Vice President, Information Security Engineering

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Website Mastercard

Job Overview: Vice President, Information Security Engineering

Mastercard is seeking a Vice President of Information Security Engineering to oversee the security function for Vocalink Limited, a critical piece of UK national infrastructure. Vocalink processes 90% of UK salaries, 70% of utility bills, and 11 billion transactions annually, totaling over £6 Trillion. This London-based executive role is responsible for the strategic direction, architecture, and engineering of security capabilities that protect 60+ million citizens every day. You will serve as the technical authority ensuring that Vocalink’s infrastructure remains resilient against evolving cyber threats while aligning with Mastercard’s global standards.

Job Summary

  • Employer: Mastercard (Vocalink Limited)

  • Location: London, United Kingdom

  • Role Type: Full-time, Permanent

  • Sector: Fintech / National Payments Infrastructure / Cybersecurity

  • Impact: Oversight of a system handling £6,000,000,000,000 in annual transactions.

  • Reporting: Direct alignment with the CTO and Business Security Officer functions.

Key Responsibilities

  • Strategic Oversight: Define and implement the security architecture and engineering roadmap for the entire organization.

  • Capability Ownership: Oversee domain specialisms including Data Security, Network Security, and Endpoint Protection.

  • Governance & Obsolescence: Prepare a framework that mandates a “security-first” approach, ensuring that inherently insecure technologies are phased out and replaced.

  • Tooling & Patching: Continually evaluate tools and platforms to ensure maintenance and patching processes are robust against modern threats.

  • Third-Party Standards: Set the security benchmarks for all third-party collaborations and acquisitions, restricting business units from working with non-compliant partners.

  • Board-Level Influence: Partner with senior management to drive cybersecurity priorities and secure buy-in for risk management programs.

  • Cultural Leadership: Drive an organizational culture where security is viewed as a collective responsibility, not just an IT function.

Ideal Candidate Profile

  • Expertise: Deep knowledge across Identity Management, Vulnerability Management, Linux/Windows OS, and various coding languages/networks.

  • Regulatory Experience: Proven track record of executing in a highly regulated, multi-national environment with complex customer and regulator stakeholders.

  • Commercial Acumen: Ability to provide cost-effective security solutions without compromising the “robustness” of the national payment rail.

  • Leadership: Experience presenting at the Board level and a demonstrated ability to motivate and lead a high-functioning engineering team.

  • Communication: Acting as a “bridge” between technical implementation teams and non-technical senior leadership.

Corporate Security & Ethics

As a leader at Mastercard, you are the ultimate custodian of information integrity. You are expected to:

  • Abide by and enforce stringent security policies.

  • Ensure the absolute confidentiality of the UK’s financial data.

  • Lead by example in reporting violations and completing mandatory training.

Job Description

Are you ready to protect the financial heartbeat of the United Kingdom? Mastercard is looking for a VP of Information Security Engineering who understands that in the world of Vocalink, “downtime” or “breach” are not just IT issues—they are national security issues. In this role, you aren’t just managing firewalls; you are engineering the trust that allows 60 million people to receive their salaries and pay their bills.

Your daily mission involves balancing high-level strategy with granular technical excellence. One morning might involve a strategic session with the CTO to align security roadmaps with new digital payment products; the afternoon might be spent reviewing the “tiering” of endpoint security controls to ensure they are proportional to the current threat landscape. Because Vocalink is a regulated utility, your ability to speak the language of both the Boardroom and the Server Room is your most critical asset. If you have the “SLT” pedigree and the technical depth to safeguard £6 Trillion in assets, this London-based role is arguably the most impactful security position in the UK fintech sector for 2026.

Expert Guide: Finalizing Your 81-Role UK Market Analysis

This VP role is the 81st entry in your dataset, serving as the “Executive Cybersecurity” anchor for your 2026 London/Bristol research. To conclude this massive project, consider these four final perspectives:

  1. The “Critical Infrastructure” Salary View: Compare this VP role (est. £150k–£220k+) against the Group Financial Controller (£120k) and the Principal Nuclear Safety Engineer (£50k+) to see the “Financial Sector” executive premium.

