Senior Offensive Security Engineer (Red Team)

KeyCorp; Brooklyn (OH); On-site; USD 96,000 - 181,000; Full time

Job summary

KeyCorp's Cyber Defense team in the Cleveland-area is seeking a Senior Offensive Security Engineer to lead adversary emulation, red team engagements, and offensive security operations across on‑prem and cloud environments.

You will set testing strategy, mentor teammates, and drive maturity through standards, tooling, and metrics, while coordinating with Detection, Incident Response, and Threat Intelligence to validate remediation and exposure reductions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 12+ years in Red Team or Penetration Testing.
• Experience leading offensive security engagements and multi-team coordination.
• Experience maturing a red team program with standards and metrics.

Responsibilities

• Lead Red Team operations, adversary emulation engagements.
• Develop testing strategy, standards, tooling, and QA practices.
• Mentor team members and coordinate with other security teams.
• Present findings and risk to executives and governance boards.
• Align testing with CTEM and remediation validation.

Skills

Adversary emulation

Red Team operations

Threat intelligence

MITRE ATT&CK

Cloud security

PowerShell

Python

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or related field

Tools

Kali Linux

C2 frameworks

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

Location: 4910 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn Ohio

Position Summary

Our Cyber Adversary and Exposure Management team rolls up into Key’s broader Cyber Defense function within Corporate Information Security. Cyber Defense’s mission is simple: We aim to Deter, Detect, Deny, and Disrupt adversaries through proactive threat-centric defense. The Senior Offensive Security Engineer serves as the technical and operational lead for the Cyber Defense Red Team and is responsible for guiding team execution, capability development, operational maturity, and offensive security strategy. The role is responsible for advancing the maturity, consistency, and effectiveness of adversarial simulation, red team, and penetration testing capabilities while providing day-to-day leadership for team execution. The role establishes testing strategy and standards, guides engagement planning and quality, coordinates priorities and resources, mentors team members, and drives measurable improvement across the offensive security program. The role also supports Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) objectives by validating prioritized exposures, assessing attack paths, and measuring the effectiveness of remediation activities against realistic adversary scenarios. The role also simulates advanced cyber adversaries and emulates real-world adversaries to assess and improve KeyBank’s detection, response, and resilience capabilities. This work goes beyond traditional red teaming and penetration testing by incorporating threat intelligence, custom tooling, and stealthy tradecraft to test the effectiveness of security controls and incident response processes. The ideal candidate will bring significant experience directing adversary emulation, red team engagements, and offensive security operations across enterprise on-premises and cloud environments, with experience leading or participating in physical security assessments. The role demands exceptional technical proficiency, strategic leadership, operational discipline, and the ability to clearly articulate complex security findings and risk implications to audiences ranging from engineers to senior executives.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Operational Management

Provide day-to-day technical and operational team leadership for the Red Team, reporting to the CAEM manager, including work prioritization, engagement assignments, execution oversight, issue escalation, and coordination of team deliverables. Coach and mentor team members, facilitate knowledge sharing, identify capability gaps, and support development of technical depth and leadership readiness across the team. Provide third-party vendor support, dependencies, and stakeholder communications to keep engagements on track and ensure risks, blockers, and decisions are elevated promptly. Provide hands‑on technical guidance during complex engagements and reinforce safe, responsible, and repeatable adversarial tradecraft. Partner with Detection Engineering, Security Operations, Threat Intelligence, and Incident Response teams to conduct purple team exercises that validate control effectiveness, detection coverage, and response capabilities against real-world adversary behaviors.

Red Team Strategy, Governance & Program Maturity

Lead the development and execution of a maturity roadmap for adversarial simulation, red team, and penetration testing capabilities, including repeatable methodologies, standards, tooling, automation, and quality assurance practices. Establish and maintain a risk‑based testing strategy and engagement pipeline aligned with enterprise threats, critical assets, regulatory expectations, and stakeholder priorities. Define and report program metrics that demonstrate coverage, execution quality, remediation outcomes, control validation, and progress against the offensive security maturity roadmap. Use program metrics and engagement outcomes to identify trends, communicate risk, and prioritize improvements to testing coverage and team capabilities. Drive continuous improvement of adversarial emulation methodologies, tooling, documentation, and operating practices. Present offensive security program metrics, engagement outcomes, risk themes, and strategic recommendations to cybersecurity leadership, governance forums, and executive stakeholders. Align adversarial testing activities with exposure management priorities by validating remediation efforts, identifying exploitable attack paths, and measuring reductions in organizational exposure.

Adversarial Simulation & Red Team Operations

Lead and execute adversary emulation engagements using intelligence‑driven threat scenarios aligned with frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK. Design and conduct full‑scope red team operations, including initial access, lateral movement, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration simulation. Conduct physical, external/internal, wireless network, web application, and mobile application security assessments. Lead security assessments across cloud platforms (Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, AWS), identity infrastructure, privileged access management solutions, hybrid enterprise environments, and embedded systems. Develop and operationalize Red Team tooling, automation, and adversary emulation capabilities that replicate real‑world threat actor behaviors and enable repeatable assessment of application, cloud, infrastructure, and network security controls. Employ these tools and techniques within the environment with minimal supervision while mentoring team members in their safe and responsible use. Lead adversarial testing of AI‑enabled applications, machine learning systems, generative AI technologies, large language models, and autonomous agents to identify exploitable weaknesses, misuse scenarios, and gaps in preventive, detective, and responsive security controls.

