical Challenges

Expect to face complex security engineering scenarios during the interview. Practice articulating your thought process when tackling real-world problems related to vulnerability research or threat detection. This will highlight your problem-solving capabilities.

Align with Company Goals

Research the company’s cybersecurity initiatives and understand how they align with their business objectives. Be prepared to discuss how your experience and vision can contribute to their Cyber Engineering roadmap and technical strategy.