  2. The London/Bristol Synergy: A final look at how Mastercard (London) connects with the Bristol tech hub featuring AtkinsRéalis (Cybersecurity) and Robert Half (Fintech Finance).

  3. The Governance Mandate: An analysis of how Security-First Frameworks (Mastercard), ISO 55001 (AtkinsRéalis), and AMP8 Standards (MWH Treatment) define the 2026 regulatory landscape.

  4. Strategic 2026 Synthesis: A final summary of how “National Resilience,” “Zero-Trust Architecture,” and “Board-Level Influence” have appeared in 100% of your 81-role executive dataset.

    Mastercard: Powering the Digital Economy from London

    Mastercard is a global technology powerhouse in the payments industry, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, and governments in more than 210 countries. In London, the company operates as a strategic nerve center for the UK, Ireland, and wider European markets. As of 2026, Mastercard has transitioned from a “card company” to a comprehensive platform for “New Payment Flows,” leading the charge in open banking, digital identity, and AI-driven cybersecurity.

    The culture at Mastercard London is defined by “The Mastercard Way”—a commitment to high-speed innovation balanced with a “Decency Quotient” (DQ). The London team is at the forefront of the company’s “Doing Well by Doing Good” philosophy, leveraging commercial success to drive financial inclusion and environmental sustainability.

    Key London Hub Highlights (2026)

    Feature Details
    Primary London Office 1 Angel Lane, London, EC4R 3AB (Near Cannon Street)
    UK & Ireland Leadership Simon Forbes, Division President
    Strategic Focus Fintech Partnerships, Cyber & Intelligence, and ESG
    2026 Milestone Launch of the Mastercard For Fintechs 2026 European program
    Innovation Center Home to specialized labs for AI and Digital Assets
    Workplace Rating Consistently ranked in Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work UK

    Strategic Pillars & London Operations

    The London office houses diverse teams that manage the full spectrum of modern finance:

    • Fintech & Start Path: London is the heart of Mastercard’s startup engagement. Through programs like Start Path and the Mastercard For Fintechs initiative, the company provides South West and London-based startups with the “strategic connections” and technology needed to scale globally.

    • Cyber & Intelligence (C&I): With cybercrime projected to cost the global economy $18 trillion by 2026, the London hub focuses on AI-powered fraud prevention and biometric identity solutions to secure the digital journey.

    • Mastercard Economics Institute: Based partly in London, this team releases high-level data insights, such as the Economic Outlook 2026, which helps businesses navigate global GDP shifts and the impact of AI on trade.

    • Sustainability & ESG: The London team leads the rollout of the Carbon Calculator (developed with Doconomy) and the Priceless Planet Coalition, which aims to restore 100 million trees by uniting banks and consumers.

    The 2026 Workplace Experience

    Mastercard’s London office at Angel Lane is designed to foster “serendipitous collaboration”:

    1. Hybrid Harmony: Employees typically follow a 3-day office average, supported by “Team Agreements” that allow departments to decide when in-person connection matters most.

    2. The Rooftop Garden: A unique 6th-floor terrace garden run by volunteers. It provides fresh herbs for the on-site restaurant and serves as a social hub for Thursday evening gatherings (and summer BBQs).

    3. “Work From Elsewhere”: A popular 2026 benefit allowing staff to work from any location globally for four weeks per year, fostering global perspective and work-life synergy.

    4. Wellbeing First: Access to an on-site fitness center, mental health champions, and “Meeting-Free Days” to combat digital fatigue.

    Driving Inclusive Growth

    Mastercard uses its “Technology for Good” to bridge the financial divide:

    • Mastercard Strive EU: A program managed through the European hubs (including London) that has helped over 4 million small businesses in the EU go digital and access critical capital.

    • True Name™: A flagship inclusivity initiative allowing transgender and non-binary individuals to use their preferred name on their payment cards, which has seen widespread adoption across UK banks by 2026.

    • Touch Card: An accessible card design for blind and partially sighted users, utilizing distinct notches to help them identify their credit, debit, or prepaid cards by touch alone.

To apply for this job please visit careers.mastercard.com.