Agency Partners

Security Developer Hiring Trends in United Kingdom

This report was last updated on Jul 13, 2025

Bence Gedai / Founder

Bence Gedai

Founder

I analyze live hiring data and tech job trends across Europe to give CTOs and Product Leaders a strategic edge. By tracking tens of thousands of open roles each week, I uncover which skills, roles, and locations are in highest demand — potential competitors, typical time to hire, talent pool sizes, and more to help you prioritize hiring, benchmark and stay competitive in a fast-moving market.

Key learnings from this report

  • The Security Engineers job market in the United Kingdom is currently marked by significant fluctuations in hiring activity, with over 126 positions opened in the peak week, indicating robust demand despite concurrent job closures.
  • Top hiring companies for Security Engineers include Marlowe Fire & Security Group Recruitment, Amazon, and e-Careers, reinforcing the competitive landscape within the market.
  • With London accounting for 89% of job openings, hiring managers should prioritize this city to attract top-tier Security Engineer talent, followed by Manchester and Glasgow.
  • The talent pool size for Security Engineers is relatively constrained, leading to increased competition among hiring managers; this trend necessitates agile recruitment strategies for effective talent acquisition.
  • The median time to hire for Security Engineers in the United Kingdom stands at 31 days, urging CTOs and recruitment strategists to streamline their processes to secure qualified candidates swiftly.
Number of roles opened and closed for Security Engineers in United Kingdom in the last 3 months

Number of roles opened and closed for Security Engineers in United Kingdom in the last 3 months

Over the past 12 weeks, the Security Engineers job market in the United Kingdom has shown significant fluctuations in hiring activity, with notable peaks in job openings. The highest recorded week was Week 19, with 126 new positions posted. In contrast, job closures also surged, particularly in Weeks 24 to 27, culminating in 118 job closures in the final week. This trend indicates a growing demand for Security Developers despite the competitive landscape, compared to other roles in the UK, where job closure numbers have been generally lower. As hiring managers, CTOs, and recruitment strategists assess these dynamics, it is crucial to implement agile recruitment strategies to attract top talent within this evolving market.

Who else is hiring for security Engineers in United Kingdom:

Company name Country Industry Founded # Job openings
Marlowe Fire & Security Group Recruitment logo Marlowe Fire & Security Group Recruitment null null null 24
Amazon logo Amazon United States Information Technology & Services 1994 9
e-Careers logo e-Careers null null null 9
Clymac Ltd logo Clymac Ltd United Kingdom Government Administration 1992 8
Meta logo Meta United States Information Technology & Services 2004 8
UK Ministry of Defence logo UK Ministry of Defence null null null 8
Tide logo Tide United Kingdom Financial Services 2015 5
targetjobs UK logo targetjobs UK null null null 5
G4S logo G4S United Kingdom Security & Investigations 1901 4
Lawrence Harvey logo Lawrence Harvey United Kingdom Staffing & Recruiting 2002 4

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Talent pool vs job openings for Security Engineers in United Kingdom

How competitive it is to hire Security Engineers in United Kingdom

The Security Engineers job market trends in the United Kingdom exhibit a challenging environment for hiring managers, given the current landscape of job openings and talent availability. With a ratio of jobs to talent pool that suggests difficulty, recruiters in the UK may face considerable competition for qualified candidates. In comparison, countries such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands present better hiring conditions, showcasing a more favorable jobs-to-talent ratio. As the future demand for Security Engineers continues to grow across Europe, understanding these dynamics is crucial for CTOs and Engineering Managers looking to implement effective recruitment strategies within the UK’s tech sector.

Seniority distribution of Security Engineer job openings in United Kingdom

Seniority Distribution of Security Engineering Jobs in United Kingdom

The seniority distribution of Security Engineering jobs in the United Kingdom reveals significant trends. Currently, 47% of positions are attributed to Mid-Senior level roles, while Entry level roles comprise 20% and Associate roles account for 14%. This distribution not only highlights the prominence of experienced Security Engineers in the job market but also indicates a foundational layer of entry-level talent essential for future growth.

Chart about preferred employment type for Engineering roles in United Kingdom

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the employment type distribution for engineering roles shows a strong preference for Full-time positions, which account for 91% of available roles. Contract positions follow, comprising 8% of the market, while Part-time roles represent just 3%. This data highlights the significant demand for Security Engineers within the predominantly Full-time job market.

Time to Hire Distribution for Security in United Kingdom

How long does it take to hire Security Engineers

The time to hire for Security Engineer positions in the United Kingdom presents a diverse landscape, with notable concentrations at various intervals. The majority of candidates are secured within the 25 to 60-day range, where hiring managers see 119 placements at 25 days and 223 at 30 days. This indicates a potential average hiring window of around 30 days, suggesting that swift recruitment strategies may be beneficial. However, companies should also prepare for longer hiring periods, as 15 days shows substantial activity with 100 counts and 40 days reaching 48 counts, reflecting a competitive landscape for Security Developer opportunities. Understanding these trends is crucial for CTOs and hiring managers in adapting their recruitment strategies in the UK tech sector.

Most popular cities in United Kingdom to hire Security Engineers

Top 5 cities in United Kingdom to hire Security Engineers

The location distribution for Security Engineers job openings in the United Kingdom reveals that London dominates the market with 89% of the total vacancies, significantly outpacing other cities. Following London, Manchester accounts for 9% of the openings, while Glasgow represents 5%. This concentration underscores the capital's pivotal role in the security job market, as illustrated in the accompanying chart.

Most sought after technologies in United Kingdom for Security

Key technologies for Security Engineers

In the Security job market in the United Kingdom, several technologies emerge as critical to hiring strategies. The most prevalent technology is Cybersecurity, recorded with a frequency of 4924, indicating its paramount importance in today's digital landscape. Following closely, Compliance and Risk Management are vital, showcasing frequencies of 2502 and 2637, respectively, which reflect growing regulatory and risk management concerns within the sector. Incident Response is also a significant focus, with a frequency of 2305, highlighting its necessity in proactive security measures. For a complete overview of technology utilization in Security roles, please refer to the accompanying chart.

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