Penetration Tester

Role Overview

We are seeking an elite, senior-level Penetration Tester and RMF Subject Matter Expert to lead complex security assessments and drive advanced vulnerability discovery. In this role, you will act as the principal authority on defensive and offensive testing, providing critical technical expertise to support the Risk Management Framework (RMF) lifecycle. You will direct comprehensive testing phases during security controls assessments, leveraging deep, specialized knowledge of network architectures, specialized equipment, operating systems, protocols, and federal compliance standards.

Core Responsibilities & Expanded Penetration Testing Duties

• RMF & Security Control Testing: Provide senior-level technical expertise to validate, assess, and challenge security controls throughout the RMF lifecycle. Direct and participate in rigorous testing phases during formal authorization assessments.
• Full-Scope Penetration Testing: Plan, scope, and execute advanced network-level and application-level penetration tests (both black-box and white-box) using established methodologies, framework protocols, and custom exploitation techniques.
• Red Teaming & Simulation: Emulate sophisticated adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to evaluate the resilience of enterprise architectures, equipment, and services against live threats.
• Vulnerability Assessment & Research: Lead active research efforts into emerging technologies, novel exploits, and zero-day vulnerabilities relevant to information systems security to proactively defend agency assets.
• Post-Exploitation & Risk Analysis: Analyze penetration testing results to determine lateral movement potential, data exfiltration vectors, and the true business or mission impact of discovered vulnerabilities.
• Regulatory Interpretation & Reporting: Translate complex federal and agency-specific security regulations into actionable engineering and testing criteria. Deliver comprehensive technical risk reports and executive-level briefs detailing mitigation roadmaps for system owners.

Required Qualifications & Experience Matrix

• Experience Threshold: Minimum of 12 years of directly related work experience in information security and technical testing.
• • Education Substitution: A Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or IT Engineering may be substituted for exactly 4 years of experience (requiring 8 years of hands-on experience alongside the degree).
• Technical Tool Proficiency: Highly proficient in deploying, configuring, and modifying a diverse toolkit of industry-standard vulnerability scanners, exploitation frameworks, and automated or manual penetration testing tools.
• System & Protocol Expertise: Advanced understanding of network protocols, complex enterprise architectures, operating system internals, and modern IT services.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Proven experience interpreting, applying, and auditing against federal security mandates and agency-specific regulations.

Compliance, Certifications & Clearance Requirements

• Mandatory Professional Certifications: Candidates must satisfy DoD 8570.01-M requirements by holding:
• • IAT Level III or IAM Level III baseline certification.
  • Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).
  • An active, recognized vendor certification in a major operating system (e.g., Linux/Unix or Windows environments).

Position requires active Security Clearance with appropriate Polygraph

Pay Range: $160,000-$235,000

• Please note that the listed salary range for this position at M2 Technology Group is intended as a helpful guide, not a fixed guarantee. We strive to build offers that are equitable and competitive by looking at a variety of factors. Your final compensation will be tailored based on your individual experience, educational background, specialized skills, and the specific demands of the role.

Benefits!? Were glad you asked!

Personal Time Off & Holidays

• Employees earn 20 Days of Personal Time Off Annually *Want more? Earn an extra day every anniversary for up to 25 Days!
• 9 Paid Federal Holidays + 2 Floating Holidays

Health Care, Dental & Vision

• Three Tiered Medical Plans from CareFirst BCBS
• $5,500 Medical Opt-Out
• Dental, Vision, LTD and STD- 100% Company-paid

401k (Nothing but the best here!)

• 10% Employer Contribution (No match needed!) 7% Safe Harbor - 3% Profit Sharing
• Includes Safe Harbor and Profit Sharing - Immediate Vesting!

Training & Education Reimbursement

• Up to $7,500 Training/Tuition Reimbursements
• Flexible Additional Training Support Available Upon Request

Charity Donation Match

• Feeling Charitable?
• $250 Annual Donation Match to any Charitable Organization

Pet Adoption

• Need a furry companion?
• $250 Contribution Towards Pet Adoption

Referral Bonus & Company Events

• $7,500 Referral Bonus
• Quarterly Happy Hours, Annual Picnic, Holiday Party, Movie Nights, All Hands Meet Ups

Other Perks

• Swag Drops!, Flexible work schedule, Employee Appreciation Awards, Work Anniversary Gifts, Newborn Gifts