Penetration Tester Mid-Level

General Dynamics IT; Ashburn (VA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

General Dynamics IT is seeking a Penetration Tester to support CBP's Cyber Security Directorate. The role involves hands-on testing across networks, apps, endpoints, and cloud workloads, emulating adversaries to identify vulnerabilities and drive remediation.

You will work in a high-stakes, collaborative environment to strengthen defensive capabilities and protect critical operations. The position requires 3+ years of penetration testing, strong exploit knowledge, and relevant certifications.

Qualifications

• Three+ years of penetration testing or offensive security experience.
• Strong understanding of exploit development concepts, offensive tooling, and common security control weaknesses.
• Experience performing network, application, and wireless assessments using modern red-team methodologies.
• Ability to develop structured documentation, perform technical writing, and communicate with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Preferred certifications: PenTest+, eJPT, eCPPT, OSCP (valued), GPEN.

Responsibilities

• Conduct hands-on penetration testing of networks, applications, endpoints, cloud workloads, and mission systems to uncover security weaknesses.
• Use industry-standard tools to identify misconfigurations, privilege escalation paths, insecure protocols, and exploitable application flaws.
• Perform credentialed and non-credentialed testing, including reconnaissance, enumeration, exploitation, post-exploitation analysis, and vulnerability validation.
• Evaluate discovered vulnerabilities to determine exploitability and risk.
• Analyze complex environments to identify cross-domain security issues.
• Produce detailed technical assessment reports with remediation recommendations.
• Participate in follow-up assessments and retesting to ensure risk reduction.

Skills

Cyber Operations

Cybersecurity Strategies

Cyber Threat Intelligence

Security Operations

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT / CS / cybersecurity

Tools

Nmap

NESSUS

Metasploit

Burp Suite

CANVAS

Kismet

Job description

Requisition Details

• Type of Requisition: Regular
• Clearance Level Must Currently Possess: None
• Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None
• Public Trust/Other Required: BI Full 6C (T4)
• Job Family: Cyber and IT Risk Management

Job Qualifications

Skills: Cyber Operations, Cybersecurity Strategies, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Security Operations

Certifications: None

Experience: 3 + years of related experience

US Citizenship Required: Yes

Job Description

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Cyber Security Directorate (CSD) is leading one of the most comprehensive, mission critical cybersecurity operations in the federal government, protecting the digital infrastructure that safeguards America's borders. This multifaceted program spans 24/7/365 Security Operations Center (SOC) monitoring, advanced threat intelligence, forensics, incident response, cloud and network security engineering, zero trust modernization, vulnerability assessment, and enterprise-wide risk and compliance activities. The Penetration Tester will support teams at the forefront of national security, supporting sophisticated cyber operations that defend vital systems, enable secure mission execution, and counter rapidly evolving threats. You will find this work uniquely impactful, fast‑paced, and deeply collaborative, offering the opportunity to lead high performing technical teams, shape CBP's cybersecurity strategy, and contribute directly to the protection of the nation.

MEANINGFUL WORK AND PERSONAL IMPACT

The Penetration Tester plays a critical role in assessing the security of enterprise systems by emulating real‑world adversary behaviors to identify, validate, and help remediate vulnerabilities across networks, applications, and infrastructure. Operating within a high‑stakes cybersecurity mission environment, this role contributes directly to strengthening defensive capabilities and ensuring mission resilience.

• Conduct hands‑on penetration testing of networks, applications, endpoints, cloud workloads, and mission systems to uncover exploitable security weaknesses.
• Use industry‑standard tools-including Nmap, NESSUS, Metasploit, Burp Suite, CANVAS, Kismet, and other offensive frameworks-to identify misconfigurations, privilege escalation paths, insecure protocols, and exploitable application flaws.
• Perform credentialed and non‑credentialed testing, including reconnaissance, enumeration, exploitation, post‑exploitation analysis, and vulnerability validation.
• Evaluate discovered vulnerabilities to determine exploitability, impact, and potential operational risk.
• Analyze complex environments (hybrid cloud, containerized platforms, mobile, or legacy systems) to identify cross‑domain security issues.
• Produce detailed technical assessment reports, including vulnerability descriptions, exploitation steps, affected assets, and prioritized remediation recommendations.
• Participate in follow‑up assessments and retesting cycles to ensure remediation completeness and risk reduction.

What you’ll be working on effectively adds to the mission.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO SUCCEED

• Minimum of three (3) years of penetration testing or offensive security experience.
• Strong understanding of exploit development concepts, offensive tooling, and common security control weaknesses.
• Experience performing network, application, and wireless assessments using modern red‑team methodologies.
• Ability to develop structured documentation, perform technical writing, and have effective communication with both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Preferred certifications: CompTIA PenTest+, eJPT, eCPPT, OSCP (highly valued), GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN).

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, cybersecurity or a related field preferred.

Previous or Current CBP Background Investigation desired.

Salary

The likely salary range for this position is $107,744 - $129,375. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possibly contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range.

Additional Information

• Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40
• Travel Required: Less than 10%
• Telecommuting Options: Onsite
• Work Location: USA VA Ashburn
• Additional Work Locations:

Total Rewards at GDIT

Our benefits package for all US-based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post‑tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match. To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave. To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long‑term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel.