Senior Application Security Specialist

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.

About Old Mutual

• Let's Write Africa's Story Together!
• Old Mutual is a firm believer in the African opportunity and our diverse talent reflects this.

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.
• 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.
• DAST and API security testing, scoping and coordinating penetration tests with external providers, and retesting fixed findings to closure.
• Security assessments of applications the business buys, SaaS configuration reviews, and the security requirements written into contracts with Procurement and Legal.
• -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.
• 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.
• 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.

Requirements

• SSO and MFA integration standards, API authentication standards, and web application firewall rules.
• 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.
• 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.
• APIs, microservices, SaaS integrations and AI services.
• 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

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.
• 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.

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