Penetration Tester - UK

Cognisys; United States; Remote; USD 74,000 - 101,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Health care plan

Training budget

Referral bonus

Job summary

Cognisys is a UK-based cybersecurity firm delivering Penetration Testing, GRC consulting and managed security services. This remote role in the UK focuses on delivering security assessments across networks, apps and cloud environments while communicating findings to clients clearly and professionally.

You will work with a small, ambitious team, contributing to a range of client engagements and helping to shape Cognisys’ testing methodologies and client service approach.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience conducting penetration testing across environments.
• Experience with vulnerability scanning tools alongside manual testing and exploitation techniques.
• Strong ability to explain technical findings to non-technical clients.
• Experience across networks, web apps, APIs, mobile apps and cloud security.

Responsibilities

• Penetration Testing & Security Assessments across networks, web apps, APIs, mobile apps and cloud environments.
• Simulate real-world attack scenarios and identify vulnerabilities.
• Use automated tools and manual testing to identify security issues.
• Prepare high-quality reports with findings, evidence, risk and remediation recommendations.
• Communicate results clearly to clients and support remediation prioritisation.
• Collaborate with the cybersecurity team to improve testing methodologies.

Skills

Penetration testing

Security assessments

Client engagement

Vulnerability scanning

Manual testing

Job description

Location: UK (Remote) Must be based in the UK.

Salary: Competitive Compensation

About Cognisys

Cognisys is a global cybersecurity company specialising in Penetration Testing, GRC Consulting and Managed Security services. We work with organisations across more than 30 countries, helping them identify risk, strengthen their security posture and navigate an increasingly complex cybersecurity landscape.

We're a small but mighty team with ambitious plans for growth. We combine deep technical expertise with a strong focus on customer service, practical advice and delivering meaningful outcomes for our clients.

Our people are at the heart of what we do. We value Together, Ownership, Momentum and Excellence,and we want people who are curious, collaborative and willing to take ownership of their work.

As we continue to grow, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside experienced cybersecurity professionals, contribute to challenging client engagements and help shape the way we deliver our services. We believe in giving our people the opportunity to develop, share ideas and make a genuine impact.

The Opportunity

Are you ready to make an impact in the fast-paced world of cybersecurity?

Cognisys is growing rapidly, and we're looking for a Pen Tester to join our team during an exciting period of innovation and expansion.

As a Pen Tester, you'll be responsible for delivering and supporting security assessments across a range of client environments, including networks, applications and cloud infrastructure.

You'll use a combination of automated tools and manual techniques to simulate real-world attack scenarios, identify meaningful vulnerabilities and help clients understand and address their security risks.

This is a client-facing role where technical expertise is only part of the job. You'll also need to communicate your findings clearly, produce high-quality reports and help both technical and non-technical stakeholders understand the risks and practical steps they can take to improve their security posture.

What You'll Be Doing

Penetration Testing & Security Assessments

• Conduct penetration testing across networks, web applications, APIs, mobile applications and cloud environments.
• Simulate real-world attack scenarios to assess client resilience against cyber threats.
• Use a combination of automated vulnerability scanning tools and manual testing and exploitation techniques.
• Identify, analyse and exploit security vulnerabilities across diverse client environments.
• Assess the effectiveness of technical security controls and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Apply appropriate offensive security methodologies, tools and techniques throughout engagements.
• Stay up to date with emerging vulnerabilities, attack techniques and industry developments.

Client Delivery & Communication

• Work directly with clients throughout penetration testing engagements.
• Present findings and recommendations clearly and professionally.
• Help clients understand the potential business and technical impact of identified vulnerabilities.
• Communicate complex technical concepts in a way that is accessible to non-technical stakeholders.
• Support clients in understanding and prioritising remediation activities.
• Build positive and professional relationships with client stakeholders.

Reporting & Quality

• Produce high-quality technical reports following each engagement.
• Clearly document vulnerabilities, exploitation techniques, evidence, risk and remediation recommendations.
• Ensure technical findings are accurate, well-evidenced and easy for clients to understand.
• Translate technical detail into clear, practical recommendations for both technical and executive audiences.
• Maintain Cognisys high standards for quality, consistency and client service.

Team Contribution & Development

• Work collaboratively with the wider cybersecurity team.
• Share knowledge, techniques and lessons learned with colleagues.
• Contribute to the continued development of Cognisys penetration testing methodologies and ways of working.
• Take ownership of your continued technical and professional development.
• Support a culture of learning, collaboration and continuous improvement.

About You

We're looking for someone with a strong technical foundation in offensive security who is equally comfortable working with clients and communicating technical findings.

You’ll ideally have:

• Hands-on experience conducting penetration testing and security assessments.
• Experience using vulnerability scanning tools alongside manual testing and exploitation techniques.
• A strong understanding of offensive security methodologies, tools and techniques.
• A strong grasp of how to assess and break technical controls, with the ability to explain the findings clearly to clients.
• Experience across one or more of the following areas:
  • Network penetration testing
  • Web application testing
  • API testing
  • Mobile application testing
  • Cloud security testing
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to communicate technical vulnerabilities and risks in a clear, non-technical format.
• Strong client engagement skills and a professional approach to customer service.
• The ability to manage your workload effectively and deliver work to agreed deadlines.
• A proactive approach to learning and keeping up to date with developments in offensive security.

Certifications

The following certifications are highly regarded:

Industry-recognised certifications are preferred and may include:

• OSCP
• CPSA
• CRT
• CREST-related certifications
• Other relevant penetration testing or offensive security certifications

Relevant practical experience will also be considered alongside formal certifications.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means becoming a trusted technical consultant who can independently deliver high-quality penetration testing engagements while providing an excellent client experience.

For Example:

• Deliver thorough, accurate and professional penetration testing engagements across a variety of client environments.
• Confidently assess and exploit vulnerabilities using a combination of automated tools and manual testing techniques.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of how technical controls can be assessed, bypassed and exploited in realistic attack scenarios.
• Produce clear, detailed and actionable technical reports that help clients understand their vulnerabilities and how to remediate them.
• Communicate technical findings effectively to both technical teams and non-technical stakeholders.
• Present findings and recommendations confidently to clients and support them in prioritising remediation.
• Take ownership of your engagements, managing your testing, documentation and deliverables effectively.
• Continue to develop your technical knowledge and stay current with evolving offensive security techniques, tools and threats.
• Contribute positively to the wider penetration testing team by sharing knowledge, supporting colleagues and continuously looking for ways to improve our approach.

Why Join Us?

At Cognisys, you will be part of a collaborative and innovative team that values your input and shares support. You'll have the opportunity to work on challenging projects that make a real impact for our clients. We'd love to hear from you if you want to challenge, lead and innovate! We're not just about the work; we're about the people. Join a team where innovation is celebrated, and your contributions are valued. We foster a collaborative environment where fresh ideas thrive, and professional growth is encouraged.

What we Offer:

• Annual Leave: 25 days per year plus 8 English bank holidays.
• Additional Leave: 1 day of paid leave for your Birthday.
• Health & Wellbeing: Access to Westfield Health Care Cash Plan and an employee mental health and wellbeing platform.
• Professional Development: £2,000 annual training budget to support your continued learning and career growth.
• Referral Bonus: help to grow our team and earn up to £2,000 per successful referral.

Applications

We welcome applications from candidates from a range of diverse backgrounds and can make various reasonable adjustments to consider individual needs.