Stratsec to hire 130, eyes security brass
Stratsec is looking for 130 security professionals to fill local positions ranging from partner to research roles, and said it wants to poach the best in the business.
(Cashmoney image by
Martin Kingsley, CC2.0)
The security company has been handed $7 million by parent BAE Systems for the period to 2013 to hire experienced security professionals and develop new penetration and vulnerability testing products.
Stratsec head of delivery, Nick Ellsmore, said the company will need some 50 professionals this year, including partners and managers, to fill positions in its Sydney and Adelaide offices, as well as roles at new sites in Malaysia and Singapore. The company will then hire more to reach 130 new recruits by the following year.
Some 20 position are open now, and a further 20 to 30 will open by year's end. The company is seeking penetration testers, vulnerability and exploit researchers, and governance boffins for its Canberra office.
"There are some very, very good people in the market: we know who they are and we will be tapping them on the shoulder," Ellsmore said. "We want them to work with us."
Yet he admits fishing for the best talent will be a challenge and said he is prepared to generously bait his hooks.
"We are looking to get the best and brightest and we are aware that means we will need to provide a great place to work, interesting work, and rewards to suit," he said, adding that the company is seeking the market's top brass this year.
Ellsmore said staff will work on security projects with Australia's critical infrastructure operators, but he would not confirm whether the deals are government contracts with the Department of Defence and the Attorney-General's Department, which assist the nation's critical infrastructure organisations.
"The level of investment and the projects that we are doing are unlike anything any other company has. It's a challenge, it's interesting, and it's at a level that you typically don't see IT security companies reaching," he said.
Sydney-based Stratsec was acquired by BAE last year for $24 million. It reports to the local chapter of the British-based defence giant, but operates independently. Its critical infrastructure projects are carried out for customers of BAE, but are owned and driven by Stratsec, according to Ellsmore.
"We are the focal point for cybersecurity within this region for BAE and these projects are built with Stratsec," Ellsmore said.