Penetration Tester (Junior)

Valiant Solutions is seeking a Penetration Tester (Junior) to join the Red Cell team supporting our government customer's cybersecurity risk management program. In this role, you will perform and lead penetration tests of customer systems, identify exploitable vulnerabilities, and recommend remediations that satisfy mandated NIST SP 800-53 security controls. You will apply recognized assessment methodologies, including NIST SP 800-115, the Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES), and the OWASP Web Security Testing Guide (WSTG). You will also report and demonstrate your findings directly to system owners and engineers.

Named one of the Washington Business Journal’s Best Places to Work every year since 2014, Valiant is proud of our employee-centric culture and commitment to excellence. If you are interested in learning more about Valiant and this opportunity, we invite you to apply now!

• Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, Information Security, Information Systems, Information Assurance, Computer Science, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
• An industry professional certification such as CCNA Cyber Ops, CCNA Security, CEH, CFR, CompTIA Cloud+, CySA+, GCIA, GCIH, GICSP, SCYBER, Security+ CE, or SSCP.

• 3 to 5 years of penetration testing experience.
• Demonstrated experience with Kali Linux.
• Demonstrated experience with penetration testing tools, including Nmap, Burp Suite, and Metasploit.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate vulnerabilities, perform root cause analysis, and report findings using assessment methodologies such as NIST SP 800-115, PTES, ISSAF, and OWASP WSTG.
• Ability to explain and demonstrate technical findings clearly to system owners and engineers.
• Working knowledge of NIST SP 800-53 security controls.

• →Support the Red Cell team by performing and leading penetration tests that assess the security of customer systems.
• →Conduct vulnerability assessments and penetration tests of information systems.
• →Identify vulnerabilities and develop recommended remediations that satisfy mandated NIST SP 800-53 security controls.
• →Evaluate vulnerabilities and perform root cause analysis using assessment methodologies, including NIST SP 800-115, PTES, the Information Systems Security Assessment Framework (ISSAF), and OWASP WSTG.
• →Report and demonstrate findings to system owners and engineers.
• →Maintain Red Cell infrastructure.
• →Develop or modify tools that automate discovery or exploitation.
• →Apply knowledge of computer and network forensics to testing activities.
• →Research and maintain proficiency in tools, techniques, countermeasures, and trends in computer and network vulnerabilities, data hiding, and encryption.
• →Develop testing methodology and present solutions to problems across multiple complex assignments.
• →Contribute to program deliverables and performance metrics.

Valiant Solutions delivers cybersecurity and IT services to federal civilian, defense, and national security customers nationwide. We support the full cyber lifecycle, from secure system design and accreditation through AI-enabled operations, threat emulation, and continuous improvement, across classified and unclassified environments. Our work is independently certified for quality and security, including CMMI, CMMC, and ISO certifications.

Valiant is a multi-year Washington Business Journal Best Places to Work winner, and our growth and cyber leadership have been recognized by Washington Technology, Northern Virginia Technology Council, and the Triangle Business Journal. We offer strong benefits, rewards for earning industry certifications, and room to grow your career as we grow. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, our distributed workforce supports customers from coast to coast. We go where the stakes are highest, and the margin for error is zero. If you want meaningful work alongside talented professionals, apply today.

Remote work necessitates a high level of trust in our employees. To ensure that employee performance does not suffer in a remote work environment, all employees who telecommute are expected to have a quiet and distraction-free workspace with adequate internet, dedicate their full attention and availability to their job duties during working hours, and maintain a schedule during core business hours that aligns with those of their coworkers and Valiant's clients. In alignment with Valiant's inclusive and engaging environment, cameras are encouraged and can be required to be on during virtual video conferences. Additionally, in alignment with the Office of the Inspector General’s effort to eliminate conflicting employment, all Valiant employees are required to disclose any current or future outside employment engagements. During onboarding and throughout employment, employees must disclose any current activities or intent to engage in outside employment or other professional activities and obtain written approval.  Employees may not solicit or conduct any outside business during core business hours for Valiant Solutions and our clients.

Valiant Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Valiant Solutions provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact hr@valiantsolutions.com.

Sitting or standing at a desk for prolonged periods and consistently operating a computer. Frequent communication and exchanging of accurate information via electronic communication, phones, and in person. Occasionally lift and/or move moderate amounts of weight, typically less than 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

By submitting your resume for this position, you authorize Valiant Solutions to share your resume, as well as personal information included on the resume, with its subsidiaries, affiliates, and teaming partners for the purpose of considering you for this position and other available positions requiring comparable skills, education, and experience. Should Valiant Solutions or its affiliates and teaming partners wish to initiate pre-employment discussions, you will be asked to complete an employment application and related employment documents.

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