Cyber Security
Penetration Tester Jobs & Careers
Looking for your next Penetration Tester opportunity?
HOK Consulting connects Penetration Testers with organisations identifying and addressing vulnerabilities across applications, networks, cloud platforms and wider technology environments across permanent, contract and interim opportunities.
Whether your experience covers web application testing, infrastructure testing, cloud security or vulnerability assessment, explore current opportunities or upload your CV to join HOK’s technology talent network.
Current Penetration Tester Jobs
Explore current Penetration Tester opportunities available through HOK Consulting.
Can’t see the right Penetration Tester role?
If there are currently no suitable Penetration Tester vacancies listed, upload your CV and tell us what you’re looking for. Our team can contact you when a relevant permanent, contract or interim opportunity becomes available.
What Does a Penetration Tester Do?
Penetration Testers assess systems, applications and networks for security weaknesses by simulating the techniques an attacker could use to gain unauthorised access or compromise sensitive information.
The role can cover web applications, infrastructure, networks, cloud environments and other technology services, with testers identifying vulnerabilities, demonstrating potential impact and helping organisations understand how weaknesses should be remediated.
Penetration Testers often work alongside security engineers, application teams, infrastructure specialists and cyber security consultants to strengthen technical security and reduce the likelihood of vulnerabilities being successfully exploited.
Penetration Tester Skills & Experience
The exact requirements vary between organisations, but Penetration Tester roles commonly involve experience across areas such as:
- Penetration Testing
- Vulnerability Assessment
- Application Security
- Web Application Security
- Network Security
- Cloud Security
- Security Engineering
- Vulnerability Management
- Web Application Firewall (WAF)
- F5
- Akamai
- Imperva
- AWS WAF
- Azure WAF
- Palo Alto Networks
- Security Architecture
Some Penetration Testers specialise in web applications, infrastructure or cloud environments, while others work across a wider range of offensive security assessments.
Strong technical investigation, reporting and communication skills are particularly important because the role requires both identifying vulnerabilities and clearly explaining their impact and recommended remediation.
Typical Penetration Tester Responsibilities
- Planning and conducting penetration tests across technology environments
- Testing web applications for security vulnerabilities
- Assessing networks, infrastructure and systems for weaknesses
- Identifying vulnerabilities and potential attack paths
- Validating the impact and exploitability of security weaknesses
- Supporting cloud and application security assessments
- Documenting technical findings and evidence
- Producing clear penetration testing reports
- Recommending practical remediation actions
- Retesting vulnerabilities following remediation
- Working with engineering and security teams to explain findings
- Keeping knowledge of emerging vulnerabilities and attack techniques current
Responsibilities vary depending on the organisation, type of testing being performed and whether the role focuses on applications, infrastructure, cloud platforms or broader offensive security.
Penetration Tester Salary Expectations
Penetration Tester salaries vary according to experience, location, technical specialism, sector and the complexity of the environments being assessed.
Permanent Penetration Tester
Around £55,200 per year
UK average base salary
Contract Penetration Testing
Around £565 per day
UK median for contracts requiring Penetration Testing expertise
Senior Penetration Testers and professionals with specialist application security, cloud security, financial services or advanced offensive security experience may command higher salaries or contract rates.
Salary information is provided as a general UK market guide. The contract figure uses the wider Penetration Testing market because it provides a larger current sample than the exact job title alone.
Penetration Tester Career Progression
Penetration Testing can lead into senior offensive security, application security, security engineering and architecture positions.
Typical Penetration Tester Career Path
Alternative Career Paths
Penetration Testers may also progress into specialist roles such as:
- Application Security Engineer
- Security Engineer
- Security Architect
- Cloud Security Engineer
- Cyber Security Consultant
- Vulnerability Management Analyst
- Security Engineering Lead
The right progression depends on whether you want to deepen your offensive security expertise, move into application or cloud security, progress towards architecture or take responsibility for wider cyber security teams and programmes.
Your Next Move
Looking for Your Next Penetration Tester Opportunity?
If you’re considering your next permanent position, contract assignment or interim opportunity, send HOK Consulting your CV.
Tell us about your penetration testing experience, the environments you specialise in and the type of opportunity you’re looking for.
Specialist Recruitment
Cyber Security Recruitment
Penetration Testing forms part of HOK Consulting’s wider Cyber Security recruitment expertise, connecting organisations with specialists across offensive security, application security, vulnerability management, security engineering, cloud security and information security.
Hiring?
Recruiting Penetration Testers?
HOK Consulting supports organisations looking for experienced Penetration Testers across permanent, contract and interim requirements.
Whether you’re expanding offensive security capability, strengthening application testing, assessing cloud environments or need specialist penetration testing expertise for a wider cyber security programme, speak to HOK about your requirements.