AI / Security Specialist (Cyber security)

Black Pen Recruitment; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

Black Pen Recruitment is searching for a skilled professional to strengthen AI security within their innovative client platform. This role involves building, deploying, and securing AI-driven security solutions in a fast-paced, founder-led environment.

The ideal candidate will possess over 3 years of relevant experience, demonstrating strong problem-solving abilities, risk assessment, and a practical mindset to convert AI security concepts into effective solutions.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of practical AI security experience.
• Expertise in threat and anomaly detection.
• Experience in LLM security and prompt-injection mitigation.
• Knowledge of engineering and security monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Build and secure AI-powered security solutions.
• Enforce security policies and conduct threat detection.
• Collaborate closely with the founder during the launch phase.

Skills

AI security experience

Threat detection

LLM security

Applied machine learning

Risk assessment

Job description

Our client is an AI security platform that acts as a security gateway between AI agents and databases. As companies increasingly allow AI agents to interact directly with systems and data, our client helps prevent sensitive data exposure, destructive queries, compliance violations and operational mistakes. The platform inspects and controls database interactions in real time through policy enforcement, threat detection and comprehensive audit logging. The product is already built and operational, and the business is now entering its next phase of platform hardening, product acceleration and go-to-market execution.

Role Overview

Our client is looking for someone with practical experience building, deploying or securing AI-powered security solutions. This role is focused on applied AI security rather than purely theoretical or academic work.

Overall Candidate Profile

Our client is looking for high-calibre, self-starting individuals who can operate with full ownership in a founder-led, early-stage environment. The successful candidates should be motivated, pragmatic, ambitious and comfortable working closely with the founder during an intensive build-and-launch phase.

• Strong ownership mentality with the ability to work independently without constant direction.
• High integrity, sound judgement and a practical problem-solving approach.
• Comfortable in a lean startup environment where priorities can move quickly.
• Able to contribute strategically while also remaining hands-on and execution focused.
• Preference for a small number of exceptional, carefully vetted candidates over a high-volume shortlist.

Job Type: Full Time/Independent Contractor

Location: Cape Town

Work Place: Onsite

Requirements

• Ideally 3+ years of practical AI security experience.
• Threat and anomaly detection.
• LLM security and prompt-injection mitigation.
• Applied machine learning in production environments.Security analytics, detection en
• Engineering and security monitoring.
• Ability to assess risk where AI agents interact with systems, data and databases.
• Practical mindset with the ability to help turn AI security concepts into production-ready controls.