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Physical Penetration Testing Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... 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 ...

... 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 ...

... 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 ...

... 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 ...

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

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

Penetration Tester

Washington, DC · Hybrid

$130K - $145K/yr

This role demands a deep understanding of penetration testing methodologies and advanced exploit ... physical security assessments, or social engineering * Proficiency with cloud technology and ...

Penetration Tester

Washington, DC · On-site

$130K - $145K/yr

This role demands a deep understanding of penetration testing methodologies and advanced exploit ... physical security assessments, or social engineering * Proficiency with cloud technology and ...

Penetration testing will use both automated tools and manual techniques in order to identify ... physical or mental disability, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, or ...

Penetration Tester

Herndon, VA · Hybrid

$130K - $145K/yr

This role demands a deep understanding of penetration testing methodologies and advanced exploit ... physical security assessments, or social engineering * Proficiency with cloud technology and ...

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Physical Penetration Testing information

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$109.6K

$183.5K

How much do physical penetration testing jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for physical penetration testing in the United States is $109,565.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,000.00 and $143,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Physical Penetration Testing job?

A Physical Penetration Testing job involves assessing the security of a facility by simulating real-world intrusion attempts. Testers use tactics like social engineering, lock picking, and bypassing security controls to identify vulnerabilities. The goal is to help organizations strengthen their physical security measures by uncovering weaknesses before malicious actors do. This role requires a combination of technical knowledge, stealth, and problem-solving skills.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a Physical Penetration Tester?

A typical day for a Physical Penetration Tester involves planning and executing simulated intrusions to assess and test the effectiveness of an organization's physical security controls. This often includes reconnaissance of target facilities, attempting authorized entry through various methods (such as bypassing locks or circumventing access controls), and documenting discovered vulnerabilities. Testers also collaborate closely with internal security teams and may present their findings through detailed reports and debriefing sessions. The work can be both hands-on and analytical, and it frequently requires flexibility, discretion, and strict adherence to client agreements. You'll gain exposure to a wide range of security environments and play a crucial role in helping organizations improve their overall security posture.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Physical Penetration Testing position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Physical Penetration Tester, you need a strong background in security assessment, physical security systems, and risk analysis, often supported by relevant certifications such as Certified Red Team Professional (CRTP) or Physical Security Professional (PSP). Familiarity with lock picking tools, badge cloning devices, RFID readers, and surveillance avoidance techniques is commonly required. Strong problem-solving, discretion, and clear communication skills set successful testers apart, especially when working under pressure or conveying findings to clients. These skills ensure comprehensive and ethical testing of physical security defenses, enabling organizations to identify and remediate real-world vulnerabilities effectively.

Will pentesters be replaced by AI?

Physical penetration testers perform manual security assessments that require critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability, which AI currently cannot fully replicate. While AI tools can assist in identifying vulnerabilities and automating certain tasks, human expertise remains essential for complex scenarios, social engineering, and interpreting results. The role is expected to evolve with technology, but complete replacement by AI is unlikely in the near term.
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What cities are hiring for Physical Penetration Testing jobs? Cities with the most Physical Penetration Testing job openings:
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What states have the most Physical Penetration Testing jobs? States with the most job openings for Physical Penetration Testing jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Physical Penetration Testing jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Physical Penetration Testing jobs are:
Infographic showing various Physical Penetration Testing job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 97% Full Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,565 per year, or $52.7 per hour.

Penetration Tester

Dark Wolf

Salt Lake City, UT • On-site

Full-time

Posted 22 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
Dark Wolf is looking for a Penetration Tester who will plan and perform continuous cross-domain vulnerability assessments and penetration testing. The role involves analyzing systems for vulnerabilities and providing remediation strategies, while also developing custom tools and conducting assessments for federal government clients.
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.
Qualifications:
Required:
• 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
Preferred:
• 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
Company:
Dark Wolf provides DevSecOps agile software development, information operations, penetration testing and incident response, applied research and rapid prototyping, machine learning, and mission support and engineering services to the Intelligence Community, national security, and Fortune 500 customers. Founded in 2009, the company is headquartered in Herndon, USA, with a team of 501-1000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.