Penetration Tester

A-LIGN; Tampa (FL); Remote; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

401(k) Plan

Competitive bonus structure

Technology allowance

Certification reimbursement

Personalized career coaching

Generous PTO

Vacation bonus

Summer hours

Job summary

Pathfynder by A-LIGN seeks an experienced Penetration Tester to perform external network, web application, and API security testing for diverse clients. You will identify real-world risks, manually exploit vulnerabilities, and deliver remediation guidance with clear client communication.

You will mentor junior testers, contribute to repeatable testing practices, and help grow our offensive security offerings in a fast-paced, remote environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in cybersecurity, computer science, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years hands-on offensive security with external network, web app, or API testing.
• Experience with black-box, grey-box, and white-box testing approaches.
• Experience testing APIs including REST/GraphQL/SOAP/gRPC.
• Ability to manage engagements from scoping to reporting and client debriefs.

Responsibilities

• Execute external network, web application, and API penetration testing engagements.
• Identify, validate, and manually exploit vulnerabilities using public exploits or custom exploits.
• Evaluate findings, develop realistic attack paths, and assess risk.
• Deliver client-ready reports with findings, risk ratings, evidence, and remediation guidance.
• Communicate testing results to client stakeholders and maintain project timelines.
• Collaborate with offensive security team to improve tools and methods.
• Mentor junior testers and contribute to team capability development.

Skills

Penetration testing

Web application security

API security

OWASP

Public exploits

Education

Degree in cybersecurity or related field

Tools

Burp Suite

Nmap

Nessus

OWASP Testing Guide tools

Job description

About the Role

The Penetration Tester works to execute offensive security activities for Pathfynder by A-LIGN. In this role, you will be responsible for the delivery of external network, web application, and API penetration testing engagements. As the Penetration Tester, you will provide exceptional technical and client-focused testing strategies to help support the continued growth of our fast-paced company. A-LIGN will depend on you as the Penetration Tester to independently identify and validate real-world security risks, manually exploit vulnerabilities, document findings, and communicate practical remediation guidance to clients.

Reports to

Director, Web Application & External Offensive Operations

Pay Classification

Full-Time, Exempt

Responsibilities

• Execute external network, web application, and API penetration testing engagements
• Identify, validate, and manually exploit vulnerabilities using public exploits, custom-developed exploits, or a combination of techniques
• Evaluate findings in context, develop realistic attack paths, and accurately assess business and technical risk
• Deliver clear, accurate, client-ready reports that explain findings, risk ratings, evidence, and actionable remediation guidance
• Communicate technical issues, testing results, and remediation recommendations to client stakeholders
• Maintain project quality and timelines while executing assigned engagements with minimal oversight
• Collaborate with the offensive security team to evaluate tools, improve delivery methods, and share technical knowledge
• Mentor junior testers and contribute to the development of team capabilities and repeatable testing practices

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION

• Degree in in cybersecurity, computer science, a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience

Experience

• 5+ years of hands-on offensive security experience, including at least 3 years focused on external network, web application, or API penetration testing
• Experience performing web application penetration testing using black-box, grey-box, and white-box approaches
• Experience testing APIs, including REST, GraphQL, SOAP, or gRPC
• Proven ability to manage engagements from scoping and execution through reporting and client debriefs.
• Working knowledge of OWASP WSTG, OWASP ASVS, OWASP API Security Top 10, and PTES
• Consulting or client-facing security delivery experience is preferred
• Mobile application penetration testing experience across iOS or Android is preferred
• White-box or source-code-assisted testing experience is preferred

Certifications

• Required at least one of the following: OSCP/OSCP+, OSWA, eWPT, HTB CWES, TCM PWPP, GWAPT, GPEN, or CREST CRT
• Preferred: OSWE, HTB CWEE, BSCP, eWPTX, CREST CCT APP, TCM PWPE, OSEP, or GXPN
• Published CVEs, conference presentations, or meaningful contributions to open-source security tooling may be considered in place of certifications

Skills

• Advanced manual testing skills, including the ability to chain lower-severity findings into high-impact attack paths
• Advanced web exploitation knowledge, including access control and authorisation flaws, OAuth, SAML and JWT abuse, SSRF, deserialisation, request smuggling, race conditions, and business logic abuse
• Knowledge of external attack surfaces, including OSINT, asset discovery, edge-device exploitation, and SSO or MFA attack techniques
• Proficiency with scripting languages such as Python, Bash, JavaScript, PowerShell, or Go, including the ability to build custom tooling and exploits
• Proficiency with offensive security and assessment tools such as Burp Suite, Caido, Nmap, Nuclei, SQLmap, ffuf, Postman, and Nessus
• Familiarity with common application frameworks, including Laravel, Express.js, ASP.NET Core, Spring, and Django
• Ability to write clear, concise, client-ready reports with accurate risk ratings and actionable remediation guidance
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain technical risks to technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, remote environment while meeting deadlines.
• Experience assessing AI or LLM-integrated applications for prompt injection, jailbreaks, data leakage, and agent or tool abuse is preferred
• Familiarity with the OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications and cloud attack surfaces across AWS, Azure, or GCP is preferred

Benefits

• Healthcare, Dental, and Vision Benefits
• Employer Paid Life Insurance and Disability Insurance
• EAP - Employee Assistance Program
• Pet Insurance
• 401(k) Plan with Employer Matching
• Competitive Bonus Structure
• Technology Allowance
• Certification Reimbursement
• Personalized Career Coaching
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Paid Office Closure December 25-January 1
• Vacation Bonus
• Summer Hours

About Pathfynder by A-LIGN

Pathfynder by A-LIGN is a technology-enabled cybersecurity company providing offensive and defensive cybersecurity services under A-LIGN, a security and compliance partner trusted by more than 2,400 global organisations to help mitigate cybersecurity risks. We work with organisations ranging from small businesses to global enterprises, with services spanning SOC, Penetration Testing, PCI DSS, HITRUST, ISO, and privacy compliance. Our proprietary compliance management platform is transforming the compliance experience by enabling an anytime, anywhere approach to audits. To learn more, visit A-LIGN.com.

A-LIGN is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities, women, disabled individuals, and veterans are encouraged to apply.