Sr. Associate, Offensive Security - New York, NY

VetJobs; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 79,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

Pfizer is seeking a Senior Associate, Offensive Security to proactively identify and validate security weaknesses across on‑premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. You will conduct penetration testing, adversary simulations, and purple team exercises within a highly regulated pharmaceutical setting, reporting to the Sr.

Manager, Offensive Security. You will collaborate with detection, remediation, engineering, and risk teams to ensure findings are clearly documented and translated into

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Security, CS, or engineering with 2+ years in cybersecurity.
• Hands-on penetration testing, vulnerability research, or security engineering.
• Experience documenting findings and communicating risk to stakeholders.
• Programming/scripting knowledge (Python, PowerShell, Bash).
• Team collaboration in regulated environments.

Responsibilities

• Conduct offensive security tests across on‑premises, cloud, and hybrid environments.
• Support red and purple team engagements with test plans and evidence.
• Identify vulnerabilities with remediation recommendations.
• Translate findings into actionable improvements for detection, engineering, and remediation teams.
• Collaborate with detection, incident response, and infrastructure teams to minimize business disruption.
• Escalate complex issues and high‑risk findings as needed.

Skills

Penetration testing

Vulnerability assessment

Python

PowerShell

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Security

Master's degree

Associate's degree

High school diploma

Tools

MITRE ATT&CK

Job description

Job Description

ATTENTION MILITARY AFFILIATED JOB SEEKERS - Our organization works with partner companies to source qualified talent for their open roles. The following position is available to Veterans, Transitioning Military, National Guard and Reserve Members, Military Spouses, Wounded Warriors, and their Caregivers. Unless specifically stated otherwise, this role is "On-Site" at the location detailed in the job post.

Role Summary

Our Global Cyber Defense team is responsible for safeguarding Pfizer’s digital assets and infrastructure through proactive threat detection, response, and risk mitigation across on‑premises, cloud, and hybrid environments.

The Senior Associate, Offensive Security supports offensive security activities that proactively identify, validate, and help prioritize security weaknesses across the digital environment. This role contributes to penetration testing, adversary simulation, and purple team exercises that continuously assess the organization’s exposure to real‑world threats. Operating within a highly regulated pharmaceutical environment, the Senior Associate partners closely with detection, remediation, engineering, and risk teams to ensure findings are clearly documented, actionable, and translated into measurable security improvements. This role will report to the Sr. Manager, Offensive Security.

Role Responsibilities

• Conduct offensive security testing activities including penetration tests and adversary simulation exercises across on‑premises, cloud, and hybrid environments.
• Support red team and purple team engagements by executing test plans, collecting evidence, and helping evaluate defensive control effectiveness.
• Identify, validate, and document security weaknesses, including technical details, proof of concept evidence, and clear remediation recommendations.
• Assist with translating offensive findings into actionable improvement items for detection, engineering, and remediation teams.
• Contribute to threat‑informed testing by mapping observed techniques to common attacker behaviors and helping highlight realistic attack paths.
• Maintain high quality reporting standards and ensure deliverables are accurate, complete, and aligned to ethical testing expectations and internal requirements.
• Support continuous improvement efforts for offensive security tooling, automation, repeatable test methods, and playbooks.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional partners (e.g., detection, incident response, vulnerability management, infrastructure, cloud) to coordinate testing logistics and minimize business disruption.
• Escalate complex technical issues, high‑risk findings, or unexpected conditions.

Auto req ID 480952BR

Minimum Education Required: High School/GED

Additional Qualifications/Responsibilities

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Applicant must have a Bachelor's degree in Information Security, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field with at least 2 years of experience in cybersecurity with hands‑on focus in offensive security, penetration testing, vulnerability research, or security engineering; OR a master's degree with more than 0+ years of experience; OR an associate's degree with 6 years of experience; OR a high school diploma (or equivalent) with 8 years of relevant experience.
• Practical experience executing penetration tests or security assessments, including reconnaissance, exploitation validation, and reporting.
• Strong understanding of common attack techniques and enterprise security concepts across identity, endpoints, networks, and cloud services.
• Ability to clearly document technical findings and communicate risk and remediation guidance to technical stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of at least one scripting/programming language commonly used for security work (e.g., Python, PowerShell, Bash).
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to operate in a process‑driven, highly regulated environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong hands‑on knowledge of: Red team and adversary emulation methodologies (MITRE ATT&CK–aligned)
• Application, cloud, network, and identity penetration testing
• Social engineering and phishing simulations (where appropriate)
• Tooling and frameworks commonly used in offensive security
• Experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, life sciences, or similarly regulated industries.
• Demonstrated capability supporting offensive security testing in cloud or hybrid environments.
• Exposure to partnering with detection engineering / SOC teams to improve detections based on offensive findings.
• Experience working in regulated industries (e.g., healthcare, life sciences, pharmaceuticals) or environments with high compliance expectations.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., CISSP, OSCP, CRTO, GPEN/GXPN), or similar offensive security credentials.
• Demonstrated interest in improving repeatability through tooling, automation, and standardized playbooks.

Physical/Mental Requirements

No special physical requirements. Applicants should be capable of working through a personal laptop computer or mobile device for extended periods.

Non-standard Work Schedule, Travel Or Environment Requirements

Travel as required by the business (less than 5% domestic and/or international)

Work Location Assignment: Must be able to work in assigned Pfizer office 2-3 days per week, or as needed by the business

This role is NOT remote

Other Job Details

Work Location Assignment: Hybrid. Must be able to work from assigned Pfizer office 2-3 days per week, or as needed by the business

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $79,400.00 to $132,400.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Pfizer’s Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 7.5% of the base salary. We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support each of life’s moments. Benefits offered include a 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage. Learn more at Pfizer Candidate Site – U.S. Benefits | (uscandidates.mypfizerbenefits.com). Pfizer compensation structures and benefit packages are aligned based on the location of hire. The United States salary range provided does not apply to Tampa, FL or any location outside of the United States.

City New York

State New York

Job_Category Security

Job Code Security Staff

Affiliate Sponsor Pfizer