Penetration Tester - Offensive Security Specialist

Placements24; Mtubatuba Local Municipality; Hybrid; ZAR 482,000 - 1,033,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Competitive hourly rate

Diverse clients

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Penetration Tester for a contract role based in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, with a hybrid work model. You will conduct penetration tests on web apps, networks, and mobile platforms, develop scripts, and deliver detailed remediation reports to clients.

Ideal candidates have 4+ years in pentesting, strong knowledge of Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap and Kali Linux, plus OSCP/CEH/CREST desirables.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or related field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 4 years hands-on experience in penetration testing and vulnerability assessment.
• Proficiency with penetration testing tools (Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap, Kali Linux).
• Strong understanding of networking, web app security, OS, and OWASP Top 10.
• Experience in scripting (Python, Bash) and exploiting vulnerabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Certifications such as OSCP, CEH, or CREST are highly desirable.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Conduct penetration tests on web apps, networks, and mobile apps.
• Perform vulnerability assessments and identify weaknesses.
• Develop scripts/tools to aid testing activities.
• Document findings and provide remediation reports to clients.
• Present results and recommendations to clients.
• Stay updated on latest exploitation techniques, tools, and attack vectors.
• Define testing scope and objectives with clients.
• Participate in red team exercises and simulate threats.

Skills

Scripting (Python, Bash)

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Cybersecurity or related field

Tools

Metasploit

Burp Suite

Nmap

Kali Linux

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge cybersecurity consultancy, is seeking an experienced Penetration Tester to join their elite team. This role is based in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, ZA , and operates on a hybrid model, offering flexibility. You will be tasked with proactively identifying security vulnerabilities in client systems, applications, and networks through sophisticated ethical hacking techniques. This position is crucial for helping clients strengthen their defenses against real-world threats. You will have the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients across various industries, applying your expertise to uncover weaknesses before malicious actors do. This is a challenging role for security professionals passionate about offensive security.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive penetration tests on web applications, network infrastructure, and mobile applications.
• Perform vulnerability assessments and identify exploitable weaknesses.
• Develop custom scripts and tools to aid in penetration testing activities.
• Document findings, provide detailed reports with remediation recommendations, and present results to clients.
• Stay current with the latest exploitation techniques, tools, and attack vectors.
• Collaborate with clients to define testing scope and objectives.
• Participate in red team exercises to simulate advanced persistent threats.
• Continuously research and develop new penetration testing methodologies.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 4 years of hands‑on experience in penetration testing and vulnerability assessment.
• Proficiency with various penetration testing tools (e.g., Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap, Kali Linux).
• Strong understanding of networking, web application security, operating systems, and common vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10).
• Experience in scripting (Python, Bash) and exploiting vulnerabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate technical findings.
• Relevant certifications such as OSCP, CEH, or CREST are highly desirable.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Benefits

This contracting role offers a competitive hourly rate and the opportunity to work on diverse and challenging projects. While it is a contract position, our client provides a supportive team environment and access to a wide array of testing tools and resources. The hybrid work arrangement in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, ZA provides flexibility. You will gain invaluable experience working with leading organizations and honing your offensive security skills.