Porsche Advertises for a Hacker Position, and the Job is in Tel Aviv

The digital division of the German sports car maker seeks a "Red Team" lead to identify and address cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the company’s systems, production lines, and cars.

 Porsche Digital Offices in Tel Aviv (photo credit: PORSCHE)
Porsche Digital Offices in Tel Aviv
(photo credit: PORSCHE)
This isn't your typical car manufacturer job posting: it’s not looking for engineers, nor does it require an academic degree. However, it does pertain to one of the most coveted car manufacturers in the world, and it’s right here in Tel Aviv.

Porsche Digital, the computing arm of the Stuttgart-based sports car maker, is responsible for the company's relations with start-ups, digital strategies, and improving the customer experience. It also deals with an increasingly important area in the automotive industry: cybersecurity.

The company, which also has a local branch in the Azrieli Sarona Tower in Tel Aviv, is looking for a "Red Team" lead, meaning a senior hacker to head a team of cybersecurity researchers and search for vulnerabilities in the company’s computers. This includes not only the company’s headquarters and production facilities but also the cars themselves, including the 911, Boxster, Macan, Cayenne, Taycan, and Panamera, aiming to identify and close these vulnerabilities early before they can be exploited.

Car manufacturers are concerned about the possibility of hackers remotely taking control of vehicles or stealing personal information, such as owners' details, credit card numbers, tracking them, and more.

Porsche requires at least five years of experience in leading a Red Team and expertise in hacking techniques. Proficiency in both Hebrew and English is required, with German language skills being an advantage.

"This is a key position in one of the most critical teams at Porsche, with broad responsibility and tremendous potential for impact," describes Porsche about the role. Don’t expect a Cayenne on leasing, but the salary you receive will likely enable you to purchase one quite quickly. Until then, you can steal some laps during visits to Porsche’s headquarters and main factory in Stuttgart, and if you hang a 917 poster in your office, no one will look at you strangely.