Lead Penetration Tester / CHECK Team Leader (CTL)
Location: Bristol - Hybrid (2 days per week onsite)
Salary: £80,000 - £100,000 per annum + Company Benefits
Employment Type: Permanent
The Opportunity
We are looking for an experienced Lead Penetration Tester / CHECK Team Leader (CTL) to join a growing Offensive Security team within a leading defence and cyber security environment.
This is an exciting opportunity for a technically strong penetration testing professional to take ownership of complex security engagements across Defence, Government and Critical National Infrastructure.
You’ll be working on challenging, high-assurance environments, helping to identify vulnerabilities, strengthen security controls and protect critical systems.
This position offers much more than hands-on penetration testing. You’ll have the opportunity to provide technical leadership, mentor junior consultants, contribute to service development and help shape the future of an expanding Offensive Security capability.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and deliver penetration testing engagements across infrastructure, web applications, APIs, cloud, wireless networks and Operational Technology (OT).
- Plan and scope testing engagements, ensuring alignment with NCSC CHECK standards and industry best practices.
- Provide technical leadership and quality assurance across penetration testing activities.
- Produce detailed technical and executive reports, clearly communicating vulnerabilities, business risks and remediation recommendations.
- Work closely with customers and key stakeholders to understand security requirements and deliver effective testing solutions.
- Support and mentor junior penetration testers and CHECK Team Members.
- Contribute to the development of offensive security methodologies, tooling, automation and service offerings.
- Stay up to date with emerging threats, attack techniques and vulnerabilities.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Current CREST CHECK Team Leader (CTL) qualification - essential.
- Strong hands-on penetration testing experience across infrastructure, applications, cloud or other complex environments.
- Experience planning, leading and delivering penetration testing engagements.
- Excellent technical report writing and the ability to communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Strong stakeholder management and client-facing consulting skills.
- Good understanding of cyber security frameworks, standards and best practices.
- Experience with scripting or automation using Python, PowerShell, Bash or similar.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to obtain SC Security Clearance, potentially progressing to higher levels of clearance.
- Willingness to travel to customer sites when required.
Desirable Experience
- Existing SC or DV Security Clearance.
- Experience working within Defence, MOD, Government or National Security environments.
- Additional certifications such as CREST CCT, OSCP, OSEP, OSWE or CRTO.
- Cloud penetration testing experience across AWS, Azure or GCP.
- Operational Technology (OT/ICS) security testing experience.
- Experience developing penetration testing tools, automation or frameworks.
- Knowledge of NCSC CAF, NIST, ISO 27001 and MITRE ATT&CK.
- Experience mentoring junior penetration testers or conducting technical quality assurance.
What's on Offer?
- Competitive salary of £80,000 - £100,000 per annum.
- Hybrid working - just 2 days per week onsite in Bristol.
- Company benefits package.
- Access to industry-recognised training, conferences and professional certification support.
- Opportunities to work on technically challenging projects across Defence, Government and Critical National Infrastructure.
- Exposure to a wide range of technologies, security environments and emerging threats.
- Opportunities to contribute to offensive security research, tooling and innovation.
- Genuine scope to influence technical direction, service development and the growth of the wider Offensive Security function.
Interested?
If you’re an experienced penetration tester with a current CHECK Team Leader (CTL) qualification and are looking for a role offering technical challenge, leadership opportunities and long-term career development, we’d love to hear from you.
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