Penetration Tester

A-LIGN; United States; Remote; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

401(k) with matching

Certification reimbursement

Vacation / paid time off

Bonus structure

Job summary

A-LIGN's Penetration Tester role focuses on executing offensive security engagements across external networks, web applications, and APIs. You will identify, validate, and manually exploit vulnerabilities, assess attack paths, and document findings with remediation guidance for clients.

This full-time role reports to the Director, Web Application & External Offensive Operations and requires 2–5 years of hands-on testing experience, with certifications such as OSCP or OSWE preferred.

Qualifications

• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, MIS, CS, or relevant discipline.
• 2-5 years of hands-on penetration testing experience in at least one area: external, web app, API, or mobile tests.
• Experience independently executing penetration testing engagements and producing high-quality client deliverables.
• Knowledge of established penetration testing methodologies and disciplined evidence collection practices.
• Experience identifying and manually validating exploitable vulnerabilities rather than relying solely on automated scanning.
• Experience communicating technical findings, risk, and remediation guidance clearly to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Preferred OSCP, eWPT, eWPTX, OSWA, or OSWE certification.

Responsibilities

• Execute external network, web app, and API penetration testing engagements in accordance with defined scopes, methodologies, and rules of engagement.
• Identify, validate, and manually exploit vulnerabilities using public exploits or internal techniques.
• Evaluate attack paths and determine business and technical impact of identified vulnerabilities.
• Write clear, accurate client reports detailing findings, risk, evidence, and remediation guidance.
• Communicate with clients throughout engagements, including technical discussions and walkthroughs.
• Execute assigned projects with minimal oversight while maintaining quality and professionalism.
• Collaborate with team members to evaluate tools and improve testing methodologies and reporting standards.
• Share knowledge with less-experienced team members and clients.

Skills

Nmap

Burp Suite

SQLmap

Postman

Nuclei

Wireshark

Nessus

Caido

Education

Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, MIS, CS, or relevant discipline

Tools

Python

Bash

PowerShell

JavaScript

SQL

Job description

About the Role

The Penetration Tester works to execute offensive security activities across external networks, web applications, and APIs. In this role, you will be responsible for the execution of penetration testing engagements, including identifying, validating, and manually exploiting vulnerabilities, evaluating potential attack paths, and documenting findings and remediation guidance. As the Penetration Tester, you will provide exceptional technical and creative strategies to support the continued growth of our fast-paced company. A-LIGN will depend on you as the Penetration Tester to support management, independently execute assigned projects, communicate technical findings to clients, and contribute to the continuous improvement of our offensive security tools, methodologies, and delivery processes.

Reports to

Director, Web Application & External Offensive Operations

Pay Classification

Full-Time, Exempt

Responsibilities

• Execute external network, web application, and API penetration testing engagements in accordance with defined scopes, methodologies, and rules of engagement


• Identify, validate, and manually exploit vulnerabilities using public exploits, internally developed techniques, or a combination of approaches


• Evaluate attack paths and determine the potential business and technical impact of identified vulnerabilities


• Compile and write clear, accurate, and defensible client reports that explain findings, risk, evidence, and remediation guidance


• Communicate with clients throughout engagements, including technical discussions, findings walkthroughs, and responses to questions or challenges


• Execute assigned projects with minimal oversight while maintaining quality, professionalism, and attention to detail


• Collaborate with team members to evaluate offensive security tools and improve testing methodologies, delivery processes, and reporting standards


• Share technical knowledge and practical guidance with less-experienced team members and clients when appropriate


• Maintain current knowledge of emerging vulnerabilities, attack techniques, security research, and industry trends

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION

• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, management information systems, computer science, or relevant discipline

EXPERIENCE

• 2-5 years of hands-on penetration testing experience in at least one of the following areas:
  
  
  
  • External Penetration Tests
  
  
  • Web Application Penetration Tests
  
  
  • API Penetration Tests
  
  
  • Mobile Application Penetration Tests
  
  
  
  


• Experience independently executing penetration testing engagements and producing high-quality client deliverables


• Knowledge of established penetration testing methodologies and disciplined evidence collection practices


• Experience identifying and manually validating exploitable vulnerabilities rather than relying solely on automated scanning


• Experience communicating technical findings, risk, and remediation guidance clearly to clients and internal stakeholders

CERTIFICATIONS

• Preferred OSCP, eWPT, eWPTX, OSWA, or OSWE certification

SKILLS

• Proficiency with commonly used offensive security tools such as Nmap, SQLmap, Burp Suite, Postman, Nuclei, Wireshark, Nessus, and Caido


• Proficiency with one or more scripting languages such as Python, Bash, JavaScript, PowerShell, or SQL


• Solid understanding of web technologies, networking concepts, authentication, access control, and common application security weaknesses


• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a remote, fast-paced environment


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical issues to different audiences


• Ability to meet deadlines while maintaining a high degree of motivation, self-discipline, and quality

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


• Tech 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 leading technology-enabled cybersecurity company providing premium offensive and defensive cybersecurity services operating under A-LIGN, a security and compliance partner trusted by more than 2,400 global organizations to confidently mitigate cybersecurity risks. We work with small businesses to global enterprises with services spanning across 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. For more information, visit www.A-LIGN.com.

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