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Entry Level Offensive Security Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC

Secure AI Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site +1

$77K - $176K/yr

As a Secure AI Engineer, you'll combine your skills in AI engineering, cybersecurity, and offensive security to assess, harden, and improve AI-enabled systems. You'll have the chance to build your ...

Secure AI Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$77K - $176K/yr

As a Secure AI Engineer, you'll combine your skills in AI engineering, cybersecurity, and offensive security to assess, harden, and improve AI-enabled systems.You'll have the chance to build your ...

New

This entry-level role is ideal for candidates beginning their Application Security career and looking to grow into a seasoned Application Security Engineer.What You Will Do:Participate in application ...

New

In addition, desired skills/certifications are: o Offensive Security Experienced Pentester (OSEP ... Reverse Engineering Malware (GREM) Minimum Clearance Required to Start: Top Secret SCI This ...

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Showing results 1-20

Entry Level Offensive Security Engineer information

See Washington, DC salary details

$69.7K

$173K

$232.7K

How much do entry level offensive security engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level offensive security engineer in Washington, DC is $173,030.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $162,000.00 and $179,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an entry level offensive security engineer?

An Entry Level Offensive Security Engineer is a cybersecurity professional who specializes in testing and assessing the security of computer systems, networks, and applications by simulating real-world attacks. Their primary responsibility is to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses that malicious hackers could exploit. They use tools and techniques such as penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and social engineering to find and report security issues. These engineers typically work under the guidance of more experienced team members and help organizations strengthen their security posture.

What types of projects or tasks can an entry level offensive security engineer expect to work on during their first year?

As an Entry Level Offensive Security Engineer, you will typically assist with vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and security audits under the guidance of more experienced team members. Your daily tasks might include running automated scans, analyzing results, writing reports, and helping to develop and validate security tools. Collaboration with IT, development, and incident response teams is also common, as you work together to identify and remediate vulnerabilities. These experiences provide a strong foundation for professional growth and may lead to more advanced responsibilities over time.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level offensive security engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Offensive Security Engineer, you need a solid understanding of network protocols, cybersecurity fundamentals, and common vulnerabilities, often supported by a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with penetration testing tools like Metasploit, Burp Suite, and knowledge of operating systems such as Linux is essential, and entry-level certifications like CompTIA Security+ or CEH are commonly valued. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you identify security issues and clearly report findings. These competencies are crucial for assessing organizational security, executing ethical hacking tasks, and helping teams proactively defend against cyber threats.

What is the difference between Entry Level Offensive Security Engineer vs Penetration Tester?

AspectEntry Level Offensive Security EngineerPenetration Tester
CertificationsCompTIA Security+, CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)CEH, OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional)
Work EnvironmentSecurity teams, cybersecurity firms, internal security departmentsConsulting firms, security companies, freelance engagements
Job FocusIdentify vulnerabilities, develop attack simulations, improve security posturePerform targeted security assessments, exploit vulnerabilities, report findings

Both roles involve assessing security weaknesses, often requiring similar certifications like CEH. An Entry Level Offensive Security Engineer typically works within organizations to strengthen defenses, while a Penetration Tester often conducts external assessments for clients. The main difference lies in their scope: engineers focus on proactive security development, whereas testers focus on identifying vulnerabilities through simulated attacks.

What are the most commonly searched types of Offensive Security Engineer jobs in Washington, DC?

The most popular types of Offensive Security Engineer jobs in Washington, DC are:

What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Offensive Security Engineer jobs in Washington, DC?

For Entry Level Offensive Security Engineer jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Entry Level Offensive Security Engineer jobs in Washington, DC look for?

The top searched job categories for Entry Level Offensive Security Engineer jobs in Washington, DC are:

Infographic showing various Entry Level Offensive Security Engineer job openings in Washington, DC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $173,030 per year, or $83.2 per hour.

Security Engineer II, US Amazon Dedicated Cloud Security

Amazon

Jessup, MD • On-site

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago


Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 7,100 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

AWS Security is looking for a Red Team Security Engineer to help ensure that our systems and processes are secured against the latest threats. You will be on a team responsible for conducting offensive campaigns, emergent threat testing, creating/maintaining automated threat emulation solutions, and helping security and service teams add offensive insight to their development, deployment, monitoring, and response processes. Offensive security at scale is a unique challenge - AWS possesses both scale of systems and scale of staff and processes. This position will provide you with a challenging opportunity.
A Security Engineer at Amazon is expected to be strong in multiple domains. This is a leadership role within the AWS IT Security team and will be sought out for advice on technical and business issues. Efficient time management skills are required along with the ability to deliver results in the face of uncertainty. A Security Engineer II will proactively share knowledge across the Amazon community and will be a key company resource in one or more of the core areas of security. They will lead security reviews of large Amazon projects while setting standards and defining best practices for the AWS IT Security team.
Engineers in this role must show exemplary judgment in making technical trade-offs between short versus long term security and business goals. They must also demonstrate resilience and navigate difficult situations with composure and tact. Conflicts should be addressed by listening, finding the best way forward and persuading one's colleagues. Successful engineers in this role will regularly analyze their own performance with a critical eye. A broad understanding of the AWS business and its interconnections is required. This position will also provide training, advice, and mentorship to other engineers throughout AWS.
This role will be expected to provide thought leadership for the organization as you invent and innovate in the course of your duties.
This position requires that the candidate selected be a US Citizen and must currently possess and maintain an active TS/SCI security clearance with polygraph.
Key job responsibilities
* Vulnerability Identification and Tracking
* Offensive security testing & vulnerability research
* Emergent threat testing
* Creating/maintaining automated threat emulation solutions
* Recommendation of findings and threat mitigations
* Produce high quality red team reports
* Projects and research work as needed
* Security training and outreach to internal development teams
* Security guidance documentation
* Security tool development
* Security metrics delivery and improvements
* Assistance with recruiting activities
About the team
Diverse Experiences
Amazon Security values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn't followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don't let it stop you from applying.
Why Amazon Security?
At Amazon, security is central to maintaining customer trust and delivering delightful customer experiences. Our organization is responsible for creating and maintaining a high bar for security across all of Amazon's products and services. We offer talented security professionals the chance to accelerate their careers with opportunities to build experience in a wide variety of areas including cloud, devices, retail, entertainment, healthcare, operations, and physical stores.
Inclusive Team Culture
In Amazon Security, it's in our nature to learn and be curious. Ongoing DEI events and learning experiences inspire us to continue learning and to embrace our uniqueness. Addressing the toughest security challenges requires that we seek out and celebrate a diversity of ideas, perspectives, and voices.
Training & Career Growth
We're continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth's Best Employer. That's why you'll find endless knowledge-sharing, training, and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.
Work/Life Balance
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why flexible work hours and arrangements are part of our culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there's nothing we can't achieve.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree, or CCSP (Certified Cloud Security Professional) or CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) or CFR (CyberSec First Responder) or Cloud+ or CySA+ (CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst) or GCED (GIAC Certified Enterprise Defender) or GICSP (Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional) or PenTest+
- Current, active US Government Security Clearance of TS/SCI with Polygraph
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) equivalent, or higer
- GIAC Exploit Researcher and Advanced Penetration Tester (GXPN) equivalent, or higher
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you're applying in isn't listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

What Amazon employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Amazon logo

About Amazon

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Amazon.com, Inc., commonly known as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and initially started as an online marketplace for books. Since then, Amazon has expanded its operations and become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon's primary business is its online retail platform, where customers can purchase a vast array of products, including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, and much more. The company offers a convenient and user-friendly shopping experience, with features such as fast shipping, customer reviews, and personalized recommendations. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon has diversified its business into various other areas. One of its notable ventures is Amazon Web Services (AWS), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides services such as storage, compute power, and database management to individuals and businesses. AWS has become a leader in the cloud computing industry, powering many websites and applications worldwide. Amazon has also developed its own consumer electronics, including the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and the Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. The Alexa voice assistant, integrated into these devices, allows users to interact with their devices using voice commands, perform tasks, and access information. Furthermore, Amazon has expanded into media and entertainment. It operates Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. Amazon Music provides a platform for streaming and purchasing digital music, while Audible offers audiobooks and other audio content. The company's commitment to customer satisfaction and convenience is demonstrated by its membership program, Amazon Prime. Prime members receive various benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more.

Industry

It services, book publishers, retail, real estate, computer and electronic product manufacturing and software development

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Seattle, WA, US