Lead II, Penetration Test/Incident Response Engineer

About the Role:

Grade Level (for internal use):

12

The Team:

S&P Ratings Security team focuses on protecting our clients and users from all aspects of modern-day security threats. The mission of our team is to safeguard systems and data by developing innovative solutions for the biggest security challenges. We are passionate problem solvers with deep security expertise.  

Responsibilities and Impact: We are seeking a lead security engineer with expertise in penetration testing, incident response, and forensics. The role focuses on penetration testing, with secondary duties in incident response. The candidate will conduct penetration tests, vulnerability scanning, threat assessments, attack simulations, and red/purple team assessments for S&P Ratings Applications and Services. Strong offensive security skills combined with experience in incident response and threat intelligence are key to identifying vulnerabilities and developing mitigation strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Penetration Testing & Vulnerability Assessments: Test web apps, infrastructure, and cloud environments for vulnerabilities using manual and automated techniques. Develop custom tools and scripts to improve testing in CI/CD pipelines.
• Vulnerability Management & Remediation: Work with teams to analyze vulnerabilities, create remediation plans, and enhance security in development and production using DAST, SAST, and SCA tools.
• Incident Response & Threat Intelligence: Support the Cyber Incident Response Plan (CIRP), assist in incident detection, containment, and analysis, and use MITRE ATT&CK to track and counter threats.
• Attack Simulations & Research: Lead attack simulations, research new attack vectors, and design threat assessments based on intelligence feeds and external analysis.
• Security Communication & Reporting: Present findings and remediation steps to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

What We’re Looking For: Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in computer science, Information Systems, or related field.
• 8+ years in security engineering, focusing on penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, and incident response.
• Proficiency with penetration testing tools (e.g., Burp Suite, Nessus, Metasploit, Nmap).
• Expertise in identifying and exploiting web app and infrastructure vulnerabilities (CVE, CVSS, CWE).
• Familiarity with secure software development lifecycle and secure coding.
• Strong scripting skills in Python, GoLang, PowerShell, or JavaScript.
• Experience with Java application technologies and security practices.
• Experience in Seurity Assessments: DAST, SAST, SCA, and CI/CD security testing tools.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced understanding of MITRE ATT&CK and its application in penetration testing and incident response.
• Experience with cloud security (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Familiarity with regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).
• Relevant certifications (e.g., OSCP, OSCE, GIAC).
• Experience in incident response, forensic analysis, and cyber threat intelligence.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Compensation/Benefits Information (US Applicants Only):

S&P Global states that the anticipated base salary range for this position is $130,000 - $230,000. Final base salary for this role will be based on the individual’s geographic location, as well as experience level, skill set, training, licenses, and certifications.

In addition to base compensation, this role is eligible for an annual incentive plan.  This role is eligible to receive additional S&P Global benefits. For more information on the benefits that we provide to our employees, please click here.

Right to Work Requirements:

This role is limited to persons with indefinite right to work in the United States.

Return to Work:

Have you taken time out for caring responsibilities and are now looking to return to work? As part of our Return to Work initiative, Restart, we are encouraging enthusiastic and talented returners to apply, and will actively support your return to the workplace.

About S&P Global Ratings
At S&P Global Ratings, our analyst-driven credit ratings, research, and sustainable finance opinions provide critical insights that are essential to translating complexity into clarity so market participants can uncover opportunities and make decisions with conviction. By bringing transparency to the market through high-quality independent opinions on creditworthiness, we enable growth across a wide variety of organizations, including businesses, governments, and institutions.

S&P Global Ratings is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI).  S&P Global is the world’s foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help many of the world’s leading organizations navigate the economic landscape so they can plan for tomorrow, today.

For more information, visit www.spglobal.com/ratings

What’s In It For You?

Our Purpose:

Progress is not a self-starter. It requires a catalyst to be set in motion. Information, imagination, people, technology–the right combination can unlock possibility and change the world.

Our world is in transition and getting more complex by the day. We push past expected observations and seek out new levels of understanding so that we can help companies, governments and individuals make an impact on tomorrow. At S&P Global we transform data into Essential Intelligence®, pinpointing risks and opening possibilities. We Accelerate Progress.

Our People:

We're more than 35,000 strong worldwide—so we're able to understand nuances while having a broad perspective. Our team is driven by curiosity and a shared belief that Essential Intelligence can help build a more prosperous future for us all.

From finding new ways to measure sustainability to analyzing energy transition across the supply chain to building workflow solutions that make it easy to tap into insight and apply it. We are changing the way people see things and empowering them to make an impact on the world we live in. We’re committed to a more equitable future and to helping our customers find new, sustainable ways of doing business. We’re constantly seeking new solutions that have progress in mind. Join us and help create the critical insights that truly make a difference.

Our Values:
 

Integrity, Discovery, Partnership

At S&P Global, we focus on Powering Global Markets. Throughout our history, the world's leading organizations have relied on us for the Essential Intelligence they need to make confident decisions about the road ahead. We start with a foundation of integrity in all we do, bring a spirit of discovery to our work, and collaborate in close partnership with each other and our customers to achieve shared goals.

Benefits:

We take care of you, so you can take care of business. We care about our people. That’s why we provide everything you—and your career—need to thrive at S&P Global.

Our benefits include: 

• Health & Wellness: Health care coverage designed for the mind and body.

• Flexible Downtime: Generous time off helps keep you energized for your time on.

• Continuous Learning: Access a wealth of resources to grow your career and learn valuable new skills.

• Invest in Your Future: Secure your financial future through competitive pay, retirement planning, a continuing education program with a company-matched student loan contribution, and financial wellness programs.

• Family Friendly Perks: It’s not just about you. S&P Global has perks for your partners and little ones, too, with some best-in class benefits for families.

• Beyond the Basics: From retail discounts to referral incentive awards—small perks can make a big difference.

For more information on benefits by country visit: https://spgbenefits.com/benefit-summaries

Inclusive Hiring and Opportunity at S&P Global:

At S&P Global, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where all individuals have access to opportunities based on their skills, experience, and contributions. Our hiring practices emphasize fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity, ensuring that we attract and retain top talent. By valuing different perspectives and promoting a culture of respect and collaboration, we drive innovation and power global markets.

S&P Global has a Securities Disclosure and Trading Policy (“the Policy”) that seeks to mitigate conflicts of interest by monitoring and placing restrictions on personal securities holding and trading. The Policy is designed to promote compliance with global regulations. In some Divisions, pursuant to the Policy’s requirements, candidates at S&P Global may be asked to disclose securities holdings. Some roles may include a trading prohibition and remediation of positions when there is an effective or potential conflict of interest. Employment at S&P Global is contingent upon compliance with the Policy.  

-----------------------------------------------------------

Equal Opportunity Employer

S&P Global is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, military veteran status, unemployment status, or any other status protected by law.  Only electronic job submissions will be considered for employment.  

 

If you need an accommodation during the application process due to a disability, please send an email to: EEO.Compliance@spglobal.com and your request will be forwarded to the appropriate person.  
 
US Candidates Only:  The EEO is the Law Poster http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf describes discrimination protections under federal law.  Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision - https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/pdf/pay-transp_%20English_formattedESQA508c.pdf

-----------------------------------------------------------

20 - Professional (EEO-2 Job Categories-United States of America), IFTECH202.2 - Middle Professional Tier II (EEO Job Group), SWP Priority – Ratings - (Strategic Workforce Planning)