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Associate Tester Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Kratos Defense

Associate Penetration Tester

VA · Remote

$85K - $102K/yr

As an Associate Penetration Tester for Kratos' Commercial Cybersecurity Services division, working in a remote setting, you will play a key role in supporting offensive security assessments for a ...

New

Collabera

Tester

Rockville, MD · On-site

Associate's degree in a technical field such as computer science, computer engineering or related ... Net) Experience using testing software such as Selenium/Cucumber/Protractor/Gatling/Loadrunner etc ...

VTG

Penetration Tester

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$150K - $195K/yr

Bachelor's Degree or Higher, AND Pen Tester Experience: 3 years OR High School GED + 5 Years Relevant Experience Associates Degree + 4 Years Relevant Experience Masters or Higher + 2 Years Relevant ...

VTG

Penetration Tester

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$150K - $195K/yr

Bachelor's Degree or Higher, AND Pen Tester Experience: 3 years OR High School GED + 5 Years Relevant Experience Associates Degree + 4 Years Relevant Experience Masters or Higher + 2 Years Relevant ...

Steampunk

Salesforce Tester

Mclean, VA · On-site

$90K - $130K/yr

CAST (Certified Associate in Software Testing) * International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) Certification * Certified Manager of Software Testing (CMST) * DHS Trusted Tester ...

Steampunk

Salesforce Tester

Mclean, VA · On-site +1

$90K - $130K/yr

CAST (Certified Associate in Software Testing) * International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) Certification * Certified Manager of Software Testing (CMST) * DHS Trusted Tester ...

Steampunk

Salesforce Tester

Mclean, VA · On-site +1

$90K - $130K/yr

CAST (Certified Associate in Software Testing) * International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) Certification * Certified Manager of Software Testing (CMST) * DHS Trusted Tester ...

Capital One

Compliance Tester II

Mclean, VA · On-site

The Senior Associate Compliance Tester performs a key second line of defense role to help ensure corporate initiatives and departmental processes comply with applicable laws and regulations. The ...

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How much do associate tester jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for associate tester in Washington is $21.60, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.67 and $20.67 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an associate tester?

Associate Testers are entry-level professionals who help ensure the quality and functionality of software, games, or products by executing test cases, identifying bugs, and reporting defects to development teams. They often work under the supervision of senior testers or quality assurance leads, following established testing procedures and documentation standards. Their work is critical in finding issues before a product is released to customers, helping to improve user experience and reliability. Associate Testers may also assist with creating test documentation and reproducing issues reported by users.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate tester?

To thrive as an Associate Tester, you need a keen attention to detail, a basic understanding of software testing principles, and typically a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with testing tools like Selenium, JIRA, and basic knowledge of scripting languages is often required. Strong analytical thinking, communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively set top performers apart. These skills ensure accurate identification of defects, effective reporting, and contribute to the delivery of high-quality software products.

What are some common challenges faced by associate testers in their day-to-day work?

Associate Testers often encounter challenges such as balancing tight deadlines with the need for thorough testing, quickly adapting to new software or updates, and effectively communicating bugs or issues to developers. They may also need to manage multiple testing tasks simultaneously while ensuring accurate documentation. Building a collaborative relationship with developers and other QA team members is essential for resolving issues efficiently and learning best practices for continuous improvement.

What is the difference between Associate Tester vs QA Tester?

AspectAssociate TesterQA Tester
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some roles may require basic testing certificationsHigh school diploma; certifications like ISTQB are common
Work EnvironmentEntry-level testing in software development teams, often under supervisionSimilar environment, focusing on quality assurance processes
Employer & Industry UsageUsed across IT, software, and tech companies for entry-level testing rolesWidely used in software development, IT, and tech industries for quality assurance

The main difference between an Associate Tester and a QA Tester lies in experience and scope. Associate Testers are typically entry-level, focusing on basic testing tasks, while QA Testers often have more experience and handle comprehensive quality assurance processes. Both roles are essential in software development, with overlapping skills and environments, but QA Testers usually take on more complex testing responsibilities.

What are the most commonly searched types of Tester jobs in Washington?

The most popular types of Tester jobs in Washington are:

What cities in Washington are hiring for Associate Tester jobs?

Cities in Washington with the most Associate Tester job openings:

Associate Tester jobs near you
Infographic showing various Associate Tester job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 71% Full Time, 25% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $44,926 per year, or $21.6 per hour.

Associate Penetration Tester

VA • Remote

Kratos Defense
National Security and International Affairs • 1 - 5K employees
Learn more about Kratos Defenseexternal

$85K - $102K/yr

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

New

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 10 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Readiness Delivered. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions develops and fields transformative, affordable technology, platforms, and systems for United States National Security related customers, allies, and commercial enterprises.  We proactively build trusted relationships with our peers, partners and customers, and take ownership for our actions—always striving to do the right thing. As an Associate Penetration Tester for Kratos' Commercial Cybersecurity Services division, working in a remote setting, you will play a key role in supporting offensive security assessments for a wide range of customer environments, including cloud platforms, networks, and emerging technologies. This entry-level position is ideal for individuals eager to apply ethical hacking techniques, emulate adversaries, and contribute to high?impact cybersecurity engagements. Working closely with a collaborative and learning?focused team, the Associate Penetration Tester will help identify vulnerabilities, develop clear and actionable remediation guidance, and support continuous improvement through research, automation, and tool development. This role provides an excellent opportunity to grow within offensive security while making meaningful contributions to customer security posture.
  • Perform penetration testing engagements to simulate cyberattacks on customer computer systems, cloud solutions, and scoped networks. Generate deliverables, confirm scope, and execute with minimal oversight.
  • Promote an inclusive, learning-focused team by sharing knowledge, promoting best practices, and collaborating to reach consensus on our approach to tactical issues. Work with the team to devise novel tests and scenarios for various penetration tests of emerging technologies.
  • Consistently produce high quality, client ready deliverables.
  • Develop and implement automation solutions, new tools, or processes to eliminate wasted effort and allow our team to focus on the important issues that require finesse and expertise. 
  • Research cybersecurity incidents, threats and vulnerabilities to keep up to date.
  • Adhere to projects/tasks, scheduling, and quality control by monitoring penetration test execution. Reviews reporting to ensure it thoroughly breaks down and explains all weaknesses and vulnerabilities, their attack vectors and remediation steps in a clear and concise manner. 
  • Create proofs of concept, documentation, and evidence can be easily followed by customer points of contact. Provide recommendations for new technologies and system designs according to test results.

  • One or more of the following R311 Certifications: CCNP Security, CASP+ CE, CISSP, CSSLP, CISSP-ISSEP, GPEN, GCED, CEH, CCNA Cyber Ops, CHFI, GCFA, CompTIA PenTest+, OSCP, OSWE, OSEP, OSWA, eCPPT, eWPT, eWPTX, HTB CPTS, Burp Suite Certified Practitioner.

Preferred Skills/Experience

  • Experience and knowledge of general network testing skills and web application testing, including Open Source Intelligence Gathering, Cloud Configuration Testing, Network Testing & Exploitation, Web Application Exploitation, and Web API Testing.
  • Functional knowledge or experience of one or more types of specialized testing, to include: Mobile Applications; Desktop Applications (Mac, Linux, or Windows); Red Team Engagements; Physical Penetration Testing.
  • Understanding or experience with the FedRAMP framework and requirements for penetration testing.
  • Knowledge of commonly used penetration testing tools and some ability to write scripts or develop rudimentary new tools as needed.
  • Qualified candidates should be prepared to use and test new technologies with little notice through effective research and study strategies.
  • Comfortable mentoring others on tools, concepts, and methods for conducting penetration testing.
  • Prior experience in cybersecurity consulting and/or assessing government systems.
  • Close proximity to the Washington D.C. area and willingness to travel on-site.
  • Hold an active Secret or Top Secret clearance or willingness to apply for a clearance.

#LI-Remote

The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, and skills.

Competitive salary based on experience and education

As one of the first authorized Third-Party Assessment Organizations (3PAO) for FedRAMP, GovRAMP, and CMMC, Kratos' compliance services have helped companies meet the security requirements needed to win and grow business. We bring both the capability and confidence that our customers value and depend on. And we always deliver.

This posting will close within 90 days from the Posting Date.   

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