1

Penetration Testing Government Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

Manager, Offensive Security

Austin, TX · On-site

$110K - $148K/yr

Lead and develop a team responsible for penetration testing, adversary emulation, responsible ... on a government form, and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other ...

This position provides an opportunity to transition from other private, public, government or ... Support audits, penetration testing coordination, and compliance evidence collection. * Contribute ...

This position provides an opportunity to transition from other private, public, government or ... Support audits, penetration testing coordination, and compliance evidence collection. * Contribute ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Penetration Testing Government information

What is penetration testing in government?

Penetration testing in government refers to authorized simulated cyberattacks on government systems, networks, or applications to identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them. These tests help government agencies strengthen their cybersecurity defenses, comply with regulations, and protect sensitive data. Penetration testers use a variety of tools and techniques to mimic real-world cyber threats, ensuring that security measures are effective and up to date.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a penetration tester in a government setting?

To thrive as a Penetration Tester in government, a deep understanding of network security, vulnerability assessment, and common attack methodologies is required, typically supported by a degree in cybersecurity or a related field. Familiarity with tools like Metasploit, Nmap, Burp Suite, and certifications such as OSCP, CEH, or CISSP are highly valued. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and clear written and verbal communication skills distinguish top performers in this role. These skills are vital to effectively identify security weaknesses, communicate risks, and ensure the protection of sensitive government data and infrastructure.

What are some common challenges faced by penetration testers working in government environments?

Penetration testers in government settings often encounter unique challenges, such as navigating strict security protocols, handling sensitive or classified information, and complying with complex regulatory frameworks. They may also work within rigid change management processes, which can impact the speed and flexibility of testing activities. Collaboration with various departments is essential, as testers must communicate findings clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders to ensure vulnerabilities are properly understood and remediated.

What is the difference between Penetration Testing Government vs Penetration Testing Private Sector?

AspectPenetration Testing GovernmentPenetration Testing Private Sector
CredentialsCertifications like OSCP, CISSP, CEH often requiredSimilar certifications widely recognized, such as OSCP, CEH, CISSP
Work EnvironmentGovernment agencies, secure facilities, strict protocolsCorporate offices, consulting firms, diverse environments
Employer & Industry UsageFederal, state, or local government agenciesPrivate companies, cybersecurity firms, consulting agencies
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles within government cybersecurityComparing government vs private sector penetration testing roles

Penetration Testing Government professionals focus on securing government systems within strict protocols, often requiring specific certifications and working in secure environments. Private sector penetration testers work with commercial clients, offering more diverse projects and flexible settings. Both roles demand similar skills and certifications but differ mainly in work environment and employer type.

How much do penetration testing government professionals make?

Penetration testing professionals working for government agencies typically earn between $70,000 and $130,000 annually, depending on experience, security clearance level, and location. Advanced skills in cybersecurity tools, certifications like CISSP or CEH, and knowledge of government security protocols can influence salary levels.

Is there a demand for penetration testing government?

There is strong demand for penetration testers in government sectors due to increasing cybersecurity threats and the need to protect sensitive information. These roles often require knowledge of security tools, compliance standards, and certifications such as CEH or CISSP, and may involve working in secure environments with regular updates to security protocols.

What is the average pay for penetration testing government?

Penetration testers working for government agencies typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience, security clearance, and location. Higher salaries are common for those with specialized skills, certifications like OSCP or CISSP, and roles requiring clearance or advanced technical expertise.

What job categories do people searching Penetration Testing Government jobs in Texas look for?

The top searched job categories for Penetration Testing Government jobs in Texas are:

What cities in Texas are hiring for Penetration Testing Government jobs?

Cities in Texas with the most Penetration Testing Government job openings:

Infographic showing various Penetration Testing Government job openings in Texas as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 98% In-person, and 2% Remote job distribution.

Penetration Tester

San Antonio, TX


Accenture Federal Services
IT Services • 10K+ employees

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 20 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

50th of 499 rated business services

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Recommended by parents


$126K - $243K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 29 days ago


Job description

 
At Accenture Federal Services, nothing matters more than helping the US federal government make the nation stronger and safer and life better for people. Our 13,000+ people are united in a shared purpose to pursue the limitless potential of technology and ingenuity for clients across defense, national security, public safety, civilian, and military health organizations. 
 
Join Accenture Federal Services, a technology company within global Accenture. Recognized as a Glassdoor Top 100 Best Place to Work, we offer a collaborative and caring community where you feel like you belong and are empowered to grow, learn and thrive through hands-on experience, certifications, industry training and more. 
 
Join us to drive positive, lasting change that moves missions and the government forward!
 

Penetration Tester

Overview

We are seeking a Penetration Tester to design, coordinate, and execute a modern, scalable penetration‑testing program. This role will unify penetration‑testing activities across network, application, and cloud environments, ensuring consistent execution, standardized reporting, and alignment with enterprise security and risk‑management objectives.

