Lead Information Security Engineer

Placements24; George; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health, dental, vision insurance

Remote-first with flexible hours

Home office stipend

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Information Security Engineer to architect, implement, and oversee our security infrastructure. You will define the security roadmap, drive best practices, and mentor a growing team in a remote-friendly environment.

Lead security across cloud environments, establish policies, and guide incident response. A Master’s degree and 8+ years of experience are preferred, with CISSP-ISSAP/CCSP valuable.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent practical experience in CS or cybersecurity.
• 8+ years in information security engineering and architecture.
• Experience designing security for cloud environments (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Strong cryptography, network security, and secure coding knowledge.
• Proficiency in security automation with Python/Ansible.
• Experience leading incident response and forensic investigations.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and strategic planning.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement scalable security architectures.
• Lead security engineering across infrastructure, application security, and data protection.
• Enforce security policies, standards, and procedures across the org.
• Conduct threat modeling and risk assessments for new and existing systems.
• Oversee SIEM/WAF/EDR implementations and management.
• Head incident response, including investigation and recovery.
• Mentor junior engineers and analysts.
• Collaborate with Dev and Ops to embed security in the SDLC.
• Stay current with threats and adapt security strategy accordingly.

Skills

Security architecture

Cloud security design

Security automation

Incident response & forensics

Leadership & mentoring

Secure coding practices

Education

Master's degree in CS/Cybersecurity or related field

CISSP-ISSAP

CCSP

Tools

SIEM

WAF

EDR

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a rapidly expanding tech startup headquartered in George, Western Cape, is actively seeking a visionary Lead Information Security Engineer to spearhead their security initiatives. This pivotal role involves architecting, implementing, and overseeing the entire security infrastructure to protect our client's innovative products and user data. You will be at the forefront of defining the security roadmap, driving best practices, and mentoring a growing team of security professionals. This position requires a blend of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities. If you are passionate about building secure systems from the ground up and thrive in a fast-paced, innovative environment, this fully remote role is an exceptional opportunity. Join us in shaping the future of online security from anywhere.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement scalable and robust security architecture.
• Lead security engineering efforts, including infrastructure security, application security, and data protection.
• Establish and enforce security policies, standards, and procedures across the organization.
• Conduct threat modeling and risk assessments for new and existing systems.
• Oversee the implementation and management of security tools and technologies (e.g., SIEM, WAF, EDR).
• Lead incident response efforts, including investigation, containment, eradication, and recovery.
• Mentor and guide junior security engineers and analysts.
• Collaborate with development and operations teams to embed security into the SDLC.
• Stay current with emerging security threats and vulnerabilities, and adapt security strategies accordingly.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 8+ years of experience in information security engineering and architecture.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing security solutions for cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Deep understanding of cryptography, network security, and secure coding practices.
• Expertise with security automation and scripting (e.g., Python, Ansible).
• Experience leading security incident response and forensic investigations.
• Strong leadership, communication, and strategic planning skills.
• Relevant advanced certifications (e.g., CISSP-ISSAP, CCSP) are highly preferred.
• Experience working remotely and managing distributed teams is a significant advantage.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary, stock options, and a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance.
• As a remote-first company, we provide flexible working hours and a generous home office stipend.
• We encourage continuous learning through certifications and conferences, supporting your professional growth within the cutting edge of cybersecurity.