Team Lead, Application Security

Forward Financing; Boston (MA); On-site; CAD 175,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

RRSP match

Wellness reimbursement

Flexible time-off

Remote-first company

Job summary

Forward Financing is seeking an experienced Team Lead, Application Security to lead the security program across Forward-built, third-party, and AI-built software. You will evolve the pentest program, remediate vulnerabilities, and integrate AI solutions within appsec. You will grow a team of senior engineers and set standards for offensive testing.

The role emphasizes security leadership in a remote-first environment with competitive compensation and a broad total rewards package.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in application, offensive, or product security with team leadership.
• Hands-on pentesting and code review across web apps, APIs and cloud (AWS).
• Experience building/scaling a security testing program — scoping, tooling, cadence, SLAs.
• Understanding AI/LLM attack surface and secure SDLC practices.
• Familiar with Ruby, Python or Go and secure coding practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead application and product security across Forward-built, third-party, and AI-built software.
• Evolve the pentest program: test and remediate existing software, then test new AI agents.
• Proactively build and integrate AI solutions within the appsec function.
• Own remediation workflows and vulnerability management with Engineering.
• Partner with teams to build controls to contain external exposure (allowlists, proxies, DLP).
• Support test-to-production review for AI-built work before promotion.
• Grow and develop a team of senior engineers; set quality and coverage standards for offensive testing.
• Build and maintain security services within Forward's application stack.

Skills

7+ years app security

Penetration testing

Security testing program

AI/LLM security

Ruby/Python/Go

Risk communication

AWS

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science

Tools

AWS

Job description

Forward Financing is a financial technology company based in Boston, Massachusetts with team members throughout the United States, Dominican Republic, and Canada. The company is on a mission to unlock the capital that fuels small businesses across America. Recognized as a Best Place to Work by Built In Boston and certified as a Great Place To Work®, Forward is investing in its employees, technology, and customer experience – with long-term success in mind every step of the way.
As the Team Lead, Application Security, you’ll take the reins of Forward's application and product security program at a pivotal moment, as we scale our use of AI to build software faster than ever. You’ll lead a team of senior engineers, modernize how we pentest and remediate vulnerabilities, and make sure security keeps pace with an engineering organization that increasingly builds with, and builds, AI agents.

In This Role You Will

• Lead application and product security across Forward-built, third-party, and AI-built software.
• Evolve the pentest program: aggressively security-test and remediate existing software, then continuously test net-new agents and the software agents create.
• Proactively build and integrate AI solutions within the appsec function.
• Own remediation workflows and vulnerability management with Engineering, including pre-production vs. post-production gap analysis.
• Partner with other teams to build controls to contain external exposure: network allowlists, egress proxy, and proxy-level DLP.
• Support the test-to-production review process so AI-built work is security-reviewed before promotion.
• Grow and develop a team of senior engineers; set quality and coverage standards for offensive testing.
• Build and maintain security services within the Forward application stack.

Why You Should Apply

• Shape a growing function: This is a high-visibility leadership role at a pivotal moment for Forward's security program. You'll have the mandate and support to build the team, tools, and processes needed to secure AI-built software from the ground up.
• Mission driven company: Forward is a trusted source of fast, flexible funding for small businesses that have often been underserved by traditional financing options. When you join the team, you will help ensure all small businesses have access to the financial support they need to succeed.
• Flexibility is a top priority: Our employees are empowered to choose where they want to work (whether that’s from home, in the office, or a combination of both) with flexible hours.

Role Requirements

• Typically has 7 or more years in application security, offensive security, or product security, including team leadership.
• Hands-on pentesting and code-review depth across web applications, APIs, and cloud infrastructure (AWS).
• Experience building or scaling a security testing program — scoping, tooling, cadence, and remediation SLAs.
• Understanding of AI/LLM attack surface: prompt injection, insecure agent tool use, and vulnerabilities characteristic of AI-generated code.
• Experience with modern programming languages such as Ruby, Python, or Go, and with secure SDLC practices.
• Ability to communicate risk and priorities crisply to engineers and executives.
• Typically has a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or equivalent technical degree, or equivalent industry experience.

Nice To Have

• Experience pentesting or red-teaming LLM applications and agentic systems.
• OSCP/OSWE or comparable offensive certifications.
• Experience running bug-bounty or external testing programs.
• Background in fintech or other regulated environments.

Compensation

Annual Targeted Salary: $175,000-$200,000 CAD

Annual Target Bonus: 12%

At Forward Financing, we're committed to fair and transparent compensation. We believe in providing a compensation package that recognizes your skills, experience, and the unique value you bring to our team. We take a market-based approach to pay, regularly reviewing benchmark data to ensure our compensation remains competitive, equitable, and aligned with our performance-driven culture.

Final offers are determined by a variety of factors, including the candidate's qualifications, relevant experience, specific skills, and internal equity. This approach ensures that our compensation is competitive and equitable. Your recruiter will provide specific details on the expected base and variable earnings as it pertains to this specific role. This position is to fill an existing vacancy.

Total Rewards

Additionally, we offer a comprehensive total rewards package, including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision, a flexible time-off policy, paid parental leave, RRSP match, wellness reimbursement, volunteering days, annual professional development budget, and charitable donation match.

Forward is proud to be a remote-first company, keeping workplace flexibility a top priority for our employees. As a business, we are focused on impact; we are more concerned with your contributions to the success of the company than where you get your work done. To help facilitate in-person collaboration, employees are welcome to work from one of our premiere office locations.

When we aren't collaborating to drive business and support our customers, we're finding virtual and in-person ways to get to know our colleagues, celebrate team wins, and have fun together!

Our Culture: The Forward Compass

• Back the Builders: We are wired to fuel customer progress, not just provide support.
• Rooted in People: We create an environment that balances deep connection with the extreme ownership and honesty required to reach our highest potential.
• Flying V: We move through coordinated effort with speed and urgency to achieve what no individual could do alone.
• Always Forward, Never Finished: We pursue growth with a relentless drive that keeps us ahead of the competition.

About Us

Forward Financing is a fintech company based in Boston, Massachusetts with team members throughout the United States, Dominican Republic, and Canada. The company is on a mission to unlock the capital that fuels small businesses across America. Whether facing challenges accessing traditional financing or simply needing a convenient, flexible solution, Forward is committed to funding more of the millions of small businesses nationwide. By simplifying the requirements, streamlining the process, and using advanced proprietary technology, Forward is often able to deliver approvals within hours and funds that same day – giving more businesses the financial opportunity they need to thrive. Plus, with their dedicated teams and award-winning service, customers get personalized support when they need it most.

Since 2012, Forward has expanded access to capital by providing over $4.8 billion in funding to more than 92,000 small businesses. The company is A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau with an Excellent / 4.7 stars rating on Trustpilot.com. Recognized as a Best Place to Work by Built In Boston and certified as a Great Place To Work®, Forward is dedicated to empowering both its team and the customers they serve, helping them succeed and thrive.

Equal Opportunity Employment Information

It is the policy of Forward Financing to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, religion, national origin, status, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by law. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Please let us know should you require any accommodations. As part of our commitment to a streamlined and equitable hiring experience, we use AI tools to assist with candidate screening and assessment.