Senior Penetration Tester

Placements24; Benoni; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote position

Competitive compensation with bonus

Training, certifications budget

Access to cutting-edge security tools

Flexible work-life integration

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Penetration Tester to join its security team in a fully remote role. You will identify vulnerabilities across networks, applications, and clouds, conducting rigorous ethical hacking, and delivering actionable remediation reports.

The ideal candidate brings 5+ years in penetration testing, strong networking and cloud security knowledge, and certifications such as OSCP/CEH. You will collaborate with development and operations to strengthen defenses and drive

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience in CS/Cybersecurity.
• 5+ years in penetration testing and vulnerability assessment.
• Strong knowledge of networking protocols, OS, web app security, and cloud security.
• Experience with Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap, Kali Linux; scripting in Python/PowerShell is a plus.
• Relevant certifications (OSCP/CEH/GPEN/CISSP) are a strong asset.

Responsibilities

• Plan, execute, and document penetration tests on networks, apps, and cloud.
• Identify and exploit vulnerabilities using manual and automated tools.
• Perform red teaming exercises to simulate threats.
• Develop clear reports with remediation recommendations for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Stay current with attack vectors and security trends.
• Collaborate with teams to remediate findings and improve controls.

Skills

Networking expertise

Python/PowerShell scripting

Security assessments

Report writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Cybersecurity

Tools

Metasploit

Burp Suite

Nmap

Kali Linux

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled Senior Penetration Tester to join their security team, working entirely remotely. In this role, you will be responsible for identifying vulnerabilities in our client's systems, networks, and applications through rigorous ethical hacking techniques. You will conduct comprehensive security assessments, simulate real-world attack scenarios, and provide detailed reports with actionable recommendations for remediation. The ideal candidate is passionate about cybersecurity, possesses advanced technical skills, and excels at finding weaknesses before malicious actors do. This is a critical role for ensuring the security and resilience of our client's digital infrastructure, offering significant autonomy and impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, execute, and document penetration tests on networks, applications, and cloud environments.
• Identify and exploit security vulnerabilities using a variety of manual and automated tools and techniques.
• Perform red teaming exercises to simulate advanced persistent threats and assess overall security posture.
• Develop detailed, clear, and actionable reports for technical and non-technical audiences, outlining findings and remediation strategies.
• Stay current with the latest attack vectors, exploitation techniques, and security trends.
• Collaborate with development and operations teams to help remediate identified vulnerabilities and improve security controls.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of professional experience in penetration testing and vulnerability assessment.
• Deep understanding of networking protocols, operating systems, web application security, and cloud security.
• Proficiency with common penetration testing tools such as Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap, and Kali Linux.
• Experience in scripting or programming languages (e.g., Python, PowerShell) for automation is highly desirable.
• Relevant certifications such as OSCP, CEH, GPEN, or CISSP are a strong asset.

Benefits

• Excellent compensation package, including base salary and performance bonuses.
• Fully remote position offering maximum flexibility and work-life integration.
• Access to leading-edge security tools and resources.
• Generous budget for training, certifications, and conference attendance.
• Opportunity to work on diverse and challenging security projects for a leading organization.