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Penetration Testing Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

Lead Penetration Test Engineer

Houston, TX · Hybrid

$135K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

Penetration Testing & Vulnerability Assessments Conduct comprehensive penetration testing of web applications, infrastructure, and cloud environments using both manual and automated techniques.

Lead Penetration Test Engineer

Houston, TX · Hybrid

$135K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

Penetration Testing & Vulnerability Assessments Conduct comprehensive penetration testing of web applications, infrastructure, and cloud environments using both manual and automated techniques.

Lead Penetration Test Engineer

Dallas, TX · Hybrid

$135K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

Penetration Testing & Vulnerability Assessments Conduct comprehensive penetration testing of web applications, infrastructure, and cloud environments using both manual and automated techniques.

Lead Penetration Test Engineer

Dallas, TX · Hybrid

$135K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

Penetration Testing & Vulnerability Assessments Conduct comprehensive penetration testing of web applications, infrastructure, and cloud environments using both manual and automated techniques.

Security Testing Specialist Primarily focused on manual penetration testing and cache fraud and places of vulnerabilities, specifically vulnerabilities in authorization, permissions, and MFA.

JD: Advanced Penetration Tester (Product Security) / Threat Simulation: We are looking for a highly skilled and hands on Application Security / Penetration Testing Specialist to drive advanced ...

Showing results 21-40

Penetration Testing information

See Texas salary details

$21K

$111.7K

$157K

How much do penetration testing jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for penetration testing in Texas is $111,701.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $89,400.00 and $131,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is penetration testing?

Penetration testing, also known as ethical hacking, is a security practice where professionals simulate cyberattacks on a computer system, network, or application to identify vulnerabilities before malicious hackers can exploit them. The goal is to find and safely exploit weaknesses, assess the impact of potential attacks, and provide recommendations to improve security. Penetration testers use a variety of tools and techniques, often mirroring real-world attack methods, to thoroughly evaluate an organization’s defenses. It is a proactive approach to improving an organization's cybersecurity posture.

What are some common challenges faced by penetration testers during client engagements?

Penetration testers often encounter challenges such as limited access to information, time constraints, and complex network environments that can hinder thorough assessments. Additionally, balancing the need to simulate real-world attacks while ensuring no disruption to client operations requires careful planning and communication. Collaborating effectively with IT teams and clearly documenting findings are crucial for ensuring that vulnerabilities are properly understood and addressed.

What is the difference between Penetration Testing vs Vulnerability Assessment?

AspectPenetration TestingVulnerability Assessment
PurposeSimulate cyberattacks to identify exploitable vulnerabilitiesIdentify and prioritize security weaknesses
DepthIn-depth, targeted testingBroad, comprehensive scanning
CertificationsOSCP, CEH, GPENOSCP, CEH, Security+
Work EnvironmentHands-on testing, simulated attacksAutomated scans, reports

While both roles focus on security weaknesses, Penetration Testing involves actively exploiting vulnerabilities to assess real-world impact, whereas Vulnerability Assessment identifies potential issues for prioritization. Penetration Testing provides a deeper, more targeted security evaluation, making it essential for comprehensive security testing.

Are penetration testers high in demand?

Penetration testers are in high demand due to increasing cybersecurity threats and the need for organizations to identify vulnerabilities. The role often requires skills in tools like Kali Linux and certifications such as OSCP, with job growth expected to remain strong in the cybersecurity field.

Is penetration testing a good career?

Penetration testing is a growing cybersecurity field that involves identifying vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks. It requires technical skills, knowledge of security tools, and often certifications like OSCP or CEH. The role offers high demand, competitive salaries, and opportunities for continuous learning, making it a viable career choice for those interested in cybersecurity.

What are the most commonly searched types of Penetration Testing jobs in Texas?

The most popular types of Penetration Testing jobs in Texas are:

What cities in Texas are hiring for Penetration Testing jobs?

Cities in Texas with the most Penetration Testing job openings:

Infographic showing various Penetration Testing job openings in Texas as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,701 per year, or $53.7 per hour.

Penetration Tester

Northrop Grumman Corporation

San Antonio, TX • On-site, Remote

$83K - $125K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Posted 11 days ago


Northrop Grumman rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 363 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

88th of 540 rated manufacturers


Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be availableCLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: YesCLEARANCE TYPE: Top SecretTRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescriptionAt Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (NGMS) is seekingaCyber Protection Engineerto join our team of qualified, diverse individuals conducting penetration and cybersecurity testing activities in San Antonio, TX.

In this role, the Cyber Protection Engineer assesses and tests system cybersecurity requirements, system security architecture, and system security layout. The candidate will operate in a team environment and collaborate across the organization (as required) to accomplish team goals by coordinating with customers and other testing organizations.

Essential duties:

  • Conduct cloud-focused penetration testing and security assessment activities to identify vulnerabilities, attack paths, and potential threat vectors across cloud-native and hybrid environments.
  • Support offensive security operations targeting cloud infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines, containerized workloads, applications, and enterprise services within AWS, Azure, and related platforms.
  • Assists with development of attack methodologies, testing procedures, and technical analysis while collaborating with senior operators and engineers.
  • Apply cybersecurity knowledge to evaluate cloud security posture, validate security controls, and contribute to technical reporting, operational recommendations, and remediation guidance.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's Degree and 2 years of related experience; or a Master's degree and 0 years of related experience. Note: 6 years of related experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
  • US Citizenship is required
  • Active US Government Top Secret Security Clearance is required with the ability to obtain an SCI.
  • Must possess or have ability to obtain a DoD 8570 Certification for IAT Level II or higher(Sec+, CCNA, CySA+ or CND) prior to start.
  • Experience conducting penetration testing, vulnerability analysis, or security assessments.
  • Experience or familiarity with containerization and virtualization technologies such as Docker, Kubernetes, or VMware.
  • Knowledge of Windows and Linux operating systems, networking fundamentals, and common enterprise architecture.
  • Experience using scripting or automation languages such as Python, Bash, or PowerShell to support testing, analysis, or operational workflows.
  • Familiarity with offensive security methodologies, vulnerability management processes, and common attacker TTPs.

Preferred Qualifications for both:

  • Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS and Azure, including familiarity with IAM, networking, storage, logging, and security services.
  • Familiarity with CI/CD pipeline technologies and concepts, including GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, Jenkins, Azure DevOps, or similar platforms.
  • Ability to analyze technical findings and contribute to assessment reports, presentations, and client deliverables, and communicate findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Experience assessing cloud-native technologies, including Kubernetes, containers, serverless functions, or Infrastructure-as-Code deployments.
  • Familiarity with cloud security assessment tools, vulnerability scanners, and offensive security frameworks.
  • Familiarity with Terraform, Ansible, ARM templates, CloudFormation, or Infrastructure-as-Code concepts.
  • Experience with logging, monitoring, and detection technologies such as Splunk, Sentinel, ELK, Defender, or CrowdStrike.
  • Familiarity with RMF, A&A activities, STIGs, SCAP, ACAS, or cybersecurity compliance frameworks.
  • Ability to rapidly learn emerging technologies, cloud attack methodologies, and evolving threat landscapes.
  • Relevant certifications such as AWS Security Specialty, Azure Security Engineer Associate, PenTest+, CySA+, CEH, AZ-500, SC-200, CRTO, GPEN, GXPN, OSCP, or similar cybersecurity certifications preferred.
Primary Level Salary Range: $83,400.00 - $125,200.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

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About Northrop Grumman

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Falls Church, VA, US

Year founded

1939