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Director Penetration Tester Jobs in Reston, VA (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

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

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 ...

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All JobsPenetration Tester JobsDirector Penetration Tester JobsDirector Penetration Tester Jobs in Reston, VA

Director Penetration Tester information

See Reston, VA salary details

$23.4K

$124.7K

$175.3K

How much do director penetration tester jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for director penetration tester in Reston, VA is $124,733.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $99,900.00 and $146,700.00 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.

What are the most commonly searched types of Penetration Tester jobs in Reston, VA?

The most popular types of Penetration Tester jobs in Reston, VA are:

What are popular job titles related to Director Penetration Tester jobs in Reston, VA?

For Director Penetration Tester jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Director Penetration Tester jobs in Reston, VA look for?

The top searched job categories for Director Penetration Tester jobs in Reston, VA are:

What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Director Penetration Tester jobs?

Cities near Reston, VA with the most Director Penetration Tester job openings:

Director Penetration Tester jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Penetration Tester job openings in Reston, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $124,733 per year, or $60 per hour.

Penetration Tester

Jobtailor

Washington, DC • On-site

$120 - $180/hr

Other

Posted 6 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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