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Director Penetration Tester Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Jobtailor

Penetration Tester

Washington, DC · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

... directed. * Support specialized assessments of edge devices, firewalls, load balancers, and other ... Maintain and update penetration testing tools and lab environments. All tools must be FAA-approved ...

OCH Technologies LLC

Penetration Tester

Leesburg, VA · On-site

... directed. * Support specialized assessments of edge devices, firewalls, load balancers, and other ... Support the Penetration Testing Lead in developing Rules of Engagement and test plans for upcoming ...

Cymertek Corporation

Penetration Tester

Honolulu, HI · On-site

$120 - $160/hr

Penetration Tester LOCATIONHonolulu, HI 96815 CLEARANCETS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this position ... With direct access to company leadership, a laid-back and inclusive atmosphere, and exceptional ...

Cymertek

Penetration Tester

Reston, VA · On-site

Penetration Tester LOCATION Reston, VA 20190 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this position ... With direct access to company leadership, a laid-back and inclusive atmosphere, and exceptional ...

Cymertek Corporation

Penetration Tester

Reston, VA · On-site

$90 - $130/hr

Penetration Tester LOCATION Reston, VA 20190 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this position ... With direct access to company leadership, a laid-back and inclusive atmosphere, and exceptional ...

Cymertek

Penetration Tester

Chantilly, VA · On-site

Penetration Tester LOCATION Chantilly, VA 20151 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this ... With direct access to company leadership, a laid-back and inclusive atmosphere, and exceptional ...

Cymertek Corporation

Penetration Tester

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$110 - $170/hr

Penetration Tester LOCATION Chantilly, VA 20151 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this ... With direct access to company leadership, a laid-back and inclusive atmosphere, and exceptional ...

Battelle

Penetration Tester

Arlington, VA · On-site

At Battelle, your expertise in national security plays a direct role in safeguarding our nation and ... Responsibilities As a Penetration Tester, the selected individual will support the research ...

SecureIT

Penetration Tester

Reston, VA · On-site

$95 - $160/hr

We are frequently looking for skilled penetration testers and red teamers. Our Cyber team ... Employees at SecureIT enjoy a collaborative environment, remote work flexibility, and direct impact ...

Cymertek

Penetration Tester

San Antonio, TX · On-site

Penetration Tester LOCATION San Antonio, TX 78208 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this ... With direct access to company leadership, a laid-back and inclusive atmosphere, and exceptional ...

Cymertek

Penetration Tester

Tysons, VA · On-site

Penetration Tester LOCATION Tysons, VA 22182 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this position ... With direct access to company leadership, a laid-back and inclusive atmosphere, and exceptional ...

Cymertek

Penetration Tester

Annapolis Junction, MD · On-site

Penetration Tester LOCATION Annapolis Junction, MD 20701 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note ... With direct access to company leadership, a laid-back and inclusive atmosphere, and exceptional ...

Cymertek

Penetration Tester

Honolulu, HI · On-site

Penetration Tester LOCATION Honolulu, HI 96815 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this ... With direct access to company leadership, a laid-back and inclusive atmosphere, and exceptional ...

Cymertek

Penetration Tester

Aurora, CO · On-site

Penetration Tester LOCATION Aurora, CO 80014 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this position ... With direct access to company leadership, a laid-back and inclusive atmosphere, and exceptional ...

Cymertek Corporation

Penetration Tester

Aurora, CO · On-site

$90 - $130/hr

Penetration Tester LOCATION Aurora, CO 80014 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this position ... With direct access to company leadership, a lay-back and inclusive atmosphere, and exceptional work ...

Cymertek Corporation

Penetration Tester

San Antonio, TX · On-site

$110 - $165/hr

S. Citizenship)KEY SUMMARYWe are seeking a highly skilled and proactive Penetration Tester to join ... With direct access to company leadership, a laid-back and inclusive atmosphere, and exceptional ...

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Director Penetration Tester information

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$22.5K

$119.9K

$168.5K

How much do director penetration tester jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for director penetration tester in the United States is $119,895.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $96,000.00 and $141,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a director penetration tester?

A Director Penetration Tester is a senior cybersecurity professional who leads a team responsible for simulating cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities in an organization's systems, networks, and applications. This role involves overseeing complex penetration testing projects, developing security strategies, and ensuring compliance with security standards. In addition to hands-on testing, the Director also manages staff, sets testing methodologies, and communicates findings to executive leadership. Their primary goal is to strengthen the organization's security posture and minimize risk from cyber threats.

How does a director penetration tester balance hands-on testing responsibilities with leadership duties?

