Lead Ethical Hacking Penetration Tester

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA); Swansea; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Learning & development

Flexible working

Inclusive culture

Employer pension contribution

Digital communities

On-site facilities

Holiday entitlement

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is seeking an experienced cyber security professional to join the Ethical Hacking Services team in a permanent, full-time capacity. You will lead penetration testing, drive vulnerability management, and influence security strategy across government digital services.

You will mentor teams, report findings, and work with senior stakeholders to prioritise risk. The role offers flexible working and a generous Civil Service pension.

Qualifications

• Leading penetration testing and ethical hacking activities within complex enterprise environments.
• Designing and delivering vulnerability management and security testing programmes.
• Assessing and communicating cyber security risks to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Influencing senior stakeholders and driving remediation activity.
• Leading, coaching and developing teams.
• Working with security standards, frameworks and industry best practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead and act as a subject matter expert for penetration testing, ethical hacking and vulnerability management services.
• Design, deliver and oversee programmes of penetration testing, vulnerability assessments and IT health checks across applications, infrastructure and networks.
• Identify, analyse and assess vulnerabilities, ensuring risks are prioritised using a risk-based approach.
• Provide clear reporting and recommendations to support remediation and security improvement activities.

Skills

Penetration testing

Ethical hacking

Vulnerability management

Security risk communication

Team leadership

Security standards & frameworks

Job description

Salary: £57,515 - A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Contract Type: Permanent – Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

About the role

Join our Ethical Hacking Services team and play a pivotal role in protecting critical digital services. You'll provide expert cyber security assurance, lead penetration testing and vulnerability management activities, and help ensure our systems remain resilient against current and emerging threats. You'll also have the opportunity to influence security strategy, develop talent and contribute to cyber security best practice across government.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead and act as a subject matter expert for penetration testing, ethical hacking and vulnerability management services.
• Design, deliver and oversee programmes of penetration testing, vulnerability assessments and IT health checks across applications, infrastructure and networks.
• Identify, analyse and assess vulnerabilities, ensuring risks are prioritised using a risk-based approach.
• Provide clear reporting and recommendations to support remediation and security improvement activities.

Alongside your salary of £57,515, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency contributes £16,662 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

• Best in class learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues
• Generous employer contribution of 28.9%, depending on chosen pension scheme
• Digital communities with clear career frameworks
• On-site nursery, restaurants and coffee bar
• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays), increasing by 1 each year (up to 30) & 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff

About you

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Leading penetration testing and ethical hacking activities within complex enterprise environments.
• Designing and delivering vulnerability management and security testing programmes.
• Assessing and communicating cyber security risks to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Influencing senior stakeholders and driving remediation activity.
• Leading, coaching and developing teams.
• Working with security standards, frameworks and industry best practice.

Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 13th September 2026