Engagement Oversight & Stakeholder Management

Review engagement plans, rules of engagement, testing evidence, findings, and reports to promote consistent quality, accuracy, safety, and actionable outcomes. Lead cross‑functional teams during project testing phases and architectural design reviews to ensure appropriate security controls are in place to mitigate threats. Coordinate and monitor third‑party penetration testing engagements, ensuring alignment with requirements, effective communication, and timely, accurate reporting. Provide detailed post‑mortem reports and executive briefings with prioritized recommendations. Present engagement outcomes, risk themes, maturity assessments, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership, governance committees, and cybersecurity stakeholders.

Threat Intelligence, Detection Validation & Purple Teaming

Partner with the Cyber Threat Intelligence team to ensure Red Team capabilities and tactics accurately reflect the current threat landscape and that real‑world tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) are translated into emulation plans. Evaluate the effectiveness of detection and response capabilities across SOC, EDR/XDR, SIEM, and other security layers. Build collaborative relationships with blue teams to conduct purple team exercises and improve detection engineering.

Findings Management & Risk Reduction

Lead efforts to track remediation of findings to completion through coordination with application and technology system owners. Validate the effectiveness of remediation actions through retesting, attack path analysis, and other exposure validation activities. Support Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) initiatives by validating prioritized exposure reductions and measuring security improvements resulting from remediation activities.

Research, Innovation & Capability Development

Expand team capabilities through: Development of custom offensive security tools and automation capabilities to support adversary emulation and security testing. Incorporation of artificial intelligence, automation, and emerging technologies to improve offensive security testing efficiency, scalability, and effectiveness. Research and development of novel offensive techniques and tradecraft. Incorporation of threat actor intelligence into emulation scenarios. Delivery of internal presentations and knowledge‑sharing sessions.

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. 12+ years of experience in Red Team or Penetration Testing roles. Demonstrated experience leading complex offensive security engagements and coordinating the work of technical teams. Experience building or maturing a Red Team, adversarial simulation, or penetration testing program, including methodologies, quality standards, metrics, and multi‑year capability planning.

Offensive Security & Adversary Emulation Expertise

Proficiency with Red Team tools and Command‑and‑Control (C2) frameworks. Advanced networking knowledge and experience with attack simulation. Deep understanding of the MITRE ATT&CK framework and adversary TTPs. Deep understanding of one or more penetration testing methodologies, such as PTES, ISECOM, ISSAF, or OSSTMM. Demonstrated knowledge of AI security risks and adversarial testing techniques, including experience evaluating generative AI applications, model and agent integrations, data exposure, prompt‑based attacks, excessive agency, and other emerging AI threat scenarios.

Technical & Platform Knowledge

Strong scripting and programming skills in PowerShell, Python, JavaScript, Bash, Golang, or similar languages. Deep understanding of Windows, Linux, Kali Linux, and macOS operating systems. Direct experience with one or more cloud platforms: Microsoft Azure AWS Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

Research, Analysis & Communication

Strong research and reporting skills. Ability to translate technical findings into actionable recommendations for technical and executive audiences.

Leadership & Program Management

Strong team leadership, coaching, prioritization, stakeholder management, and executive communication skills. Experience presenting offensive security findings, program metrics, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership, governance committees, audit stakeholders, and technical teams. Experience defining strategy, establishing standards, measuring performance, and driving continuous improvement of offensive security capabilities. Ability and willingness to travel for on‑site assessments.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience leading purple team engagements.

Preferred Certifications

Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) Offensive Security Certified Expert (OSCE) Offensive Security Experienced Penetration Tester (OSEP) Certified Red Team Professional (CRTP) Certified Red Team Operator (CRTO) Certified Red Team Operator II (CRTO II) GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN) GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester (GWAPT) GIAC Exploit Researcher and Advanced Penetration Tester (GXPN) CREST Registered Penetration Tester / CBEST Qualifications Certified Azure Red Team Professional (CARTP) Certified Azure Red Team Expert (CARTE) COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Compensation and Benefits

This position is eligible to earn a base salary in the range of $96,000.00 - $181,000.00 annually. Placement within the pay range may differ based upon various factors, including but not limited to skills, experience and geographic location. Compensation for this role also includes eligibility for incentive compensation which may include production, commission, and/or discretionary incentives. Key has implemented an approach to employee workspaces which prioritizes in‑office presence, while providing flexible options in circumstances where roles can be performed effectively in a mobile environment.

Company Culture

KeyCorp is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to sustaining an inclusive culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, pregnancy, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. Qualified individuals with disabilities or disabled veterans who are unable or limited in their ability to apply on this site may request reasonable accommodations by emailing [e-mail]. KeyBank is an organization collectively committed to helping you unlock your potential and discover what truly drives you. Working here means sharing our purpose to help our clients, colleagues, and communities thrive. You’ll find genuinely supportive teammates, a flexible, inclusive work environment, challenging projects, accessible leaders, and opportunities to grow in your position and your career. For 200 years, Key has opened doors in our communities. Let us open one for you.