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Remote Penetration Testing Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Remote, United States. Near Legence office preferred. The Lead Cybersecurity Specialist within the ... Coordinate perform penetration testing and adversary simulations. * Provide expert guidance on ...

Remote, United States. Near Legence office preferred. The Lead Cybersecurity Specialist within the ... Coordinate perform penetration testing and adversary simulations. * Provide expert guidance on ...

Remote, United States. Near Legence office preferred. The Lead Cybersecurity Specialist within the ... Coordinate perform penetration testing and adversary simulations. * Provide expert guidance on ...

With a focus on regulated, high-volume testing environments, Waters' innovative portfolio harnesses ... USA remote Key Job Responsibilities: * Responsible for managing, prospecting, and building ...

Remote Penetration Testing information

See Minnesota salary details

$22K

$117.4K

$165K

How much do remote penetration testing jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for remote penetration testing in Minnesota is $117,426.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $94,000.00 and $138,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Remote Penetration Tester, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Remote Penetration Tester, you need a solid understanding of computer networks, cybersecurity principles, and common vulnerabilities, often supported by a degree in computer science or related certifications like OSCP or CEH. Familiarity with penetration testing tools such as Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap, and various operating systems is essential. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and clear written communication skills help you effectively discover, document, and explain security findings to clients. These competencies are crucial for accurately identifying risks and helping organizations strengthen their security posture.

Is there a demand for penetration testing?

There is strong demand for penetration testers, including those in remote roles, as organizations prioritize cybersecurity and vulnerability assessments. Skilled professionals with knowledge of tools like Kali Linux, Metasploit, and certifications such as OSCP are especially sought after in the industry.

Will pentesters be replaced by AI?

Remote penetration testers perform manual and creative security assessments that AI currently cannot fully replicate. While AI tools can assist with vulnerability scanning and data analysis, human expertise is essential for identifying complex threats, interpreting results, and developing effective security strategies. The role of pentesters is expected to evolve with technology, but not be entirely replaced by AI.

What is the difference between Remote Penetration Testing vs Vulnerability Assessment Specialist?

AspectRemote Penetration TestingVulnerability Assessment Specialist
CertificationsOSCP, CEH, GPENOSCP, CEH, CISSP
Work EnvironmentHands-on testing, simulated attacksScanning, identifying vulnerabilities
Industry UsageCybersecurity firms, IT departmentsSecurity teams, consulting firms

Remote Penetration Testing involves actively exploiting vulnerabilities to assess security defenses, while Vulnerability Assessment Specialists focus on identifying and prioritizing security weaknesses without exploiting them. Both roles require similar certifications and often work in overlapping environments, but penetration testers perform more in-depth, simulated attack scenarios to evaluate security robustness.

What are some common challenges faced by remote penetration testers, and how can they be addressed?

Remote penetration testers often encounter challenges such as limited access to physical infrastructure, varying levels of client preparedness, and potential communication barriers with on-site teams. To address these issues, it's important to establish clear communication channels, use secure remote access tools, and maintain detailed documentation of testing activities. Building strong relationships with client IT staff and staying up-to-date with remote testing best practices can also help ensure effective and successful engagements.

How much do remote penetration testers make?

Remote penetration testers typically earn between $70,000 and $130,000 annually, depending on experience, certifications, and the complexity of the projects. Senior professionals with advanced skills and certifications like OSCP or CISSP can earn higher salaries, especially when working for specialized firms or as freelancers.

Do penetration testers work remotely?

Many penetration testers work remotely, especially those in freelance or consulting roles, utilizing tools like VPNs, remote access software, and security testing platforms. Remote work allows flexibility, but some employers may require on-site presence for certain assessments or client interactions.

What is remote penetration testing?

Remote penetration testing is a security assessment process where cybersecurity professionals, also known as ethical hackers, attempt to find and exploit vulnerabilities in an organization’s systems, networks, or applications from an offsite location. This simulates a real-world cyberattack to help organizations identify and fix security weaknesses before malicious actors can exploit them. Remote penetration testing is often conducted over the internet, making it a flexible and efficient option for businesses to assess their security posture without requiring onsite visits.
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What job categories do people searching Remote Penetration Testing jobs in Minnesota look for? The top searched job categories for Remote Penetration Testing jobs in Minnesota are:
What cities in Minnesota are hiring for Remote Penetration Testing jobs? Cities in Minnesota with the most Remote Penetration Testing job openings:
Infographic showing various Remote Penetration Testing job openings in Minnesota as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 76% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 100% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $117,426 per year, or $56.5 per hour.
Lead Cybersecurity Specialist

Lead Cybersecurity Specialist

legence

Minneapolis, MN • Remote

$125K - $165K/yr

Other

Posted 13 days ago


Job description

Location: Remote, United States. Near Legence office preferred. 

The Lead Cybersecurity Specialist within the Legence IT Security organization will be responsible for helping advance the company’s overall security posture. This role goes beyond operational support to include architecture, risk strategy, and cross-functional leadership. This role will work with other IT pillars and team members to implement, and continuously improve security controls that protect enterprise systems, cloud environments, and data against evolving threats while aligning with business objectives and regulatory requirements.  This role will provide team leadership to junior staff members 

 About the Role 
We are seeking a highly skilled Lead Cybersecurity Specialist to lead a team of cyber analysts tasked with advancing Legence’s security posture and reducing risk.  This role is critical to ensuring the integrity, reliability, and security of our IT systems and processes. The ideal candidate will bring deep cyber experience, the ability to develop team members, the ability to communicate with business and IT partners, and a focus in ITGC audits, tool selection, continuous improvement, and cross-functional project management. 

Key Responsibilities

  • Cloud Security & Architecture
    • Ensure the implementation and governance of secure cloud architectures across platforms.
    • Continue development, enforcement, and governance of cyber security controls (including identity, access management, and workload protection).
    • Partner with engineering teams to embed security into cloud-native development and DevOps processes (DevSecOps).
  • Enterprise Risk Management
    • Evolve the organization’s security risk management program.
    • Conduct risk assessments, threat modeling, and control evaluations.
    • Translate technical risks into business impact and present recommendations to senior leadership.
  • Security Engineering & Automation
    • Develop and maintain advanced automation frameworks and scripts to improve detection, response, and compliance capabilities.
    • Lead efforts to integrate security tooling (SIEM, EDR, CSPM, etc.) into a cohesive security ecosystem.
  • Threat Detection & Incident Response
    • Oversee monitoring and detection strategies across networks, endpoints, and cloud environments.
    • Lead incident response efforts, including triage, containment, root cause analysis, and post-incident improvements.
    • Drive continuous improvement of detection use cases and response playbooks.
  • Vulnerability Management & Offensive Security
    • Lead vulnerability management lifecycle, including scanning, prioritization, and remediation strategies.
    • Coordinate perform penetration testing and adversary simulations.
    • Provide expert guidance on remediation and risk prioritization.
  • Governance, Compliance & Security Strategy
    • Support and help shape governance, risk, and compliance initiatives (e.g., NIST, ISO, SOC 2).
    • Lead security assessments, audits, and third-party risk reviews.
    • Contribute to long-term cybersecurity strategy, roadmap planning, and security metrics reporting.
  • Leadership & Collaboration
    • Act as a technical mentor and escalation point for junior analysts and engineers.
    • Oversee the career development of security team members
    • Collaborate with IT, engineering, and business stakeholders to align security initiatives with organizational goals.
    • Stay ahead of emerging threats, technologies, and industry trends, bringing proactive recommendations to leadership. 

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Security, or related field (or equivalent experience).
  • 5–10+ years of experience in cybersecurity, with demonstrated progression into senior or lead responsibilities.
  • Deep expertise in cloud security, network security, and enterprise security architecture.
  • Strong experience with security technologies such as SIEM, EDR, IDS/IPS, firewalls, and encryption.
  • Proven experience in risk management, incident response, and vulnerability management.
  • Proficiency in scripting or programming (e.g., Python, PowerShell, Bash) for automation and security engineering.
  • Experience with security frameworks and compliance standards (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001, CIS).
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence technical and non-technical stakeholders. 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Industry certifications such as CISSP, CISM, CCSP, or GIAC.
  • Experience leading security initiatives or small teams. 

Compensation: $125k-$165k

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