Senior Cyber Security Engineer (m/f/d)

Halian | Managed Services, Recruitment Agency & Contract Staffing; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 240,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

Halian Group is seeking a Senior Cyber Security Engineer in Abu Dhabi to lead continuous security validation across cloud, AI, and banking environments. You will design, implement, and oversee validation programs, run automated threat simulations, and mentor engineers while collaborating with security architecture and engineering teams.

Required 8–10 years in cyber security, strong offensive security and AI security expertise, and banking controls knowledge. AOC certifications are preferred.

Qualifications

• 8–10 years in Cyber Security Engineering, Penetration Testing, Security Validation, or Red Team operations.
• Experience in automated and continuous security validation capabilities.
• Hands-on cloud security testing across AWS and hybrid environments.
• Strong knowledge of OWASP Top 10, MITRE ATT&CK, and MITRE ATLAS.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and communication skills; banking controls knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and operate Continuous Security Validation programs across cloud, infrastructure, apps, and AI.
• Execute automated validation activities against threat scenarios and attack simulations.
• Develop and maintain cyber security test suites aligned with threat intel.
• Perform AI security assessments and adversarial testing on AI systems/GenAI.
• Conduct validation across Cloud Infra, Applications, APIs, AI Models, and model supply chains.
• Integrate threat intel feeds into validation scenarios and manage findings lifecycle.
• Support governance with evidence collection, reporting and attestation.
• Mentor junior engineers and promote security awareness.

Skills

Offensive Security

Adversarial Testing

Application Security

AI Security

Security Validation

Threat Emulation

Cloud Security Testing

MITRE ATT&CK

Education

OSCP or OSCE

GIAC GPEN

GIAC GXPN

GIAC GMLE

Tools

AWS

Attack Simulation Tools

Job description

Senior Cyber Security Engineer

Role Overview

We are seeking highly skilled Senior Cyber Security Engineer to support a critical cybersecurity initiative focused on Continuous Security Validation, AI Security Testing, Threat Emulation, and Security Assurance within a leading banking environment.

This role will be responsible for implementing continuous validation capabilities across cloud platforms, applications, AI systems, and model supply chains while ensuring security controls remain effective against evolving cyber threats.

The successful candidate will bring extensive experience in offensive security, adversarial testing, AI red teaming, and automated security validation within highly regulated environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and operate Continuous Security Validation programs across cloud, infrastructure, application, and AI environments.
• Execute automated security validation activities against approved threat scenarios and attack simulations.
• Develop and maintain cyber security test suites aligned with threat intelligence and emerging attack techniques.
• Perform AI security assessments and adversarial testing against AI systems and GenAI platforms.
• Conduct security validation activities covering:
  • Cloud Infrastructure
  • Applications
  • APIs
  • AI Models
  • Model Supply Chains
• Integrate threat intelligence feeds and convert emerging attack vectors into security validation scenarios.
• Manage vulnerability findings and remediation workflows across engineering teams.
• Support governance activities through evidence collection, reporting, and attestation processes.
• Collaborate with security architecture, cloud, platform, and engineering teams to improve cyber resilience.
• Develop security metrics and reporting dashboards to track security posture and program effectiveness.
• Support deployment approval processes through risk-based remediation assessments.
• Contribute to security testing methodologies aligned with industry best practices.
• Mentor junior engineers and promote security awareness across engineering communities.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• 8-10 years of experience in Cyber Security Engineering, Penetration Testing, Security Validation, or Red Team operations.
• Strong expertise in:
  • Offensive Security
  • Adversarial Testing
  • Application Security
  • AI Security
  • Security Validation
  • Threat Emulation
• Proven experience implementing automated and continuous security validation capabilities.
• Hands-on experience with cloud security testing across AWS and hybrid environments.
• Strong knowledge of:
  • OWASP Top 10
  • OWASP LLM Top 10
  • MITRE ATT&CK
  • MITRE ATLAS
• Experience conducting AI red teaming and Generative AI security assessments.
• Familiarity with modern security validation platforms and attack simulation technologies.
• Experience managing vulnerability remediation and security findings lifecycle.
• Strong understanding of secure software development and DevSecOps practices.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Knowledge of banking security controls and regulated industry requirements.

Certifications

Mandatory

• OSCP or OSCE

Preferred

• GIAC GPEN
• GIAC GXPN
• GIAC GMLE (Machine Learning Engineer) or equivalent AI Security certification

Desirable

• Anthropic Cyber Verification Program Participation
• CREST Certified Tester (CCT)

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Banking, financial services, or regulated-industry experience.
• Experience with AI model security testing and model supply chain validation.
• Exposure to autonomous penetration testing tools and continuous validation platforms.
• Experience supporting DevSecOps and secure CI/CD environments.
• Understanding of governance frameworks and assurance reporting.
• Experience operating within Three Lines of Defense security models.

Halian Group

With over 28 years of experience, we have come to understand that innovation is the only way to provide agile, practical solutions that transform businesses and careers. Our resourcing and smart services help you to realise tomorrow's potential. Discover the amazing things possible when you bring the right people and the right technologies together.

At Halian, we recognise that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are essential to building high-performing teams for our clients. We are committed to connecting organisations with top talent from all backgrounds, ensuring that every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives.

We encourage applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of race, gender, disability, or any other characteristic that makes them unique.

Senior Cyber Security Engineer in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates