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Graduate Penetration Tester Jobs (NOW HIRING)

vTech Solution

Associate Agile Developer in Test

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

$49.75 - $64/hr

As an SDET Intern / Recent College Graduate, you'll help with release verification while also ... Familiarity with security testing methodologies (penetration testing, threat modeling, XSS, or SQL ...

Prevailance

Cyberspace/Cyberwarfare Instructor

Lompoc, CA · On-site

$48K - $64K/yr

Graduate-level coursework in areas such as: Advanced Network Security, Penetration Testing, Digital Forensics, Malware Analysis, Cryptography, or Cyber Warfare and Policy. * Completion of DoD-aligned ...

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Graduate Penetration Tester information

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$22.5K

$119.9K

$168.5K

How much do graduate penetration tester jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for graduate 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 are some common challenges faced by graduate penetration testers during their first year on the job?

Graduate Penetration Testers often encounter challenges such as adapting to rapidly changing security technologies and learning to effectively document and communicate their findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. They must also develop strong time management skills to balance multiple assessments or projects at once and become familiar with a wide range of systems and environments. Working closely with experienced team members and participating in debrief meetings helps new testers quickly build their technical and soft skills.

What is a graduate penetration tester?

Graduate penetration testers are entry-level cybersecurity professionals who assess the security of computer systems, networks, and applications by simulating cyberattacks. They identify vulnerabilities that malicious hackers could exploit, helping organizations strengthen their defenses. Typically, graduate penetration testers have recently completed a relevant degree or training and work under the supervision of experienced testers to develop their skills. Their work often involves conducting tests, preparing reports, and recommending security improvements.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a graduate penetration tester?

To thrive as a Graduate Penetration Tester, you need a solid understanding of network security, operating systems, and vulnerability assessment, typically backed by a computer science degree or related qualification. Familiarity with tools like Metasploit, Burp Suite, and knowledge of industry certifications such as OSCP or CEH is highly advantageous. Analytical thinking, attention to detail, and strong written and verbal communication skills help you stand out in this role. These abilities are crucial for identifying security weaknesses, effectively reporting findings, and helping organizations strengthen their cybersecurity posture.

What is the difference between Graduate Penetration Tester vs Cybersecurity Analyst?

AspectGraduate Penetration TesterCybersecurity Analyst
CertificationsCompTIA Security+, CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)CompTIA Security+, CISSP (entry-level roles)
Work EnvironmentHands-on security testing, simulated attacksMonitoring security systems, incident response
Industry UsageSecurity firms, consulting, internal security teamsOrganizations' security operations centers (SOCs)

While both roles focus on cybersecurity, a Graduate Penetration Tester specializes in identifying vulnerabilities through simulated attacks, requiring skills in ethical hacking. A Cybersecurity Analyst monitors and responds to security threats, focusing on defense and incident management. Both roles often share certifications like Security+ but differ in daily tasks and work environment.

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What job categories do people searching Graduate Penetration Tester jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Graduate Penetration Tester jobs are:

Graduate Penetration Tester jobs near you
Infographic showing various Graduate Penetration Tester job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 20% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,895 per year, or $57.6 per hour.

Manager, Offensive Security Operations & Engineering

Vangard, Inc.

Malvern, PA

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

The Manager of Offensive Security Operations & Engineering leads the team responsible for designing, provisioning, automating, and scaling the infrastructure, platforms, and operational capabilities that enable enterprise offensive security activities. This role combines technical leadership, engineering excellence, and operational management to ensure red team, adversary simulation, penetration testing, and security research teams have secure, resilient, and scalable environments to conduct testing operations effectively.

The manager leads a multidisciplinary team of engineers responsible for multi-cloud offensive security infrastructure, platform automation, tooling integration, environment management, and operational readiness. The role is accountable for establishing engineering standards, improving operational efficiency, and driving the adoption of modern infrastructure and automation practices that enhance offensive security capabilities.

In addition to engineering leadership, the position oversees an Offensive Security Coordinator responsible for intake management, backlog administration, prioritization governance, metrics, reporting, and operational planning. The manager ensures transparent demand management processes, risk-informed prioritization frameworks, and executive-level reporting that enables leadership visibility into capacity, performance, outcomes, and strategic delivery.

The successful candidate will serve as a strategic partner to Offensive Security, Purple Team, Web Application & Fraud testing teams as well as outside stakeholders, translating business and security objectives into scalable operational capabilities. They will foster a culture of innovation, operational excellence, and continuous improvement while ensuring offensive security operations remain aligned with evolving organizational priorities and threat landscapes.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead and develop a team of Offensive Security Operations & Engineering professionals.

  • Define and execute the engineering strategy for offensive security infrastructure, tooling, and platform capabilities.

  • Oversee the provisioning, automation, scalability, security, and lifecycle management of offensive security environments.

  • Drive infrastructure-as-code, automation, CI/CD, and platform engineering practices to improve operational efficiency and reliability.

  • Establish operational processes, service standards, governance, and performance metrics for offensive security support functions.

  • Lead planning, prioritization, resource allocation, and execution of engineering initiatives supporting offensive security operations.

  • Manage the Offensive Security Coordinator function, including intake, backlog management, prioritization frameworks, reporting, metrics, and executive communications.

  • Develop and maintain operational dashboards and key performance indicators to measure team effectiveness, capacity, delivery, and business outcomes.

  • Partner with offensive security leaders to anticipate future technology, infrastructure, and operational requirements.

  • Mentor team members and cultivate a high-performing engineering culture focused on innovation, accountability, and continuous learning.

Required Qualifications

  • Minimum of eight years related work experience, with at least five years of project management experience.

  • Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience. Graduate degree preferred.

  • Relevant cloud or offensive security certifications (Ex - AWS, Azure, GCP, CISSP, OSCP, GIAC GPEN, CRTO)

Special Factors

Sponsorship

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission-we're on a mission.

To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.

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