Lead Penetration Test Engineer

S&P Global•Houston, CA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

S&P Global Corporate is seeking a Lead Penetration Test Engineer with extensive experience in penetration testing and offensive security. This hybrid role requires 2 days per week onsite at one of their US or Canadian locations. The S&P Ratings Security team focuses on protecting clients and users from modern security threats by safeguarding systems and data through innovative solutions. The ideal candidate will conduct penetration tests, re-testing, vulnerability scanning, and threat assessments across diverse environments, requiring strong offensive security skills combined with cloud and application security expertise to identify vulnerabilities and develop effective mitigation strategies.

Requirements

Minimum 8 years of experience in information security with a strong focus on penetration testing, application security, and vulnerability management.
Hands-on experience with penetration testing tools (e.g., Burp Suite, Nessus, Metasploit, Nmap) and methodologies (e.g., OWASP Top 10, MITRE ATT&CK, PTES).
Expertise in identifying and exploiting common infrastructure and web application vulnerabilities (e.g., XSS, SQL Injection, IDOR).
Familiarity with vulnerability classification and scoring frameworks (CVE, CVSS, CWE).
Strong scripting or programming skills (e.g., Bash, Python, Go, PowerShell, JavaScript).
Experience performing security assessments (DAST, SAST, SCA, credential scanning) and integrating security testing into CI/CD pipelines.
Ability to translate complex technical findings into clear, actionable reports and confidently brief cross‑functional teams and executives.
At least one recognized offensive security certification (OSCP, OSCE3, OSEP, GXPN, GPEN, or CREST CRT/CCT).
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Indefinite right to work within the US (for US-based candidates).
Indefinite right to work within Canada (for Canada-based candidates).

Nice To Haves

Experience with cloud security across AWS, Azure, or GCP.
Knowledge of AI/ML security and adversarial testing methods, including evaluating LLMs and other models for manipulation, evasion, and data integrity risks.
Demonstrated involvement in the infosec community (e.g., open-source projects, bug bounties, CVE research, conference talks, or security publications).
Experience applying the MITRE ATT&CK Framework to offensive security operations and threat emulation.
Familiarity with secure software development practices and the software development lifecycle.
Experience with Java application technologies, deployment frameworks, and associated security best practices.
Ability to work collaboratively across teams while independently owning deliverables and maintaining accountability to deadlines.

Responsibilities

Conduct comprehensive penetration testing of web applications, infrastructure, and cloud environments using both manual and automated techniques.
Develop custom scripts, tools, and methodologies to enhance penetration testing capabilities and automate security testing within CI/CD pipelines.
Apply cloud‑specific offensive techniques, including IAM abuse, container and serverless exploitation, and cloud misconfiguration testing.
Collaborate with engineering and development teams to analyze vulnerabilities, develop remediation plans, and strengthen application security across development and production lifecycles.
Perform detailed security assessments using DAST, SAST, and SCA tools to ensure continuous validation and improvement of security controls.
Lead and participate in attack simulations and tabletop exercises to validate security controls and improve organizational response capabilities.
Research emerging threats, attack vectors, and adversarial techniques to inform offensive and defensive strategies.
Partner with internal teams to design and execute threat assessments based on intelligence feeds and threat actor analysis.
Communicate and present penetration testing and security assessment findings to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
Provide actionable remediation guidance and risk mitigation strategies to strengthen the organization’s overall security posture.

Benefits

Health care coverage designed for the mind and body.
Generous time off.
Access to a wealth of resources to grow your career and learn valuable new skills.
Competitive pay.
Retirement planning.
Continuing education program with a company-matched student loan contribution.
Financial wellness programs.
Perks for partners and little ones.
Retail discounts.
Referral incentive awards.