Senior Application Security Specialist

Old Mutual Limited; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Old Mutual Limited in Johannesburg is seeking a Senior Application Security Specialist to lead the IT GRCS and Information and Cybersecurity teams, embedding security into the software lifecycle from design to release. You will oversee SAST, DAST, SCA, API security and third-party risk, collaborate with developers, procurement and legal, and drive secure coding practices across CI/CD pipelines.

The role requires hands-on leadership, 5+ years in application security and a relevant degree;

Qualifications

• Minimum degree requirements as listed in job posting.
• Demonstrable experience in application security and testing across SDLC.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Application Security team within IT GRCS, Information and Cybersecurity.
• Set and enforce application security standards across design, code, testing and release.
• Oversee SAST/DAST/CI/CD integration and third-party/SaaS security.
• Coordinate security assessments with external providers and ensure remediation within SLAs.

Skills

SAST

DAST

SCA

API Security

Threat Modelling

CI/CD Pipelines

OWASP Top 10

OWASP ASVS

Security Testing

Leadership

Education

Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) IT Management

National Diploma in Computer Science/Information Systems/Engineering

Tools

SAST tools

DAST tools

SCA tools

Job description

Senior Application Security SpecialistOur website uses cookies to give you the best possible online experience. If you accept their use, continue using our site or find out how to manage cookies. View our Privacy Notice here.### Senior Application Security SpecialistApply: Johannesburg: Full time: Posted Today: JR-85047**Let's Write Africa's Story Together!**Old Mutual is a firm believer in the African opportunity and our diverse talent reflects this.**Job Description**Leads the Application Security team in IT GRCS, Information and Cybersecurity, and is accountable for building security into the software the business develops, buys and runs — across the secure development lifecycle, code and dependency scanning, application testing, third-party and SaaS applications, application identity and access, and AI features in our applications.**Responsibilities** The Application Security Lead makes sure software reaches production with known risks found, fixed or formally accepted. The role sets the application security standards developers work to, runs the tooling and testing that verifies them, and signs off security before release. It is a hands-on lead role. Lead is expected to read scan output, scope tests and challenge findings alongside the two analysts, while owning the service as a whole. The service areas below are the team's current remit. The Lead owns all seven and delivers them through the two analysts. **Secure development lifecycle:**- Security requirements in design, threat modelling on new and changed systems **Code and dependency scanning:**- SAST in CI/CD pipelines, software composition analysis for open-source components, and secrets scanning. Owns tool coverage, rule tuning and false-positive rates. **Application testing:**- DAST and API security testing, scoping and coordinating penetration tests with external providers, and retesting fixed findings to closure. **Third-party and SaaS applications:**- Security assessments of applications the business buys, SaaS configuration reviews, and the security requirements written into contracts with Procurement and Legal. **Application identity and access:**- SSO and MFA integration standards, API authentication standards, and web application firewall rules. **AI in our applications:**-Security reviews of AI integrations, testing for prompt injection and data leakage, and protection of AI API keys and connections.The Lead also keeps the application security standard, the finding severity and remediation-SLA model, and the exception and risk-acceptance process current, and reports application risk to the Manager, Information and Cybersecurity. **Leadership and stakeholder responsibilities*** Manages Application Security Analysts: workload allocation, performance reviews, development plans and technical coaching.* Builds the bench: cross-skills the analysts so no single service area depends on one person.* Partners with development and delivery leads so security work is planned into sprints rather than raised at release.* Manages external penetration testing providers: scoping, scheduling, quality of findings and spend against budget.* Escalates risks that cannot be remediated in SLA to the Manager, Information and Cybersecurity with a clear recommendation. **Qualifications and experience****Minimum requirements*** National diploma in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering or equivalent. Demonstrable experience may substitute for the qualification.* 5+ years in application security or security testing, of which at least 3 years in a dedicated application security role.* 2+ years leading a team, a squad or a security workstream, formally or as a technical lead.* Hands-on experience with SAST, SCA, DAST and secrets scanning tooling, and with embedding them in CI/CD pipelines.* Working knowledge of OWASP Top 10, OWASP ASVS and API Security Top 10, and of the SDLC controls expected under a recognised framework such as ISO 27001 or NIST CSF. **Preferred*** One or more of OSCP, CISSP or equivalent.* Financial services or insurance experience, including familiarity with POPIA and the regulatory expectations on an insurer's software estate.* Cloud application security experience on Azure or AWS, including container and pipeline security. **Competencies****Technical*** Designs and tunes security tooling in pipelines so it catches real issues without stalling delivery.* Scopes and interprets penetration tests and can tell a genuine exploit path from a scanner artefact.* Models threats against modern architectures: APIs, microservices, SaaS integrations and AI services.* Assesses identity and access design: OAuth 2.0, OIDC, SAML, token handling and WAF policy.* Matric and relevant Information Technology Qualification – diploma or degree* 3-5 years Information or cyber security related experience* Security Awareness and Culture Professional (SACP)* Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills* Established experience in phishing simulations and training programs* Administration of a learning / phishing platform **Additional Qualifications /Experience (Preferred, Not a Requirement)**- Other industry certifications are advantageous (i.e., ISO 27001/27002, CISM, etc.)**Skills****Competencies**Communicates Effectively### ### Courage### ### Cultivates Innovation### ### Decision Quality### ### Ensures Accountability### ### Manages Complexity### ### Nimble Learning### ### Persuades**Education**Bachelor of Commerce (BCom): Information Technology And Computer Science: Information Technology Management (Required)**Closing Date**11 November 2026 , 23:59***The appointment will be made from the designated group in line with the Employment Equity Plan of Old Mutual South Africa and the specific business unit in question.***