How we work with recruiters
Recruiters should read and digest this page in full before contacting us. Please get in touch if you are happy to work in the way that we describe.
We value our relationships with recruitment agencies, and we actively nurture those that are genuinely collaborative and rooted in mutual trust, integrity, and candor.
For software engineering roles, we accept applications via any agency. We do not enter into exclusive or preferred supplier relationships. We are
always hiring for exceptional Java and .NET developers with any level of experience. All opportunities are permanent positions.
For non-engineering roles, we work exclusively with selected agencies. If you would like to be considered for future opportunities, please email us.
We pay market-beating 23% commission. We always operate on our standard terms.
What we expect from recruiters
We never compromise on the quality of our people. They have to be the best at what they do and a good fit for our culture.
To find the right candidates for us, you must understand PortSwigger and our requirements. We are not a typical company. You will only have a successful relationship with us if you take the
time to get your head around how we work and what we are looking for. Please read every word on this page to find out more.
We are interested in exceptional candidates only.
We need the candidate's full educational record including degree and A-levels (or equivalent), both subjects and grades. We recognize that academics aren't everything, particularly for more
experienced candidates. But they do help us to get a well-rounded view of candidates.
We need the candidate's email address and mobile number. We will communicate directly with the candidate throughout the process. Alignment with our culture is essential, and it is only through
direct engagement that we can explain this to candidates. We will always keep you in the loop.
Please submit applications via email.
We have standard terms for working with recruitment agencies. If you would like to work with us, you must accept these.
What recruiters can expect from us
We will communicate directly with candidates. We will sell the opportunity, manage candidate expectations, and answer any questions that they have. We will copy you in to email communications and
always keep you in the loop on the candidate's progress.
We behave with openness and integrity. If you refer a candidate with whom we have an existing dialogue, we will let you know promptly. Otherwise, you own the referral, and you will be paid commission
if the candidate is successful.
We make fast decisions. We will progress candidates through interview stages as rapidly as possible. We will provide you with open and fast feedback throughout the process.
We make generous offers to successful candidates. Since we only hire the very best people, we expect to pay above normal market levels. You are unlikely to lose a placement due to a superior offer
from elsewhere.
We perform proactive preboarding of successful candidates in the period between offer acceptance and start date. You are unlikely to lose a placement due to a candidate becoming disengaged before joining.
We operate on our standard terms for working with recruitment agencies and will pay our market-beating 23% commission.
What recruiters need to know about PortSwigger
We are different than other employers you have worked with.
We are fiercely protective of our culture. We closely scrutinize all candidates for alignment with our beliefs, values, and motivations.
Due to the emphasis we place on both our company culture, and our highly collaborative ways of working, all of our roles are entirely office based.
We set an exceptionally high bar in our recruitment. We look for strong expertise or aptitude in the role, but also for numerous other attributes as well. It can be hard for outsiders to understand precisely
what we are looking for. If you work with us successfully, then over time you will gain a better understanding of what we look for.
We reward generously, but we don't have fixed salary bands.
Please read all of the links below to understand more about PortSwigger. If you still have questions, or just want to talk in more detail about how you can help us find the best candidates, please do get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
How many software engineering/developer roles are you recruiting for?
As a growing business with an extremely high talent bar, we recruit on a continuous basis. If the right candidate comes along, we'll always look to find or create the right position for them.
Will you expedite your recruitment process?
We understand that highly talented developers are in demand and are happy to match the pace of our process to the candidate's preferences, even if that means arranging interviews on consecutive days.
We believe that every stage of our process is crucial to ensuring we maintain our high talent bar and give candidates ample opportunity to explore whether we're the right match for them. This does
mean that we expect candidates to go through each stage of our process. We hope that the right candidates for us are happy and reassured that we invest so heavily in our recruitment practices.
What salary range do you offer?
Other than for graduate positions, we don't ever have a fixed salary range for an opportunity. In general, we will select the right person for an opportunity, and then consider what they are worth to
us. This is always determined individually based on the candidate's capabilities.
Do you offer remote working?
Due to our highly collaborative ways of working, our roles are entirely office based. You can find more information on our fantastic new offices here.
How many years of experience are you looking for?
In general, we do not fixate on years of experience. We are far more interested in someone's aptitude and potential than how long they have been working.
For software engineering roles, we hire people with 20+ years of experience, and straight out of university, and everything in between. For non-engineering
roles, we will discuss specific requirements with individual agencies.
How much of a priority are academic achievements?
We recognize that academics aren't everything, particularly for more experienced candidates, but they help us to get a well-rounded view of individuals. For graduates, we may focus more on academics as
they are unlikely to have a level of professional experience that would indicate their skills.
Please visit our application process page if you would like further information.
How do I submit candidates?
Please submit applications via email.
Can I handle all of the communication with my candidate?
Sorry, it is essential that we communicate directly with candidates. Since our culture, ways of working, and requirements are so different than anywhere else, we
have found that only unmediated communication can be fully effective.
We will always behave in an ethical manner and we have no interest in cutting agencies out of a deal. We only want to reach and hire the very best candidates. It
is far more likely that candidates, and therefore agencies, will be successful if we are in direct communication.
How can I get feedback on my candidates?
We strive to foster a strong feedback climate for all our PortSwigger people and potential candidates alike. We believe that providing written feedback on each candidate enables recruiters to refine
their search in future, and provide us with even more suitable candidates.
Can I negotiate my own terms of business?
Sorry, our terms are not negotiable.
How can I get in touch with your hiring team?
Please email careers@portswigger.net and someone from our hiring team will be in touch. We are a small talent team that collaborates with a large
number of agencies, so sending any questions you have for us via email is the fastest way to get a response.
We also run periodic recruitment workshops for agencies who would like to engage in discussions with members of our hiring team. If you'd like to attend the next workshop, please let us know on
careers@portswigger.net.
