A penetration tester plays a crucial role in safeguarding an organization's digital assets and information by proactively identifying and addressing security weaknesses. This role requires a high level of technical expertise, ethical conduct, and a commitment to continuous improvement in the field of cybersecurity.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of applications and systems using various tools and techniques.
Execute penetration tests to simulate real-world cyberattacks, identifying weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
Provide expert guidance on application security best practices.
Research and develop new penetration testing methodologies, tools, and techniques.
Qualifications & Skills:
2+ years of experience in product security (web, mobile, API, cloud, infrastructure, and container security) or equivalent skillset.
Penetration testing experience is essential; prior participation in bug bounty programs is a plus.
Proficiency with hacking tools and penetration testing frameworks (e.g., Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap, Wireshark).
Expertise in web application security testing, including knowledge of OWASP Top Ten vulnerabilities.
Experience identifying and assessing vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, and more.
Proficiency in exploiting vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access and assess attack impact.
Understanding of vulnerability scoring systems (e.g., CVSS) for prioritizing findings.
Ability to think creatively and analytically to identify and exploit vulnerabilities.
Strong problem-solving skills when encountering unexpected challenges during testing.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for conveying technical details to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Meticulous attention to detail in documenting findings and creating reports.
Effective time management skills to meet project deadlines and testing schedules.
High level of integrity and professionalism, with the ability to work under pressure while maintaining confidentiality.
Preferred Skills:
Hands-on technical experience with cloud security solutions for leading cloud service providers (e.g., AWS).
Experience with secure code review (SAST) tools for languages such as C/C++, Java, and Python, and relevant frameworks.