The Pen Tester will also guide the integration of automated and AI‑assisted testing capabilities into the organization's Agentic AI architecture, improving speed, accuracy, and repeatability of offensive security operations.

You Will:

Program Leadership & Governance

  • Consolidate ad‑hoc penetration‑testing efforts into a unified enterprise pen‑testing program with standard methodologies, processes, and reporting.
  • Establish and maintain Rules of Engagement (ROE) for all testing activities, defining scope, communication protocols, safety constraints, escalation paths, and evidence‑handling guidelines.
  • Coordinate and supervise all test execution activities, including internal teams, contractors, and third‑party assessors.

Technical Execution & Delivery

  • Plan and execute network, application, and cloud penetration tests under the approved ROE.
  • Combine manual tradecraft with AI‑assisted offensive‑security tooling to increase depth and coverage of assessments.
  • Produce detailed evidence packages, exploitation artifacts, and findings reports that support remediation and root‑cause analysis.
  • Work with product teams, system owners, and DevSecOps/Cloud teams to validate findings and retest fixes.

Tooling & AI Integration

  • Integrate penetration‑testing tools, automation frameworks, and exploit‑development workflows into the Agentic AI security architecture.
  • Recommend tooling enhancements, AI‑driven analysis approaches, and automation opportunities.

Risk & Vulnerability Management

  • Conduct technical risk assessments across systems to determine likelihood, impact, and exploitation feasibility.
  • Analyze risk vectors to prioritize vulnerabilities and perform triage across multiple findings sources (manual, automated, AI‑assisted, third‑party).
  • Partner with vulnerability‑management, SOC, threat‑intelligence, and engineering teams to drive remediation activities.

Here's what you need:

  • Two years of Penetration-Testing experience
  • Penetration testing experience across at least two of the following domains: network, cloud, web application, identity, or containerized environments.
  • Experience operating within defined Rules of Engagement.
  • Proficiency with common offensive‑security tools (e.g., Burp Suite, Cobalt Strike, Metasploit, BloodHound).
  • Ability to produce high‑quality technical documentation, findings reports, and remediation guidance.

Nice to Haves:

  • Experience developing custom exploits, automation scripts, or AI‑augmented testing workflows.
  • Familiarity integrating tooling into agent‑based or Agentic AI architectures.
  • Prior experience leading penetration‑testing teams or programs.
  • Industry certifications such as OSCP, OSWE, OSEP, CRTO, GPEN, or equivalent.

As required by local law, Accenture Federal Services provides reasonable ranges of compensation for hired roles based on labor costs in the states of California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia, and the city of Cleveland. The base pay range for this position in these locations is shown below. Compensation for roles at Accenture Federal Services varies depending on a wide array of factors, including but not limited to office location, role, skill set, and level of experience. Accenture Federal Services offers a wide variety of benefits. You can find more information on benefits here. We accept applications on an on-going basis and there is no fixed deadline to apply.

The pay range for the states of California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia, and the city of Cleveland is:
$126,300—$243,100 USD
 
What We Believe
As a company wholly dedicated to serving the US federal government, we bring together the best talent to help reinvent how federal agencies operate and deliver greater value for their mission and the American people. We have an unwavering commitment to creating a culture in which all our people are respected, feel a sense of belonging, and have equal opportunity. As a business imperative, every person at Accenture Federal Services has the responsibility to create and sustain a culture where everyone feels welcomed and included. This is grounded in our core values and our experience that hiring and developing great people who reflect different perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds is key to driving innovation and delivering the results that our clients and the country count on.
 
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
We believe that no one should be discriminated against because of their differences. All employment decisions shall be made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law. Our rich diversity makes us more innovative, more competitive, and more creative, which helps us better serve our clients and our communities. For details, view a copy of the Accenture Federal Services Equal Opportunity Policy Statement.
 
Accenture Federal Services is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Additionally, as an Affirmative Action Employer for Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities, Accenture Federal Services is committed to providing veteran employment opportunities to our service men and women.
 
Requesting An Accommodation 
Accenture Federal Services is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities or religious observances, including reasonable accommodation when needed. If you are hired by Accenture Federal Services and require accommodation to perform the essential functions of your role, you will be asked to participate in our reasonable accommodation process. Accommodations made to facilitate the recruiting process are not a guarantee of future or continued accommodations once hired.
 
If youare being considered for employment opportunities with Accenture Federal Services and need an accommodation for a disability or religious observance during the interview process or for the job you are interviewing for, please speak with your recruiter.
 
Other Employment Statements 
Applicants for employment in the US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States.
 
Candidates who are currently employed by a client of Accenture Federal Services or an affiliated Accenture business may not be eligible for consideration.
 
Job candidates will not be obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of conviction or arrest as part of the hiring process.
 
The Company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Additionally, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the Company's legal duty to furnish information.
 
California requires additional notifications for applicants and employees. If you are a California resident, live in or plan to work from Los Angeles County upon being hired for this position, please click here for additional important information.



What Accenture Federal Services employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom