Head of Cybersecurity
We are looking for an exceptional Head of Cyber Defence to build and lead our security function.
This is not a role for someone seeking a mature environment with established processes and large teams. We're looking for someone who is excited by the challenge of creating a cyber defence capability from scratch, defining strategy, implementing best practices, and building a resilient security culture across the organisation.
As one of the first senior leaders in the company, you will have direct access to the founders and play a critical role in protecting our intellectual property, trading infrastructure, cloud environments, and future growth.
You will combine strategic leadership with hands-on technical expertise and be equally comfortable discussing threat modelling with engineers as presenting risk priorities to investors and the executive team.
Responsibilities
Cyber Security Strategy & Leadership
- Define and execute the company's cyber defence strategy.
- Establish the security roadmap aligned with company growth objectives.
- Build security processes, policies, and governance frameworks from the ground up.
- Act as the principal security advisor to the Founder, Board, and leadership team.
- Foster a security-first culture across the business.
Security Engineering & Architecture
- Design and implement secure-by-design principles across all platforms and systems.
- Secure cloud infrastructure, trading systems, and software development pipelines.
- Lead security architecture reviews and threat modelling exercises.
- Establish vulnerability management and remediation programmes.
- Ensure security is embedded throughout the software development lifecycle.
Threat Detection & Incident Response
- Develop and mature detection and response capabilities.
- Build incident response playbooks and crisis management procedures.
- Lead investigations and coordinate responses to security incidents.
- Implement monitoring, logging, and threat intelligence capabilities.
- Conduct regular security assessments, penetration tests, and red-team exercises.
Risk & Compliance
- Build a practical and scalable security governance framework.
- Manage third-party security assessments and vendor risk.
- Support future regulatory, client, and investor security requirements.
- Establish business continuity and disaster recovery plans.
Team Building
- Hire and develop the future cyber security team.
- Define the long-term operating model for security within the organisation.
- Partner closely with Engineering, Infrastructure, and Product teams.
What We're Looking For
Experience
- Significant experience leading cyber security, cyber defence, or security engineering functions.
- Background within technology-driven environments such as:
- Trading firms
- FinTech
- SaaS companies
- High-growth venture-backed businesses
- Financial services technology organisations
- Proven experience building security capabilities from an early stage or transforming immature environments.
- Strong understanding of cloud security, modern software architectures, and secure development practices.
- Experience handling security incidents and leading response activities.
Technical Expertise
- Cloud security
- Detection & Response (EDR/XDR)
- SIEM platforms
- Identity & Access Management
- Network Security
- Application Security
- DevSecOps
- Threat Intelligence
- Vulnerability Management
- Zero Trust Architecture
- Security Automation
Mindset
This is the most important requirement. We're looking for someone who:
- Wants to build something genuinely meaningful.
- Is excited by ambiguity rather than discouraged by it.
- Doesn't need large teams or established structures to be effective.
- Has a founder mentality and thinks like an owner.
- Is ambitious and driven by impact, not hierarchy.
- Enjoys solving difficult problems that others avoid.
- Can balance risk management with business growth.
- Wants to leave their fingerprint on the future of the company.
Why Join?
This is a rare opportunity to join a business at the beginning of its journey.
You'll have the chance to influence strategy, work directly with the founders, shape the company's security posture from day one, and play a critical role in protecting technology that has the potential to transform the industry.
If you're the kind of person who wants responsibility, autonomy, and the opportunity to build something exceptional rather than simply maintain what already exists, we'd love to hear from you.
Please note that the company is currently operating in launch mode, therefore detailed information regarding the business will be shared during the interview process with the CEO
