Pentest Operator
Guidehouse · Beltsville · $113,000–$188,000 (stated in the posting)
Job Family:
IT Cyber Security
Travel Required:
Clearance Required:
What You Will Do:
The Pentest Operator will support and lead pentesting engagements on High Value Asset (HVA) systems and enterprise security assessments, helping clients understand real-world attack paths, validate defensive controls, and prioritize remediation activities based on mission risk. The role includes internal and external network testing, web application testing, Active Directory assessment, adversary emulation, red team and purple team activities, vulnerability validation and reporting, and developing and presenting executive-level out-briefs.
The ideal candidate brings hands-on offensive security experience, strong client-facing communication skills, and the ability to translate technical findings into risk-based recommendations for system owners, security teams, and senior leaders. The candidate should be comfortable working in commercial and federal environments and collaborating with technical operators, analysts, engineers, and government stakeholders as required.
Key Responsibilities include:
- Performing penetration testing activities across internal networks, external networks, web applications, enterprise systems, cloud-connected systems, and mission environments.
- Supporting High Value Asset (HVA) cybersecurity assessments by identifying and communicating exploitable vulnerabilities, validating security control effectiveness, and determining risk to critical systems and data.
- Conducting network mapping, reconnaissance, vulnerability validation, exploitation, post-exploitation analysis, and documentation of attack paths within approved Rules of Engagement.
- Draft and/or provide input into Rules of Engagement, test plans and objectives, scope input and documentation, and revising and updating assessment procedures required to obtain management and stakeholder approval.
- Conduct external testing to evaluate what an outside attacker may be able to access, exploit, or exfiltrate within the approved scope.
- Conduct internal testing to evaluate risk posed by users or systems with different access levels, including privilege escalation, lateral movement, persistence, and Active Directory attack paths.
- Support red team and adversary emulation activities that simulate realistic threat behavior, including targeted access objectives, command-and-control simulation, crafted test artifacts, and controlled social engineering when authorized.
- Conduct web application testing for common vulnerability classes, including broken access control, authentication and authorization weaknesses, injection flaws, cross-site scripting, insecure configuration, and other OWASP Top 10 risks.
- Use offensive security tools and frameworks such as Kali Linux, Burp Suite, Metasploit, Nmap, Nessus, Wireshark, BloodHound, Impacket, Responder, Hashcat, John the Ripper, CrackMapExec, Cobalt Strike, Sliver, and similar tools within approved engagement boundaries.
- Drive vulnerability analysis and validation using manual techniques, automated tools, and custom scripts or proof-of-concept code where appropriate.
- Support purple team and detection validation activities by mapping attacker behavior to defensive telemetry, identifying detection gaps, and recommending improvements to SIEM, EDR, and incident response processes.
- Analyze logs, endpoint artifacts, and network telemetry during exercises or assessments to help validate whether adversary behaviors are detected and escalated appropriately.
- Write and present clear, evidence-based reports that document findings, affected assets, exploitability, business or mission impact, and prioritized remediation recommendations.
- Deliver technical and executive out-briefs to client stakeholders, including system owners, security operations teams, engineering teams, and senior leaders.
- Stay current on emerging attack techniques, offensive tooling, detection approaches, and federal cybersecurity requirements, and apply that knowledge to strengthen client security posture.
What You Will Need:
- An ACTIVE and MAINTAINED SECRET Federal or DoD security clearance.
- Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field; additional relevant experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
- Minimum of FIVE (5) or more years of demonstrated hands-on experience in penetration testing, red team operations, adversary emulation, vulnerability assessment, application security testing, cyber operations, or related offensive security work.
- Experience performing internal and external network penetration testing, including reconnaissance, enumeration, exploitation, privilege escalation, lateral movement, and documentation of attack paths.
- Experience performing web application penetration testing using manual and automated techniques.
- Experience assessing Active Directory environments, Windows and Linux systems, and common enterprise network services.
- Experience using common penetration testing tools such as Burp Suite, Metasploit, Nmap, Nessus, Kali Linux, Wireshark, BloodHound, Impacket, Responder, Hashcat, John the Ripper, Cobalt Strike, Sliver, or similar tools.
- Experience developing test plans, documenting Rules of Engagement, tracking assessment activities, and producing formal penetration test reports.
- Ability to explain technical findings, attack paths, business impact, and remediation options to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop client-ready deliverables and executive-ready summaries.
- Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams in complex federal environments.
What Would Be Nice To Have:
- An ACTIVE and MAINTAINED TOP SECRET Federal or DoD security clearance.
- Experience supporting HVA cybersecurity assessments or federal enterprise penetration testing programs.
- One or more relevant offensive security certifications such as OSCP, GPEN, GWAPT, GXPN, GRTP, PenTest+, CEH, GCIH, or similar certification.
- Experience with adversary emulation, purple team operations, detection engineering support, or validation of SIEM and EDR detection coverage.
- Experience with Cobalt Strike, Sliver, custom payload development, or command-and-control simulation in approved assessment environments.
- Experience with cloud security testing or assessment activities across AWS, Azure, or other cloud environments.
- Experience supporting incident response, threat hunting, or post-incident analysis.
- Experience creating proof-of-concept exploit examples for reports or live demonstrations in controlled, authorized environments.
- Experience mentoring junior penetration testers or leading small offensive security workstreams.
- Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills.
What We Offer:
Guidehouse offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commitment to creating a diverse and supportive workplace.
Benefits include:
Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
Parental Leave
401(k) Retirement Plan
Group Term Life and Travel Assistance
Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance
Health Savings Account, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Transit and Parking Commuter Benefits
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development, Certifications & Learning Opportunities
Employee Referral Program
Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
Care.com annual membership
Employee Assistance Program
Supplemental Benefits via Corestream (Critical Care, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Assistance and ID theft protection, etc.)
Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
About Guidehouse
Guidehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer–Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.
Guidehouse will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law or ordinance including the Fair Chance Ordinance of Los Angeles and San Francisco.
If you have visited our website for information about employment opportunities, or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Guidehouse Recruiting at 1-571-633-1711 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@guidehouse.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodation.
All communication regarding recruitment for a Guidehouse position will be sent from Guidehouse email domains including @guidehouse.com or guidehouse@myworkday.com. Correspondence received by an applicant from any other domain should be considered unauthorized and will not be honored by Guidehouse. Note that Guidehouse will never charge a fee or require a money transfer at any stage of the recruitment process and does not collect fees from educational institutions for participation in a recruitment event. Never provide your banking information to a third party purporting to need that information to proceed in the hiring process.
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