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Adversarial Emulation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Cyber Test Engineer

Rome, NY ยท On-site

$55K - $126K/yr

Experience with penetration testing or adversarial emulation * Experience with NIST 800-53 security controls * Knowledge of cyber threats and how to appropriately harden a system to prevent them

Acquisition Penetration Testing (APT) via Adversarial Assessments of DoW systems * Support exercise ... Familiarity with MITRE ATT&CK and adversary-emulation methodology. * Understanding of Windows and ...

$80 - $100/hr

Experience with penetration testing or adversarial emulation* Experience with NIST 800-53 security controls* Knowledge of cyber threats and how to appropriately harden a system to prevent them*

Cyber Test Engineer

Rome, NY ยท On-site

$80 - $100/hr

Experience with penetration testing or adversarial emulation * Experience with NIST 800-53 security controls * Knowledge of cyber threats and how to appropriately harden a system to prevent them

Cyber Test Engineer

Rome, NY ยท On-site +1

$55K - $126K/yr

Experience with penetration testing or adversarial emulation * Experience with NIST 800-53 security controls * Knowledge of cyber threats and how to appropriately harden a system to prevent them

Cyber Test Engineer

San Antonio, TX ยท On-site

$86K - $198K/yr

Experiencewith penetration testing or adversarial emulation * Experiencewith NIST 800-53 security controls * Knowledge ofcyber threats and how to appropriately harden a system to prevent them

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Adversarial Emulation information

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How much do adversarial emulation jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for adversarial emulation in the United States is $50.45, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $39.66 and $61.30 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is adversarial emulation?

Adversarial emulation is a cybersecurity practice in which security teams simulate real-world cyber attacks to test and improve an organization's defenses. By mimicking the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of actual threat actors, these exercises help identify vulnerabilities and gaps in security controls. Adversarial emulation often involves using frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK to guide realistic scenarios, ensuring organizations are better prepared against genuine threats.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in adversarial emulation, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Adversarial Emulation often encounter challenges such as staying current with rapidly evolving threat landscapes, accurately simulating sophisticated attacker behaviors, and maintaining clear communication with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Addressing these requires continuous learning through threat intelligence updates, leveraging automation tools for realistic attack simulations, and collaborating closely with blue teams to ensure findings are actionable. Building strong documentation and reporting skills also helps bridge gaps between different teams and ensures that emulation exercises lead to meaningful improvements in organizational security.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an adversarial emulation specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Adversarial Emulation Specialist, you need deep knowledge of cybersecurity, penetration testing methodologies, and threat actor tactics, often supported by degrees in computer science or cybersecurity and certifications like OSCP or CISSP. Expertise with technical tools such as Cobalt Strike, Metasploit, and various red teaming frameworks is commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and clear communication skills help you effectively simulate threats and report findings to stakeholders. These skills are crucial for accurately assessing organizational vulnerabilities and enhancing overall security posture.

What is the difference between Adversarial Emulation vs Penetration Tester?

AspectAdversarial EmulationPenetration Tester
CredentialsSecurity certifications, such as CISSP, CEHSecurity certifications, such as OSCP, CEH
Work EnvironmentSimulates real-world attack scenarios to test defensesConducts controlled security assessments to identify vulnerabilities
Industry UsageUsed in cybersecurity to evaluate security postureCommonly hired for security testing and vulnerability assessments

Adversarial Emulation and Penetration Testing both aim to identify security weaknesses. However, Adversarial Emulation focuses on mimicking sophisticated attacker behaviors to test defenses in a realistic manner, while Penetration Testing involves systematic vulnerability scans and exploits to find security flaws. Both roles require similar certifications and are integral to cybersecurity strategies, but their approaches and objectives differ slightly.

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Infographic showing various Adversarial Emulation job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 95% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $104,945 per year, or $50.5 per hour.

Red Team Adversary Emulation Tech Lead

Sentar

Quantico, VA โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

Sentar is proud to be an employee-owned company, fostering a culture of empowerment, collaboration, and innovation. Sentar is dedicated to developing the critical talent that the connected world demands to create solutions to address the convergence of cybersecurity, intelligence, analytics, and systems engineering. We invite you to join the team where you can build, innovate, and secure your career.
Sentar is seeking a Red Team Adversary Emulation Tech Lead in Quantico, VA!
We are seeking a highly skilled Red Team Adversary Emulation Tech Lead supporting Red Team Persistent Cyberspace Operations (PCO) to join one of only eleven Department of War (DoW) Red Teams certified by the National Security Agency (NSA) and accredited by United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM). This team is based out of Quantico, VA. This is a unique opportunity to work on advanced cyber operations, contributing directly to national security. You will be part of an elite team, leveraging state-of-the-art tools and methodologies to stay ahead of adversaries.
Schedule: Mon-Fri onsite at Quantico, VA. May likely include some travel.
Primary role will be to plan and conduct Red Team Persistent Cyberspace Operations (PCO) Adversary Emulation as a Tech Lead in this specific Red Team capability area. This includes conducting long-term persistence emulating an intel-driven Advanced Persistent Threat (APT).
This position may likely include supporting and conducting other roles within the Red Team, to include:
  • Both Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) vulnerability assessments
  • Acquisition Penetration Testing (APT) via Adversarial Assessments of DoW systems
  • Support exercise objectives and training goals as an Opposing Force Aggressor (OFA)
  • Assist in the instruction of the customer's Red Team Operations Course (RTOC)

