1

Penetration Testing Government Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior Penetration Tester

Middletown, RI · On-site

$118K - $128K/yr

Overview AMERICAN SYSTEMS is an employee-owned federal government contractor supporting national ... Penetration Testing: Plan, execute, and report on penetration tests and security assessments on ...

... varied testing efforts against applications and networks for the federal government. Candidates may also be placed on a larger Red Team and be expected to develop a continuous campaign-based ...

Penetration Tester II

Chandler, AZ · On-site

$60K - $180K/yr

M9 Solutions is dedicated to providing IT services and solutions to the Federal Government by ... Experience with continuous penetration testing methodologies. * Experience with planning and ...

M9 Solutions is dedicated to providing IT services and solutions to the Federal Government by ... Experience with continuous penetration testing methodologies. * Experience with planning and ...

M9 Solutions is dedicated to providing IT services and solutions to the Federal Government by ... Experience with continuous penetration testing methodologies. * Experience with planning and ...

Execute penetration testing activities per CDAP mission plans: reconnaissance, exploitation ... The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch ...

Senior Penetration Testing Lead

Falls Church, VA · On-site

$122.10K - $167.50K/yr

... government authorization processes, with direct responsibility for protecting mission-critical AI ... penetration testing engagements against network infrastructure, web applications, cloud ...

New

Government program responsible to prevent, identify, contain and eradicate cyber threats to CBP ... As the leader of this highly technical Penetration Testing Team supporting CBP, you will be ...

Execute penetration testing activities per CDAP mission plans: reconnaissance, exploitation ... The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch ...

Penetration Tester III

Chandler, AZ · On-site

$60K - $180K/yr

M9 Solutions is dedicated to providing IT services and solutions to the Federal Government by ... Experience with continuous penetration testing methodologies. * Experience with planning and ...

Execute penetration testing activities per CDAP mission plans: reconnaissance, exploitation ... The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Penetration Testing Government information

See salary details

$22.5K

$119.9K

$168.5K

How much do penetration testing government jobs pay per year?

As of May 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for penetration testing government 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 the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Penetration Tester in a government setting, and why are they important?

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 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 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.

More about Penetration Testing Government jobs
What cities are hiring for Penetration Testing Government jobs? Cities with the most Penetration Testing Government job openings:
What states have the most Penetration Testing Government jobs? States with the most job openings for Penetration Testing Government jobs include:
Infographic showing various Penetration Testing Government job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 97% Full Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,895 per year, or $57.6 per hour.
Penetration Tester

Penetration Tester

Dark Wolf Solutions

Salt Lake City, UT

Full-time

Posted 26 days ago


Job description

Dark Wolf is looking for a Penetration Tester who will plan and perform continuous cross-domain vulnerability assessments, full-scale penetration testing and red team operations. The ideal candidate must display familiarity with both cloud-based and on-premises Windows, Linux and mobile operating systems and environments and be able to conduct network and application security vulnerability analysis. The candidate will analyze both commercial and federal mission systems to help identify potential vulnerabilities and help to provide and implement remediation strategies to customers for these issues. The successful candidate must have prior experience with multiple facets of penetration testing, using and ideally developing or contributing to both open source and proprietary tools. Conducts open-source research on clients and their infrastructure to help identify data leakage that could lead to vulnerabilities. Leverages programming knowledge to develop custom tools and exploits both for targeting unique client systems and building internal testing capabilities. Prepares assessments and presentations of analyses and findings. Develops and maintains analytical procedures to meet changing requirements and ensure effective operations. This position requires full-time onsite work at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, UT.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Candidates may be asked to move between projects and participate in either single engagement penetration tests or continuous engagement Red Teams. The position will primarily require the candidate to lead the technical aspect of a specific, long-term penetration testing effort, helping to conduct varied testing efforts against applications and networks for the federal government. Candidates may also be placed on a larger Red Team and be expected to develop a continuous campaign-based assessment that emulates the target's real-world adversaries by developing new tools specific to the target. Candidates will be expected to integrate into ongoing testing efforts, requiring subject matter expertise in multiple disciplines of vulnerability testing and assessment, the ability to interact and liaison directly with clients and a strong ability to write and document findings. Travel is required on an occasional basis for clients requiring onsite testing.

Required Qualifications:

  • 3+ years' experience in three or more specific areas to include: intelligence analysis, network engineering, networking security, penetration testing, red team operations, hardware engineering, software engineering, exploit development, reverse engineering, vulnerability assessment, physical security assessments, social engineering
  • Strong knowledge of testing simulated intrusion attempts and physical penetration testing
  • Proficiency in the testing and assessment of mobile operating systems, embedded systems and/or IoT devices
  • Familiarity with unmanned aerial vehicles and associated mobile and wireless technologies
  • Proficiency of various operating systems: Windows, iOS, Android, Mac or Linux
  • Proficiency with cloud technology and deployments: Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform
  • Moderate competency in at least one scripting and/or coding language
  • Working knowledge of software development, with preference for experience working around software development teams and efforts
  • Experience in network analysis methodologies
  • Experience in drafting reports, documenting case details, and being able to summarize findings and recommendations based on system analysis
  • Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills
  • BS (or equivalent) in Cybersecurity, Information Security, IT, EE, Network Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
  • Willingness to travel
  • US Citizenship and an active Top Secret/SCI security clearance required

Desired Qualifications:

  • Familiarity with container technologies to include container orchestration and microservices
  • Experience with DevSecOps and adjacent tools; strong preference for experience with Kubernetes, software development pipelines
  • Security Certification: CEH, OSCP, PNPT or similar security/pentesting certs
  • Experience employing advanced forensic tools and techniques for attack reconstruction, including dead system analysis and volatile data collection and analysis
  • Experience in performing post-incident computer forensics without destruction of critical data.
  • Desired experience ensuring quality assurance and the spreading of best practices
  • MS degree in technical field
  • Security+ Certification

This position is located in Ogden, UT.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories.

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.