As a Director Penetration Tester, you will often split your time between overseeing penetration testing teams and engaging in strategic planning or client consultations. While you may still participate in high-profile or complex assessments, much of your role involves mentoring junior testers, ensuring quality assurance, and managing project timelines. You'll also collaborate closely with other department leaders, such as those in risk management or compliance, to align testing outcomes with organizational security goals. This balance allows you to stay technically sharp while developing leadership and project management skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director penetration tester, and why are they important?

To excel as a Director Penetration Tester, you need in-depth expertise in cybersecurity, vulnerability assessment, and ethical hacking, typically backed by a relevant degree and certifications such as OSCP, CISSP, or CEH. Mastery of penetration testing tools (like Metasploit, Burp Suite, and Nmap) and experience with enterprise security frameworks are essential. Strong leadership, communication, and strategic thinking skills help manage teams and articulate risks to stakeholders. These skills enable you to lead effective security testing programs, protect organizational assets, and guide teams in mitigating complex threats.

What is the difference between Director Penetration Tester vs Security Architect?

AspectDirector Penetration TesterSecurity Architect
CertificationsOSCP, CISSP, CEHCISSP, SABSA, TOGAF
Work EnvironmentLeading penetration testing teams, conducting simulated attacksDesigning security frameworks, developing security architecture
Employer & Industry UsageCybersecurity firms, large corporations, government agenciesOrganizations seeking to build or improve security infrastructure

While both roles focus on cybersecurity, the Director Penetration Tester primarily leads offensive security testing efforts, whereas the Security Architect designs and implements security systems. The former emphasizes hands-on testing and team leadership, while the latter concentrates on strategic security planning and architecture development.

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Director Penetration Tester jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Penetration Tester job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,895 per year, or $57.6 per hour.

Penetration Tester

Washington, DC • On-site

Jobtailor
See more jobs at Jobtailorexternal

$120 - $180/hr

Other

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

  • Execute penetration tests against NAS and Mission Support systems, networks, and applications following approved Rules of Engagement and test plans.
  • Identify and exploit vulnerabilities in network infrastructure, operating systems, web applications, and databases.
  • Participate in red team and blue team exercises in simulated environments.
  • Execute attack scenarios and document findings.
  • Document all testing activities, findings, and exploitation paths in Penetration Test Reports (PTRs).
  • Perform regression penetration tests to validate remediation of previously identified vulnerabilities.
  • Support aircraft cyber testing activities including avionics and flight system security assessments when directed.
  • Support specialized assessments of edge devices, firewalls, load balancers, and other network infrastructure components.
  • Assess and document the potential for lateral movement when access is gained during testing.
  • Report high-risk findings immediately.
  • Maintain and update penetration testing tools and lab environments. All tools must be FAA-approved prior to use.
  • Support the Penetration Testing Lead in developing Rules of Engagement and test plans for upcoming engagements.
Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics from an accredited institution
  • A minimum of five (5)+ years of hands-on penetration testing experience, including network, system, and web application testing.
  • At least 2 years of relevant experience must be recent (performed within the last 3 years).
  • Proficiency with Metasploit, Burp Suite, nMap, and related penetration testing frameworks.
  • Experience working within formal Rules of Engagement and producing structured penetration test reports.
  • Understanding of network protocols, routing, switching, firewall configurations, and common misconfigurations.
  • Experience with web application testing following OWASP methodology.
  • Candidate must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust
  • At least one Red Teaming certification: OSCP, OSCE, OSWP, OSWE, CEH, ECSA, CEH Practical, ECSA Practical, LPT Master, GCIH, GPEN, GWAPT, GXPN, or GAWN.
  • Blue Teaming certifications are also accepted: CND, CNDA, GCIH, GCIA, GDAT, GDSA, GCED, or GCFA. OSCP or GPEN preferred.
  • Experience testing ICS/OT environments or critical infrastructure systems.
  • Experience with wireless security testing or satellite communication systems.
  • Experience with cloud penetration testing (AWS, Azure).
  • Familiarity with aircraft systems, avionics, or aviation communication protocols.
  • Prior red team experience in a government or military context.
  • C2 frameworks (Cobalt Strike, Sliver, Mythic) for adversary simulation beyond Metasploit.
  • BloodHound and Impacket for Active Directory attack path analysis and lateral movement.
  • Nuclei for automated vulnerability detection at scale.
  • Cloud pen testing tools (Pacu, AzureHound) for cloud-hosted environments.
  • SDR/HackRF tools for wireless and RF communications testing.
  • AI-assisted fuzzing tools for expanding exploit discovery on complex systems.
Core Competencies

Demonstrates extensive experience in penetration testing, including network, system, and web application assessments, while adhering to formal Rules of Engagement. Proficient in utilizing advanced penetration testing tools and frameworks to identify and exploit vulnerabilities across various environments.

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