Plan and execute no-notice and cooperative Red Team operations across enterprise, application, and cloud environments.
Identify and exploit network, host, and application-level vulnerabilities.
Develop and refine proof-of-concept exploits and techniques to test defensive measures.
Produce detailed technical findings and recommendations for remediation.
Collaborate with defensive and engineering teams to improve detection and response.
Continuously evolve team tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), documentation, and training materials to reflect emerging adversary behaviors.
Participate in after-action reviews and contribute to policy and playbook updates.
Prepare, update, document, and present course materials that cover TTPs.
Provide support required to maintain the customer's Cybersecurity Service Provider (CSSP) accreditation per the standards, including documentation and technical writing support as needed.
Clearance Level: TS/SCI eligibility
Certifications:
  • Possess and maintain a DoD 8570 IAT Level III certification: SecurityX (CASP+), CISSP, CCNP Security, CISA, GCED, GCIH, CCSP.
  • Possess and maintain a DoD 8570 CSSP Auditor certification: CySA+, CEH, CISA, GSNA, CFR, PenTest.
  • Possess and maintain one of the following certifications to meet DoD 8140 DCWF 541 Vulnerability Assessment Analyst certification requirements: CySA+, SecurityX (CASP+), CISM, CISA, CISSP, CFR, GPEN, GSNA.

Experience:
  • 5 years of relevant cybersecurity experience (e.g., Red Team, penetration testing, vulnerability research, security engineering, incident response, detection engineering, etc).
  • Familiarity with common offensive security tooling (Cobalt Strike, Metasploit, Kali Linux, Sliver, BloodHound, etc .).
  • Familiarity with MITRE ATT&CK and adversary-emulation methodology.
  • Understanding of Windows and Linux systems, networking fundamentals, and enterprise services (e.g., Active Directory).

Preferred Qualifications
Experience with any of the following:
  • AV/EDR evasion and detection-bypass techniques.
  • Custom tooling, payload or, command-and-control (C2) development.
  • Software development in C, C++, or a similar language.
  • Malware analysis and reverse engineering.
  • Cloud platforms and services (AWS, Azure, GCP).
  • Physical security assessments or red-team intrusion exercises.
  • Industrial control systems (ICS), Internet of Things (IoT) environments, and Facility-Related Control Systems (FRCS).

Offensive-security certifications such as OSCP, OSEP, OSCE, CRTO. CRTL, GXPN.
Once placed in this role, candidates must pass the customer's Red Team Operations Course (RTOC) at the Red Team Certified Professional (RTCP) level. Not meeting the minimum score to achieve RTCP level during the the first attempt in the RTOC may result in immediate removal from the team.
Benefits at Sentar:
Our unique ownership model attracts top talent, giving employees the freedom to take initiative and drive meaningful improvements. In addition to cultivating a thriving and inclusive work environment, Sentar offers an extensive benefits package designed to support the well-being of employees and their families. Employee ownership is the foundation of our culture, promoting participation, teamwork, and accountability while ensuring long-term financial security and a commitment to excellence.
  • Voluntary Medical, Dental, Vision, with Health Savings or Flexible Spending Plan options
  • Voluntary Life, Critical Illness, Accident, and Long Term Care insurance options
  • Group Term Life, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability is provided by Sentar to all qualifying employees
  • Generous 401(k) match
  • Competitive PTO plan that graduates quickly with years of service
  • Other leave programs; holiday schedule along with bereavement, maternity, jury and military duty
  • Mental health awareness programs
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Professional development reimbursement
  • Recognition and Awards programs

If you are not ready to apply for this position, submit your resume here to join our talent community . We'll keep you updated occasionally on new job opportunities.
Sentar is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Vets/Persons with Disabilities
Our culture is one of inclusivity and support. Sentar is proudly an Equal Opportunity and VEVRAA Federal Contractor Employer M/F/Vets/Persons with Disabilities. Follow these links to learn more about your rights: EEO Is the Law Poster ; EEO Is Law Supplement ; and Pay Transparency .
We want you to build your career at Sentar, so if you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable workplace accommodation applying for a job or at any point in the employment process, contact the Recruiting Manager at recruiting@sentar.com . Please indicate the specifics of the assistance needed. Thank you for considering Sentar in your employment search.
Build, Innovate, Secure Your Career at Sentar.