Penetration Tester - Remote 12 month FTC
Closing Date: 31st March 2026
Job Title: Penetration Tester - Security
Salary: c£50,000 per annum (negotiable based on experience) + comprehensive benefits package
Jisc grade: TCY3
Job Type: 12-month FTC/Secondment
Hours: 35 hours per week
Reports into: Senior Penetration Tester
Working style: Remote: Predominantly remote working, and regular travel is required to Jisc offices and/or customers. Meeting in person is something we value so you may need to travel on occasion to our hub offices.
About Jisc:
For 30 years Jisc has pioneered digital solutions for UK education and research, transforming how knowledge is created, shared and used.
We are uniquely positioned to protect, promote and lead the sector in digital and data transformation, making a difference to students, communities and society. Together, we are
working to build a better digital future for education and research.
Raise your potential at Jisc through our culture of lifelong learning. At Jisc, we're all about growth, so embrace new challenges, sharpen your skills and shape a career that excites you.
About the Team
This role is in the Penetration Testing Team, which sits within the arm of the organisation providing cyber security services, ensuring that our capabilities and expertise are applied cost-effectively and imaginatively. This provides a high-quality facility to protect the JANET network from intrusion, denial of service and all other service-impacting potential threats and attacks. Our work areas include network operations, security, trust and identity, cloud and brokerage services, data centres and co-location, video services and e-infrastructure.
The role:
Help safeguard the JANET network and the UK education sector from cyber threats. As part of our cutting-edge cyber security division, you’ll work with state-of-the-art tools, leading vendors, and a dedicated SOC and CSIRT team. We deliver penetration testing, operational security assessments, and Cyber Essentials consultancy to universities, colleges, and learning providers.
If you’re passionate about protecting critical infrastructure and driving innovative security solutions, this is your opportunity to make an impact.
What you’ll be doing:
Provide security guidance and best practices
Deliver clear briefings to technical and non-technical audiences
Support incident response and advise on threats
Contribute to workshops, conferences, and educational materials
Collaborate with a UK-based team of specialists
Maintain and develop your skills while sharing knowledge
What we are looking for:
An innovative thinker with a creative approach to problem-solving
A collaborative team player who thrives in a supportive environment
Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to find solutions under pressure
Strong time management skills to meet deadlines effectively
Excellent technical communication skills to simplify complex ideas
Don’t meet every single requirement?
We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they think they can’t tick every box, so we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet 100% of the requirements, but if you feel this role is perfect for you. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles!
Remote: Predominantly remote working, and regular travel is required to Jisc offices and/or customers. Meeting in person is something we value so you may need to travel on occasion to our hub offices.
Qualifications & training
Nice to have
We do not mandate specific qualifications, but the following qualifications are among those that would be desirable to demonstrate a candidate's experience and capability:
Educated to degree level OR equivalent relevant demonstrable experience
Cyber Scheme Team Member, Leader
Tiger Scheme Qualified Security Team Member, Leader
CPSA - CREST Practitioner Security Analyst
CRT - CREST Registered Tester
OSCP - Offensive Security Certified Professional
CAST - Certified Application Security Tester
LPT - Licensed Penetration Tester (Master)
Why work for us?
At Jisc, every role is meaningful, and every individual is valued. We foster a culture of continuous learning and personal growth, offering opportunities to develop new skills and make a real impact in education and research. With a strong focus on work-life balance, we embrace flexible working that prioritises outcomes over hours, empowering you to create a rhythm that energises both your professional and personal life.
Our Guiding Principles:
Jisc’s culture is powered by our four guiding principles: putting customers first, driving innovation, creating impact, and championing inclusive collaboration to deliver sustainable outcomes and shape a better future.
