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Senior Penetration Tester Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior Penetration Tester Pay Type : SALARIED EXEMPT Location : Hybrid, Washington, DC US Citizenship : Required Summary of Position Role/Responsibilities The Senior Penetration Tester will lead and ...

Senior Penetration Tester

Washington, DC · On-site

$124K - $180K/yr

Responsibilities The Senior Penetration Tester serves as Key Personnel responsible for leading advanced penetration testing and vulnerability assessment activities within a TS/SCI environment. This ...

We are seeking a Senior Penetration Tester for a Part-time opportunity. This opportunity requires travel to throughout the DMV area. The Senior Penetration Tester serves as a technical lead ...

Tharros is seeking a Senior Penetration Testing, Software Assurance and Vulnerability Assessment Engineer to support a DHS Intelligence and Analysis cybersecurity program in the National Capital ...

The Senior Penetration Tester will independently perform penetration testing of applications, systems and enclaves Identifies security flaws in computing platforms and applications and devise ...

Description Tharros is seeking a Senior Penetration Testing, Software Assurance and Vulnerability Assessment Engineer to support a DHS Intelligence and Analysis cybersecurity program in the National ...

The Senior Penetration Tester will independently perform penetration testing of applications, systems and enclaves Identifies security flaws in computing platforms and applications and devise ...

Overview Amyx is seeking a Sr. Penetration Tester for our DOD client to work remotely. Responsibilities * Independently performs penetration testing of applications, systems and enclaves Identifies ...

Senior Penetration Tester

Middletown, RI · On-site

$118K - $128K/yr

As a SENIOR PENETRATION TESTER with AMERICAN SYSTEMS you will have the opportunity to do the following: * Penetration Testing: Plan, execute, and report on penetration tests and security assessments ...

The Senior Penetration Tester will independently perform penetration testing of applications, systems and enclaves Identifies security flaws in computing platforms and applications and devise ...

Senior Penetration Tester

Middletown, RI · On-site

$118K - $128K/yr

Responsibilities As a SENIOR PENETRATION TESTER with AMERICAN SYSTEMS you will have the opportunity to do the following: * Penetration Testing: Plan, execute, and report on penetration tests and ...

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Senior Penetration Tester information

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$22.5K

$119.9K

$168.5K

How much do senior penetration tester jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior penetration tester 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 is a senior penetration tester?

A Senior Penetration Tester is a cybersecurity expert responsible for simulating cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities in networks, applications, and systems. They conduct advanced security assessments, exploit potential weaknesses, and provide recommendations to strengthen defenses. This role often involves leading penetration testing projects, mentoring junior testers, and collaborating with security teams to improve an organization's overall security posture. Strong knowledge of ethical hacking methodologies, security tools, and industry standards is essential.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior penetration tester?

To thrive as a Senior Penetration Tester, you need advanced expertise in network, application, and cloud security, along with experience in vulnerability assessment and ethical hacking methodologies, usually supported by a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, information technology, or a related field. Knowledge of tools such as Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap, and industry certifications like OSCP or CISSP are commonly expected. Outstanding analytical thinking, attention to detail, clear communication, and the ability to mentor junior team members are crucial soft skills in this position. These abilities are essential for accurately identifying security risks, effectively communicating findings, and ensuring robust organizational security through collaborative teamwork.

What are some of the primary challenges a senior penetration tester faces on the job?

Senior Penetration Testers often face the challenge of keeping up with rapidly evolving attack techniques and new technologies, which requires continuous learning and adaptation. They may also encounter complex, layered security environments that demand creative problem-solving and in-depth technical testing. Additionally, articulating technical findings to non-technical stakeholders and ensuring effective remediation can be challenging but is a critical part of the role. Collaborating closely with IT, development, and compliance teams is essential to implement security best practices and drive meaningful improvements.

Are senior penetration testers high in demand?

