{"id":1731365,"url":"https://alion.io/job/leonardo-lead-pentester","title":"Lead Pentester","company":{"id":54177,"name":"Leonardo","domain":"leonardo.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/leonardo-com","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":null},"role":"Security","role_family":"Security","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Bristol, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":69000,"max_usd":139000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":18},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"PowerShell","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"AWS","optional":true},{"name":"Azure","optional":true},{"name":"GCP","optional":true},{"name":"ISO 27001","optional":true},{"name":"MITRE ATT&CK","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-02T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-02","last_verified_at":"2026-10-07T23:19:04Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":6,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":6},"description":"Job Description:\nYour Impact\nLeonardo is seeking an experienced CHECK Team Leader (CTL) to join our growing Offensive Security capability.\nWorking within a defence-focused environment, you will lead and deliver penetration testing activities across enterprise IT, cloud, applications, and operational technology environments, supporting customers operating within complex and high-assurance systems.\nAs one of Leonardo's senior penetration testing specialists, you will be responsible for planning, scoping, delivering, quality assuring, and reporting on penetration testing engagements in accordance with NCSC CHECK standards and industry best practice. You will work directly with customers to identify and validate security risks, provide practical remediation advice, and help strengthen the resilience of critical systems that support UK national security.\nThis role offers the opportunity to be more than a delivery consultant. Alongside technical engagements, you will contribute to the development of Leonardo's offensive security capability, supporting service development, mentoring junior consultants, improving testing methodologies, and helping shape future service offerings.\nYou will work closely with cyber security specialists across Leonardo, combining hands-on technical delivery with stakeholder engagement, capability development and continuous improvement activities. We are looking for someone who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, maintaining high professional standards and helping develop the next generation of penetration testing talent.\nWhat You'll Do as a CHECK Team Leader:\nDeliver Penetration Testing Engagements\nLead and deliver infrastructure, web application, API, cloud, wireless and operational technology penetration testing activities across defence and government environments. Assess the effectiveness of security controls and provide actionable recommendations that improve customer security posture.\nEngagement Planning and Scoping\nWork with customers and project teams to define scope, objectives, constraints and rules of engagement. Ensure testing activities are appropriately planned, authorised and delivered in line with NCSC CHECK requirements.\nTechnical Leadership and Quality Assurance\nProvide technical leadership during engagements and act as a subject matter expert for penetration testing activities. Review testing outputs and reports to ensure quality, accuracy and consistency.\nReporting and Risk Communication\nProduce high-quality technical and executive reports, translating complex technical findings into clear business risks and practical remediation advice suitable for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.\nCapability Development\nSupport the ongoing development of Leonardo's offensive security services, contributing to methodologies, tooling, testing standards and service offerings.\n Mentoring and Knowledge Sharing\nSupport the development of junior consultants and CHECK Team Members (CTMs) through coaching, peer review, technical guidance and knowledge sharing activities.\nResearch and Innovation\nMaintain awareness of emerging threats, attack techniques, vulnerabilities and testing approaches. Apply new knowledge and techniques to improve customer outcomes and service delivery.\nCustomer and Stakeholder Engagement\nBuild trusted relationships with customers, project teams and security stakeholders throughout the engagement lifecycle, from initial planning through to final reporting and remediation discussions.\nCore Consulting Skills\nBuilding client relationships; adaptability to changing schedules; reliability and quality of delivery; flexibility in working arrangements; collaboration and teamwork.\nWhat You'll Get:\nProfessional Development. Access to industry-recognised training, conferences and certification support, including advanced CREST, OffSec and specialist technical development pathways.\nTechnical Growth. Opportunities to work across diverse penetration testing assignments spanning Defence, Government, Critical National Infrastructure and emerging technologies.\nCapability Development. Contribute to the growth of Leonardo's Offensive Security capability, influencing future service offerings, methodologies and technical standards.\nResearch and Innovation Time. Dedicated opportunities to explore emerging attack techniques, tooling, cloud security, automation and offensive security research.\nWhat You'll Bring:\nWe are looking for a motivated and self-driven security professional with a passion for offensive security and a strong commitment to technical excellence. This role would suit an experienced pentester looking to lead engagements and support the growth of a mature offensive security function.\nCore Areas (Must Have):\nCurrent CREST CHECK Team Leader (CTL) qualification.\nExperience delivering penetration testing engagements across one or more of:Infrastructure\nWeb Applications\nAPIs\nCloud Platforms\nWireless Networks\nOperational Technology\n\nExcellent technical report writing skills for both technical and executive audiences.\nStrong stakeholder engagement and client-facing consulting skills.\nExperience planning, leading and assuring penetration testing engagements.\nGood understanding of common security frameworks and standards.\nAbility to identify and communicate security risks and remediation actions effectively.\nExperience using scripting or automation languages such as Python, PowerShell, Bash or similar.\nStrong analytical and problem-solving capability.\nWillingness to travel to customer locations when required.\nAbility to attain SC clearance and potentially higher levels of National Security Vetting.\nDesirable:\nExisting SC or DV clearance.\nExperience operating within Defence, MOD or National Security environments.\nCREST CCT qualifications.\nCCT, OSCP, OSEP, OSWE, CRTO or equivalent certifications.\nExperience with cloud security testing (AWS, Azure, GCP).\nExperience with OT/ICS security testing.\nExperience developing tools, automation or testing frameworks.\nExperience mentoring junior penetration testers and conducting quality assurance reviews.\nKnowledge of NCSC CAF, NIST, ISO 27001 and MITRE ATT&CK.\nThis is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.\nSecurity Clearance\nThis role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting\nWhy join us\nAt Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work-life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.\nTime to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.\nSecure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.\n Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).\nRewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.\nNever Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.\nRefer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.\nTailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.\nFlexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.\nFor a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.\nLeonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring range published within that band, and is benchmarked against the external market. Exceptions above the standard range are managed through governance controls to protect internal equity.\nLeonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team-they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.\nAt Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.\nBe part of something bigger - apply now!\nPrimary Location:\nGB - Bristol - Coldharbour LaneContract Type:\nPermanentHybrid Working:\nHybrid","description_format":"text","description_chars":9377,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Flexible schedule","Gym membership","Hybrid work","Professional development"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United Kingdom","iso":"GB","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":[],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-03T00:11:45Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"GB","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"Licensed UK visa sponsor (Secondment Worker, Senior or Specialist Worker, Skilled Worker)","filings_12m":null,"filings_prev_12m":null,"green_card_filings_12m":null,"median_offered_wage_usd":null,"route":"Global Business Mobility: Secondment Worker; Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker; Skilled Worker","cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-07T06:21:01+00:00","sources":["UK Home Office: register of licensed sponsors (workers)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":82,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.82,"p_room":1,"age_days":5,"expected_fill_days":16,"reasons":["conf:7","velocity","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-07T05:47:15Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/leonardo-lead-pentester","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/leonardo-lead-pentester.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-08T00:17:17Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":211,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":4789,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-09T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":54177},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=54177"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fleonardo-lead-pentester"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fleonardo-lead-pentester"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fleonardo-lead-pentester"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/leonardo-lead-pentester\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fleonardo-lead-pentester"}]}