Mainframe and Web Application Security Senior Engineer - Senior Penetration Tester

Truist; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k plan

Health insurance

Paid vacation and sick days

Job summary

Truist in Richmond, VA is seeking an advanced penetration tester focused on mainframe environments. You will perform black box and assumed breach assessments of z/OS subsystems (RACF, ACF2, Top Secret) and related services, documenting findings with clear steps and remediation guidance.

This role requires 7+ years in security roles, strong scripting (REXX, Python), and the ability to communicate complex risks to technical and non-technical audiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education, training, and work-related experience.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in security engineering or related cybersecurity roles.
• Deep specialized knowledge in cybersecurity principles, theories, and concepts.
• Proven experience in software development lifecycle security practices.
• Deep knowledge of threat modeling, security testing, and penetration testing.
• Experience implementing and managing complex information security technologies.

Responsibilities

• Conducts black box, grey box and assumed breach penetration tests of enterprise z/OS environments.
• Uses manual techniques and offensive tooling to enumerate users and resources and map datasets.
• Evaluates exploitability and risk, assigns finding severity.
• Documents findings with reproduction steps and remediation recommendations.
• Presents and defends findings to application teams and stakeholders.
• Performs validation and retesting to confirm remediation and maintains audit evidence.
• Partners with testing teams to improve mainframe testing coverage, playbooks, and tooling.
• Performs peer reviews of penetration testing reports and mentors others.
• Maintains knowledge of mainframe attack techniques and industry threats.

Skills

Penetration testing

Security engineering

Threat modeling

Technical writing

Communication

Automation scripting

Mainframe security

Scripting (REXX, Python)

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

RACF

ACF2

Top Secret

JCL

TSO/ISPF

CICS

DB2

Job description

Need Help? If you have a disability and need assistance with the application, you can request a reasonable accommodation. Send an email to Accessibility (accommodation requests only; other inquiries won't receive a response).

Regular or Temporary:

Regular

Language Fluency:

English (Required)

Work Shift:

1st shift (United States of America)

Please review the following job description:

Performs advanced penetration testing and security assessments across enterprise technologies, with a primary focus on mainframe environments. Identifies and validates vulnerabilities, evaluates attack paths and control weaknesses, documents clear and defensible findings, and partners with technology teams to reduce risk. Contributes to testing methodologies, tooling, automation, and technical guidance that improve the effectiveness and scalability of the penetration testing program. Telecommuting/Remote workstyle may be considered for well-qualified individuals located outside of the Truist footprint. Teammate will work hours supporting Eastern Standard Time. For this opportunity, Truist will not sponsor an applicant for work visa status or employment authorization, nor will we offer any immigration-related support for this position (including, but not limited to H-1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN-1 or TN-2, E-3, O-1, or future sponsorship for U.S. lawful permanent residence status.)

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Conducts black box, grey box and assumed breach penetration tests of enterprise z/OS environments, covering the USS (Unix System Services), external security managers (RACF, ACF2, Top Secret) subsystems, (CICS, IMS, db2, MQ) batch processing (JCL, JES2) TSO/ISPF, and network facing services (TN3270, FTP, Z/OS Connect and Rest APIs, NJE)
• Uses manual techniques custom scripting (REXX, JCL, Assembler, Python) and offensive tooling to enumerate users and resources, map datasets, access unprotected spool and job output, and exploit misconfigured CICS transactions, and insecure interfaces
• Evaluates exploitability and business impact and applies sound judgment when determining finding severity and risk.
• Documents findings with clear reproduction steps, supporting evidence, impact statements, and practical remediation recommendations.
• Presents and defends technical findings in discussions with application teams, mainframe engineers, technology leaders, risk partners, and other stakeholders.
• Performs validation and retesting to confirm remediation and risk reduction, and maintains testing evidence needed to support audit, regulatory, and compliance requirements (PCI DSS, SOX)
• Partners with internal and external testing teams to improve mainframe testing coverage, methodologies, playbooks, tooling, automation, and repeatable processes.
• Performs peer reviews of penetration testing reports and provides technical guidance and mentorship to other security professionals.
• Maintains current knowledge of mainframe attack techniques, security controls, platform changes, offensive security practices, and relevant industry threats.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education, training, and work-related experience.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in security engineering or related cybersecurity roles.
• Deep specialized knowledge in cybersecurity principles, theories, and concepts.
• Proven experience in software development lifecycle security practices.
• Deep knowledge of threat modeling, security testing, and penetration testing.
• Experience implementing and managing complex information security technologies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Five or more years of penetration testing, red team, offensive security, vulnerability research, or related cybersecurity experience.
• Hands-on experience assessing mainframe environments, including z/OS and common security components such as RACF, ACF2, or Top Secret.
• Knowledge of mainframe architecture, identity and access management, privileged access, JCL, TSO/ISPF, CICS, Db2, network services, system configuration, and security hardening.
• Experience identifying and validating mainframe vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, excessive access, insecure interfaces, and attack paths between mainframe and distributed environments.
• Strong technical writing and communication skills, including the ability to explain and defend technical findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to independently manage multiple testing engagements, adjust approach as priorities and requirements evolve, and drive work to completion.
• Experience developing scripts, automation, or AI-enabled tooling that streamlines testing activities and improves the efficiency of repeatable processes.
• Experience in banking, financial services, or another highly regulated industry.
• Relevant offensive security certifications, such as OSCP, OSEP, OSWE, GPEN, GXPN, or equivalent credentials.

The annual base salary for this position is $140,000 - $180,000. Additional incentive pay is available for this position.

General Description of Available Benefits for Eligible Employees of Truist Financial Corporation:

All regular teammates (not temporary or contingent workers) working 20 hours or more per week are eligible for benefits, though eligibility for specific benefits may be determined by the division of Truist offering the position. Truist offers medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, accidental death and dismemberment, tax-preferred savings accounts, and a 401k plan to teammates. Teammates also receive no less than 10 days of vacation (prorated based on date of hire and by full-time or part-time status) during their first year of employment, along with 10 sick days (also prorated), and paid holidays. For more details on Truist’s generous benefit plans, please visit our Benefits site. Depending on the position and division, this job may also be eligible for Truist’s defined benefit pension plan, restricted stock units, and/or a deferred compensation plan. As you advance through the hiring process, you will also learn more about the specific benefits available for any non-temporary position for which you apply, based on full-time or part-time status, position, and division of work.

Truist is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, religion, citizenship or national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or other classification protected by law. Truist is a Drug Free Workplace.

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