Senior penetration testers are in high demand due to increasing cybersecurity threats and the need for advanced security assessments. Organizations seek experienced professionals with skills in tools like Kali Linux, Metasploit, and knowledge of network vulnerabilities, often requiring relevant certifications such as OSCP or CISSP.
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Infographic showing various Senior Penetration Tester job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 57% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 41% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,895 per year, or $57.6 per hour.

Senior Penetration Tester

Washington, DC • On-site

Quzara LLC
Network Security • 11 - 50 employees

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago


Job description

Quzara is hiring Penetration Testers across multiple experience levels, with a primary focus on mid-level and senior professionals. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed and placed at the level that best reflects their experience and qualifications.


Job Title: Senior Penetration Tester   

Pay Type: SALARIED EXEMPT 

Location: Hybrid, Washington, DC 

US Citizenship: Required

Summary of Position Role/Responsibilities

The Senior Penetration Tester will lead and execute advanced security assessments across web applications, APIs, internal networks, cloud environments, and client infrastructure. This role is responsible for planning and performing penetration tests and vulnerability assessments, simulating real-world attack scenarios, identifying security weaknesses, and translating findings into clear reports, risk assessments, and actionable recommendations for technical and leadership audiences. The Senior Penetration Tester will also support client coordination, report delivery, and debriefs while mentoring penetration testing team members and maintaining advanced expertise in security tools, scripting, networking, web application security, and emerging offensive security techniques.

Essential Functions of the Job

  • Plan, create, and execute advanced penetration methods, scripts, and tests for the team, with a focus on Web Applications
  • Assess and test the security of internal networks and underlying application infrastructure.
  • Conduct penetration testing and vulnerability assessments on Azure cloud infrastructure and applications
  • Lead and mentor a team of penetration testers, providing guidance and sharing expertise
  • Carry out remote and on-site testing of client networks and infrastructure to expose security weaknesses
  • Simulate security breaches to assess a system's relative security
  • Create detailed reports and recommendations based on findings, including uncovered security issues and associated risk levels
  • Present findings, risk assessments, and conclusions to management and other relevant parties
  • Maintain advanced knowledge of networking, cryptography, reverse engineering, web applications, operating systems databases
  • Possess expertise in various scripting and programming languages, including Python, SQL, C/C++, JavaScript, PHP, Java, and Ruby
  • Provide strong written and oral communication skills to effectively convey assessment results and potential weaknesses
  • Assist in penetration testing intake, coordination with client teams for scheduling and delivery of reports/debriefs.

Marginal Functions of the Job

  • Other duties as assigned

Normal Work Schedule

This is a full-time position. Standard business hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. If your role falls within our Security Operations Center, you will be assigned a specific shift. As a result, your working schedule may require flexibility to cover any shift that falls within a 24/7 cycle, it may also change and rotate, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Education, Training, and Experience Requirements

  • Required bachelor’s degree in cyber security, computer science, IT or a related field.
  • Required: A fundamental understanding and experience with business/application logic vulnerabilities.
  • Required: 6 years minimum work experience directly related to Red Team assessments, and/or penetration testing (intranet, internet, web, wireless, social engineering), with a focus on Web Application testing. Additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
  • Required: Must have an active OSCP+ certification in addition to one of the following:
    • CompTia PenTest+
    • CEH
    • CompTia CySa+
    • GCIH
    • GCFA
    • CISSP
  • Expertise with scripting languages (e.g., Python, PowerShell, Java, Perl, etc)
  • Expertise with API focused penetration testing.
  • Proficiency with penetration testing tools (Kali Linux, Binwalk, BurpSuite, Wireshark, etc)

Nice To Have:

  • Certification focuses on Web Application penetration testing.
    • i.e. eWPT, BSCP, etc
  • Relevant security research.
    • Accredited CVEs, research papers or contributions to the cyber security sphere.

EEO Statement

The Company is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran's status, or any other basis protected by applicable discrimination laws.