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Dod Penetration Testing Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Peraton

Penetration Tester, Senior

Herndon, VA · On-site

$86K - $138K/yr

Offensive security, redteam, or penetration testing experience with at least 3 years leading complex, highimpact assessments in enterprise or DoD environments. * Expert proficiency in reconnaissance ...

CACI International, Inc.

Penetration Tester

Aberdeen, MD · On-site

$173K/yr

In-depth understanding of OWASP Top 10, DoD, NSA, or industry-standard Vulnerability and Penetration Testing Standards * Expertise in exploitation techniques including buffer overflows, fuzzing, SQL ...

Peraton

Penetration Tester, Senior

Herndon, VA · On-site

$86K - $138K/yr

Offensive security, red-team, or penetration testing experience with at least 3 years leading complex, high-impact assessments in enterprise or DoD environments. * Expert proficiency in ...

ZTI Solutions, LLC

Penetration Test Lead

Falls Church, VA · On-site

$180K - $210K/yr

Penetration Testing Lead Falls Church, Virginia. Full-time. Important Notice: This position is ... Advana provides DoD military and civilian decision makers with unprecedented access to enterprise ...

CACI International, Inc.

Penetration Tester

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$113K - $237K/yr

OWASP top 10, DoD and NSA Vulnerability and Penetration Testing Standards. * Knowledge of exploitation concepts including phishing and social engineering tactics, buffer overflows, fuzzing, SQLi ...

VTG

Penetration Tester

Chantilly, VA

$150K - $195K/yr

... testing methodologies; identifies common vulnerabilities that can be potentially exploited ... DoD 8140 - CSSP Incident Responder certification: • CyberSec First Responder (CFR) • Cisco ...

VTG

Penetration Tester

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$150K - $195K/yr

... testing methodologies; identifies common vulnerabilities that can be potentially exploited ... DoD 8140 - CSSP Incident Responder certification: • CyberSec First Responder (CFR) • Cisco ...

VTG

Penetration Tester

Aurora, CO

$150K - $195K/yr

... testing methodologies; identifies common vulnerabilities that can be potentially exploited ... DoD 8140 - CSSP Incident Responder certification: • CyberSec First Responder (CFR) • Cisco ...

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Dod Penetration Testing information

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$22.5K

$119.9K

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How much do dod penetration testing jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for dod penetration testing 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 the difference between Dod Penetration Testing vs Cybersecurity Analyst?

AspectDod Penetration TestingCybersecurity Analyst
CertificationsOSCP, CEH, CISSPCISSP, Security+, CEH
Work EnvironmentConducts simulated attacks on systems to identify vulnerabilitiesMonitors security systems, analyzes threats, and implements defenses
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily in defense, government, and security firmsAcross various industries including finance, healthcare, and tech

While both roles focus on cybersecurity, Dod Penetration Testing specializes in offensive security by simulating attacks to find vulnerabilities, often within government or defense sectors. Cybersecurity Analysts focus on defending systems through monitoring and threat analysis across diverse industries. Understanding these differences helps organizations assign the right security roles based on their needs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a DoD Penetration Tester, and why are they important?

To thrive as a DoD Penetration Tester, you need a deep understanding of cybersecurity concepts, network protocols, and ethical hacking, often supported by a bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field and relevant security clearances. Familiarity with tools like Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nessus, and certifications such as CEH, OSCP, or CISSP are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you identify vulnerabilities and clearly report findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders. These skills are crucial for protecting sensitive military systems and ensuring compliance with federal cybersecurity standards.

What are some common challenges faced by DoD Penetration Testers when working on classified networks?

DoD Penetration Testers often encounter challenges such as navigating strict security protocols, obtaining necessary clearances, and adhering to rigorous documentation requirements. Working on classified networks means testers must follow specific guidelines for handling sensitive information, which can limit the use of certain tools or techniques. Collaboration with other security professionals and stakeholders is essential, but communication must always comply with operational security standards. These factors make thorough preparation and adaptability key to success in the role.

What is DoD penetration testing?

DoD penetration testing refers to security assessments conducted for the United States Department of Defense (DoD) to identify and address vulnerabilities in their systems, networks, or applications. These tests simulate real-world cyberattacks to evaluate the effectiveness of security controls and ensure compliance with DoD cybersecurity standards, such as those outlined in the Risk Management Framework (RMF). The goal is to proactively discover and remediate weaknesses before they can be exploited by adversaries, helping to protect sensitive military information and maintain operational readiness.
Infographic showing various Dod Penetration Testing job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, and 33% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $119,895 per year, or $57.6 per hour.
Penetration Tester, Senior

Penetration Tester, Senior

Peraton

Herndon, VA • On-site

$86K - $138K/yr

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago

Peraton rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 52 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

38th of 204 rated it services

Job description

Responsibilities

We are seeking a highly skilled and innovative Penetration Tester to join our team in the greater DMV area, supporting the Army National Guard.

Responsibilities

  • Plan and lead advanced penetration testing operations (Network Assistance Visits, Persistent Penetration Testing) to emulate adversary threat models against Army networks.
  • Execute complex network, host, and web application assessments to identify vulnerabilities, lateral attack paths, privilege escalation, and control weaknesses.
  • Design and conduct advanced phishing and socialengineering campaigns to evaluate user awareness and defensive effectiveness.
  • Support Network Damage Assessments: validate suspected compromises, determine adversary presence/scope/impact, and provide technical findings to inform containment and remediation.
  • Produce timely technical reports, evidence bundles, and executivelevel briefings to support incident response and leadership decisionmaking.
  • Coordinate testing activities with cybersecurity, SOC/CIRT, operations, and engineering teams to deconflict missions and enable rapid mitigation and retest.
  • Translate assessment results into actionable recommendations: detection enhancements, configuration changes, and resilience improvements.
  • Maintain pentest toolchains, develop repeatable test procedures, and mentor junior testers to build sustained offensive capability.

#ENOCS

Qualifications

Qualifications

  • Minimum of 5 years with BS/BA; Minimum of 3 years with MS/MA; Minimum of 0 years with PhD

  • Clearance: Active TS/SCI clearance.

  • Candidate must meet ONE of the following:

    • Master's degree or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, Software Engineering, or a related field; OR
    • Relevant DoD/military training (documented advanced offensive/cyber operations training); OR
    • Relevant professional certification or equivalent experience (examples: CISSPISSEP; ISC2 CSSLP; GIAC GWAPT).

  • Required experience and skills:

    • Offensive security, redteam, or penetration testing experience with at least 3 years leading complex, highimpact assessments in enterprise or DoD environments.
    • Expert proficiency in reconnaissance, exploitation, postexploitation, web application testing (OWASP), phishing/socialengineering tactics, and evidence preservation.
    • Handson experience with advanced tooling (e.g., Burp Suite, Metasploit, Cobalt Strike, custom exploit development) and validation of detection/response capability.
    • Proven ability to produce executivegrade reports, technical evidence packages, and decisiongrade remediation recommendations under time pressure.
    • Strong coordination skills for multiteam operations, adherence to rules of engagement, and safe execution in operational environments.

  • Desired:

    • Prior DoD/ARNG CDAP, red/blue team, or Persistent Penetration Testing mission experience.
    • Background in malware analysis or exploit development and experience integrating findings into detection engineering and SOC tuning.

#ENOCS

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range$86,000 - $138,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.EEOEEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.Employment Type: FULL_TIME

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About Peraton

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Peraton, we re at the forefront of delivering the next big thing every day. We re the partner of choice to help solve some of the world s most daunting challenges, delivering bold, new solutions to keep people around the world safer and more secure.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Herndon, VA, US

Year founded

2017

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