Defense & Space, Cybersecurity, Information Technology Services, Government Contracting

Senior Penetration Tester

RemoteRemoteFull TimeSenior$155,000–$170,000 /yrPosted 1 month agoVisa sponsorship available

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Required skills

Top Secret security clearance
U.S. Citizenship
OSCP
PNPT
GPEN
CEH

Nice to have

firmware analysis
binary exploitation
embedded systems security assessments
Amazon Web Services
Microsoft Azure
Google Cloud Platform

Role summary

Dark Wolf is seeking a Senior Penetration Tester to assess and enhance the security of hardware, software, and embedded systems. This remote role requires deep expertise in penetration testing methodologies and exploit development, focusing on identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities. Responsibilities include defining testing scenarios, performing application and wireless security assessments, executing vulnerability scans, developing custom exploits, and documenting findings with remediation strategies. A Bachelor's degree, 5+ years of experience in relevant domains (e.g., penetration testing, exploit development, network security), strong communication skills, and a Top Secret clearance are required. Desired qualifications include offensive security certifications and cloud security experience.

Dark Wolf is actively seeking a Senior Penetration Tester to join our innovative team. This individual will play a critical role in assessing and enhancing the security of various products, including hardware, software, and embedded systems. This role demands a deep understanding of penetration testing methodologies and exploit development, focusing on identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities across a wide range of technologies. You will have the chance to work on cutting-edge technologies and contribute to the enhancement of security across a wide range of platforms. If you possess a strong background in penetration testing or red teaming, and have a passion for cybersecurity, we encourage you to apply for this lead role. This position is remote but may require travel to customer sites in VA and field sites, as needed.

Job Responsibilities:

Outlining plans to establish or leverage dynamically configurable, representative threat suites and network environments for scaled testing.

Defining testing scenarios and automated test harnesses to characterize system detection, mitigation, and response capabilities against signature- and anomaly-based threats.

Performing application security assessments targeting OWASP Top Ten vulnerabilities and API security vectors.

Assessing wireless and RF security, including penetration testing on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Zigbee networks.

Executing advanced vulnerability scanning, risk assessments, and manual verification to evaluate impact on system confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Conducting comprehensive penetration testing across hardware, software, firmware, RF, and network components.

Developing and executing custom exploits, proof-of-concept attacks, and threat-emulation environments to demonstrate vulnerability impact.

Documenting detailed technical findings, evaluating exploit effort and risk levels, and delivering actionable remediation strategies to strengthen product security.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, or a related field

Minimum of 5 years of experience across three or more domain areas: intelligence analysis, network engineering, network security, penetration testing, red team operations, hardware engineering, software engineering, exploit development, reverse engineering, or vulnerability assessment

Proven ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams, customers, and external stakeholders

Strong oral communication skills with experience leading briefing sessions, customer outreach, and user training

Strong written communication skills with experience drafting technical status reports, case details, and system documentation

Demonstrated experience synthesizing complex system analysis into clear technical reports, findings, and actionable recommendations

U.S. Citizenship with an active Top Secret security clearance

Desired Qualifications:

Active professional certifications such as OSCP, PNPT, GPEN, CEH, or similar penetration testing and offensive security credentials

Proven ability to research, develop, and execute complex exploits and proof-of-concept attacks

Strong technical background in firmware analysis, binary exploitation, and embedded systems security assessments

Proficiency in assessing cloud architectures and deployments across Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform

Familiarity with the NIST SP 800-53 security controls and risk management frameworks

The salary range for this position is $155,000.00 - $170,000.00 commensurate on experience and technical skillset.

We are open to considering a variety of levels of experience for these projects and potential for 1099 hourly opportunity.

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, confirm US Citizenship, and complete the required employment eligibility verification upon hire.

Ready to apply?

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