Entry Level Offensive Security Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Your Journey at Crowe Starts Here:
At Crowe, you can build a meaningful and rewarding career. With real flexibility to balance work with life moments, you're trusted to deliver results and make an impact. We embrace you for who you are, care for your well-being, and nurture your career. Everyone has equitable access to opportunities for career growth and leadership. Over our 80-year history, delivering excellent service through innovation has been a core part of our DNA across our audit, tax, and consulting groups. That's why we continuously invest in innovative ideas, such as AI-enabled insights and technology-powered solutions, to enhance our services. Join us at Crowe and embark on a career where you can help shape the future of our industry.
Job Description:
What It Means to Be a Consultant at Crowe
Consulting is a dynamic business focused on solving problems for our clients and serving our core markets through innovative solutions. As technology and AI continue to reshape the consulting landscape, we are looking for individuals who are curious, adaptable, and eager to learn. At Crowe, consultants are expected to build both technical and transferable skills, think critically, and use technology to solve real business problems. In this role, you will continuously learn, collaborate across teams, and explore how tools, including emerging AI capabilities, can improve efficiency, insights, and client outcomes.
As you grow, you'll also begin to take ownership of client relationships, contribute to account strategy, and support the delivery of high-impact work. Developing a sense of account leadership, including understanding client needs, ensuring delivery excellence, and building trusted partnerships, is part of what sets successful consultants apart.
Success in this role comes from a growth mindset, strong communication skills, advanced critical thinking, and the ability to navigate new challenges with confidence.
As an Offensive Security Senior Consultant, focusing on Offensive Security, you will help organizations navigate an evolving threat landscape and a complex regulatory environment by delivering high-value, practical cybersecurity and risk solutions. You will work with our Cybersecurity team to perform advanced Offensive Security engagements to clients in a variety of industries. This role is ideal for professionals who thrive in a fast-paced consulting environment, enjoy solving complex problems, and are passionate about delivering results that protect and enable business success.
Key Responsibilities:

• Lead or support Offensive Security engagements including:
  • Internal and external network penetration testing
  • Web application penetration testing
  • Wireless penetration testing
  • Social engineering (phishing, telephone, onsite)
  • Red teaming/Threat emulation
  • Purple teaming

• Evaluate and test IT controls, application controls, security configurations, and interface/integration security.
• Provide practical recommendations for vulnerability remediation.
• Conduct cybersecurity assessments across a variety of standards/frameworks (NIST CSF, NIST 800.53, CIS, integrated control frameworks, etc.)Present findings and recommendations to stakeholders, including IT, Information Security, C-suite and board-level leadership, through clear, concise written and verbal communication.
• Serve as an extension of client teams to lead or support program execution activities, including control implementation, metrics/reporting, issue remediation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Mentor and supervise junior consultants; contribute to team development and internal knowledge-sharing.
• Participate in practice development, including service line/methodology innovation and thought leadership.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in information systems, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Engineering, or related field.
• 2+ years of experience in cybersecurity, offensive security, or related consulting or industry roles.
• Deep working knowledge of operating systems (Windows, Linux/Unix) and databases (SQL, Oracle, etc.).
• Working knowledge of networks and the seven layer OSI model.
• Proficiency with common offensive security tools and frameworks (e.g., Metasploit, Burp Suite, BloodHound, Nmap, etc.).
• Detection engineering or blue team operations knowledge including evasion techniques
• Strong scripting or programming skills.
• Experience with or curiosity about AI and automation tools in cybersecurity, including secure implementation practices and risk assessments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Progress toward or possession of certifications such as CISSP, OSCP, OSCE, or similar
• Strong project management, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent communication and technical writing skills, with the ability to tailor messages to both technical and executive audiences.

We expect the candidate to uphold Crowe's values of Care, Trust, Courage, and Stewardship. These values define who we are. We expect all of our people to act ethically and with integrity at all times.
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Crowe is not sponsoring for work authorization at this time.
The wage range for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. At Crowe, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is $80,500.00 - $159,300.00 per year.
Our Benefits:
Your exceptional people experience starts here. At Crowe, we know that great people are what makes a great firm. We care about our people and offer employees a comprehensive total rewards package. Learn more about what working at Crowe can mean for you!
How You Can Grow:
We will nurture your talent in an inclusive culture that values diversity. You will have the chance to meet on a consistent basis with your Career Coach that will guide you in your career goals and aspirations. Learn more about where talent can prosper!
More about Crowe:
Crowe (www.crowe.com) is one of the largest public accounting, consulting and technology firms in the United States. Crowe uses its deep industry expertise to provide audit services to public and private entities while also helping clients reach their goals with tax, advisory, risk and performance services. Crowe is recognized by many organizations as one of the country's best places to work. Crowe serves clients worldwide as an independent member of Crowe Global, one of the largest global accounting networks in the world. The network consists of more than 200 independent accounting and advisory services firms in more than 130 countries around the world.
Crowe LLP and Crowe Advisory LLC (and their respective subsidiary entities) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, national origin, disability or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Crowe LLP and Crowe Advisory LLC (and their respective subsidiary entities) does not accept unsolicited candidates, referrals or resumes from any staffing agency, recruiting service, sourcing entity or any other third-party paid service at any time. Any referrals, resumes or candidates submitted to Crowe, or any employee or owner of Crowe without a pre-existing agreement signed by both parties covering the submission will be considered the property of Crowe, and free of charge.
Crowe will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.
Please visit our webpage to see notices of the various state and local Ban-the-Box laws and Fair Chance Ordinances, where applicable.
We are committed to a merit-based hiring process, evaluating all candidates consistently using objective, job-related criteria such as relevant experience, demonstrated skills, measurable impact, and alignment with the role's responsibilities, and making employment decisions in a fair and inclusive manner free from discrimination.
If you are interested in applying for employment with Crowe and are in need of an accommodation or require special assistance to navigate our website or to complete your application, please visit our Applicant Assistance and Accommodations page for more information: https://careers.crowe.com/crowe-applicant-assistance-and-accommodation