Lead Penetration Tester

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work options

Bonuses

Health benefits

Professional development budget

Job summary

Placements24 in Stellenbosch is seeking an experienced Lead Penetration Tester to head offensive security initiatives. You will lead a team of ethical hackers to simulate attacks across networks, applications, and cloud environments, identifying vulnerabilities before attackers leverage them.

The role requires a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity or CS, 5+ years' hands-on pentesting, proficiency with Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap and Kali Linux, and relevant certifications such as OSCP/CEH/GPEN.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, or related discipline.
• 5+ years hands-on experience in penetration testing and ethical hacking.
• Proficiency with penetration testing tools such as Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap, and Kali Linux.
• Certifications like OSCP, CEH, or GPEN are highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute penetration tests across web applications, networks, and cloud environments.
• Develop and maintain advanced testing methodologies and tools.
• Mentor and guide junior penetration testers, fostering their technical and analytical skills.
• Analyze penetration test results, documenting findings and providing clear, actionable remediation recommendations.
• Collaborate with development and operations teams to integrate security best practices into the SDLC.
• Stay abreast of the latest exploitation techniques and emerging threats.
• Perform social engineering tests and other offensive security assessments as required.

Skills

Penetration testing

Ethical hacking

Team leadership

Mentoring

Social engineering

Education

Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity or Computer Science

Tools

Metasploit

Burp Suite

Nmap

Kali Linux

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Lead Penetration Tester to spearhead their offensive security initiatives in Stellenbosch . In this challenging role, you will lead a team of ethical hackers in simulating real-world cyber-attacks to identify vulnerabilities in the company's networks, applications, and systems before malicious actors can exploit them. Your expertise in various attack vectors and tools will be crucial in providing actionable insights to bolster the organization's defenses. This is an opportunity to work in a dynamic environment with a strong focus on cutting-edge security practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and execute comprehensive penetration tests across web applications, networks, and cloud environments.
• Develop and maintain advanced testing methodologies and tools.
• Mentor and guide junior penetration testers, fostering their technical and analytical skills.
• Analyze penetration test results, documenting findings and providing clear, actionable remediation recommendations.
• Collaborate with development and operations teams to integrate security best practices into the SDLC.
• Stay abreast of the latest exploitation techniques and emerging threats.
• Perform social engineering tests and other offensive security assessments as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in penetration testing and ethical hacking.
• Proven expertise in exploiting common vulnerabilities (e.g., OWASP Top 10) and advanced attack techniques.
• Proficiency with penetration testing tools such as Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap, and Kali Linux.
• Strong understanding of network protocols, operating systems, and web application security.
• Relevant certifications like OSCP, CEH, or GPEN are highly desirable.

Benefits

• Attractive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
• Significant budget for professional development, training, and conference attendance.
• Flexible working arrangements, including hybrid options for the Stellenbosch team.
• A culture that values innovation, continuous learning, and technical excellence in offensive security .