Discover the amazing benefits we provide! Here’s what you can look forward to:
Flexible work pattern, which can adapt to suit your schedules and personal commitments
31 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) that includes three closure days over Christmas
Buy up to an additional 5 days leave during the flexible benefits window
Generous flexible pension schemes
A range of wellbeing lifestyle benefits including company paid health care cash plan, mental health first aiders and support
A company culture of continuous learning with access to thousands of LinkedIn Learning courses, and lots of resources and opportunities to support your development
Allocated allowance of up to £250 to equip your home office
Financial well-being support including access to preferential loan and savings plans, mortgage advice, will writing tools and support and resources to help you make the most of your money
A wide range of discounts and cashback from retailers and big-name high-street stores
Family friendly policies including enhanced parental, maternity and paternity and co-parental leave as well as opportunity for career breaks
Support your volunteering with up to 3 days volunteer leave
Equity, diversity and inclusion:
Jisc believe our people make all the difference in cultivating an inclusive culture that welcomes ideas, encourages innovation, and values belonging.
We work hard to create an equitable experience for our candidates and workforce which embraces all aspects of their identity including race and ethnicity, religion and belief, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, trans identities, age, class, disability, neurodivergence, or veteran status.
Application process:
Please let us know how we can best accommodate you throughout the recruitment process. We’re committed to making our process accessible and comfortable for everyone - just tell us what works best for you.
Just so you know, we review CVs as soon as we can and aim to provide an update on your application within 4 weeks of receiving it. However, you may hear from us a lot sooner, so please keep an eye out for our emails or calls!
We’re really looking forward to getting to know the real you. While we encourage the use of AI tools to help you get started on your CV or cover letter, we encourage you to review your application before submitting. Make sure it truly reflects your own voice, experiences, and personality.
If you are currently a Jisc employee, please apply through your Dayforce Employee profile.
We have a thorough background screening process that verifies the details you share with us in your CV and your application. Any inaccurate information supplied during the application stages can lead to a job offer being withdrawn.
Sponsorship:
Jisc has an active sponsor licence to recruit on a Skilled worker visa basis. Candidates wishing to apply who require sponsorship should determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the role by assessing their circumstances against the relevant Home Office criteria. Jisc does not offer any financial re-imbursement towards the applicant costs, such as re-location, skilled worker visa and dependant costs or the immigration health charge.
No Agencies
Apply Now
Job Title: Penetration Tester - Security
Salary: c£50,000 per annum (negotiable based on experience) + comprehensive benefits package
Jisc grade: TCY3
Job Type: 12-month FTC/Secondment
Hours: 35 hours per week
Reports into: Senior Penetration Tester
Working style: Remote: Predominantly remote working, and regular travel is required to Jisc offices and/or customers. Meeting in person is something we value so you may need to travel on occasion to our hub offices.
About Jisc:
For 30 years Jisc has pioneered digital solutions for UK education and research, transforming how knowledge is created, shared and used.
We are uniquely positioned to protect, promote and lead the sector in digital and data transformation, making a difference to students, communities and society. Together, we are
working to build a better digital future for education and research.
Raise your potential at Jisc through our culture of lifelong learning. At Jisc, we're all about growth, so embrace new challenges, sharpen your skills and shape a career that excites you.
About the Team
This role is in the Penetration Testing Team, which sits within the arm of the organisation providing cyber security services, ensuring that our capabilities and expertise are applied cost-effectively and imaginatively. This provides a high-quality facility to protect the JANET network from intrusion, denial of service and all other service-impacting potential threats and attacks. Our work areas include network operations, security, trust and identity, cloud and brokerage services, data centres and co-location, video services and e-infrastructure.
The role:
Help safeguard the JANET network and the UK education sector from cyber threats. As part of our cutting-edge cyber security division, you’ll work with state-of-the-art tools, leading vendors, and a dedicated SOC and CSIRT team. We deliver penetration testing, operational security assessments, and Cyber Essentials consultancy to universities, colleges, and learning providers.
If you’re passionate about protecting critical infrastructure and driving innovative security solutions, this is your opportunity to make an impact.
What you’ll be doing:
Provide security guidance and best practices
Deliver clear briefings to technical and non-technical audiences
Support incident response and advise on threats
Contribute to workshops, conferences, and educational materials
Collaborate with a UK-based team of specialists
Maintain and develop your skills while sharing knowledge
What we are looking for:
An innovative thinker with a creative approach to problem-solving
A collaborative team player who thrives in a supportive environment
Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to find solutions under pressure
Strong time management skills to meet deadlines effectively
Excellent technical communication skills to simplify complex ideas
Don’t meet every single requirement?
We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they think they can’t tick every box, so we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet 100% of the requirements, but if you feel this role is perfect for you. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles!
Remote: Predominantly remote working, and regular travel is required to Jisc offices and/or customers. Meeting in person is something we value so you may need to travel on occasion to our hub offices.
Qualifications & training
Nice to have
We do not mandate specific qualifications, but the following qualifications are among those that would be desirable to demonstrate a candidate's experience and capability:
Educated to degree level OR equivalent relevant demonstrable experience
Cyber Scheme Team Member, Leader
Tiger Scheme Qualified Security Team Member, Leader
CPSA - CREST Practitioner Security Analyst
CRT - CREST Registered Tester
OSCP - Offensive Security Certified Professional
CAST - Certified Application Security Tester
LPT - Licensed Penetration Tester (Master)
Why work for us?
At Jisc, every role is meaningful, and every individual is valued. We foster a culture of continuous learning and personal growth, offering opportunities to develop new skills and make a real impact in education and research. With a strong focus on work-life balance, we embrace flexible working that prioritises outcomes over hours, empowering you to create a rhythm that energises both your professional and personal life.
Our Guiding Principles:
Jisc’s culture is powered by our four guiding principles: putting customers first, driving innovation, creating impact, and championing inclusive collaboration to deliver sustainable outcomes and shape a better future.
Discover the amazing benefits we provide! Here’s what you can look forward to:
Flexible work pattern, which can adapt to suit your schedules and personal commitments
31 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) that includes three closure days over Christmas
Buy up to an additional 5 days leave during the flexible benefits window
Generous flexible pension schemes
A range of wellbeing lifestyle benefits including company paid health care cash plan, mental health first aiders and support
A company culture of continuous learning with access to thousands of LinkedIn Learning courses, and lots of resources and opportunities to support your development
Allocated allowance of up to £250 to equip your home office
Financial well-being support including access to preferential loan and savings plans, mortgage advice, will writing tools and support and resources to help you make the most of your money
A wide range of discounts and cashback from retailers and big-name high-street stores
Family friendly policies including enhanced parental, maternity and paternity and co-parental leave as well as opportunity for career breaks
Support your volunteering with up to 3 days volunteer leave
Equity, diversity and inclusion:
Jisc believe our people make all the difference in cultivating an inclusive culture that welcomes ideas, encourages innovation, and values belonging.
We work hard to create an equitable experience for our candidates and workforce which embraces all aspects of their identity including race and ethnicity, religion and belief, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, trans identities, age, class, disability, neurodivergence, or veteran status.
Application process:
Please let us know how we can best accommodate you throughout the recruitment process. We’re committed to making our process accessible and comfortable for everyone - just tell us what works best for you.
Just so you know, we review CVs as soon as we can and aim to provide an update on your application within 4 weeks of receiving it. However, you may hear from us a lot sooner, so please keep an eye out for our emails or calls!
We’re really looking forward to getting to know the real you. While we encourage the use of AI tools to help you get started on your CV or cover letter, we encourage you to review your application before submitting. Make sure it truly reflects your own voice, experiences, and personality.
If you are currently a Jisc employee, please apply through your Dayforce Employee profile.
We have a thorough background screening process that verifies the details you share with us in your CV and your application. Any inaccurate information supplied during the application stages can lead to a job offer being withdrawn.
Sponsorship:
Jisc has an active sponsor licence to recruit on a Skilled worker visa basis. Candidates wishing to apply who require sponsorship should determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the role by assessing their circumstances against the relevant Home Office criteria. Jisc does not offer any financial re-imbursement towards the applicant costs, such as re-location, skilled worker visa and dependant costs or the immigration health charge.
No Agencies
Apply Now